The document proposes a doctoral research project to analyze implementation of anti-discrimination norms and policy development partnerships between public bodies and civil society in EU states. The research aims to evaluate whether such norm implementation and policy building can achieve transformative shifts towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals of poverty alleviation and inclusive development for people of African descent. The research will provide an original contribution through a critical overview of how the SDGs are linked to recognizing the International Decade for People of African Descent and its objectives.

1. H. B. A. Olaiya, M.A.
Doctoral Researcher
University of the West of England
Email: Ade.Olaiya@uwe.ac.uk

2. BACKGROUND
1. UN GA RES. 68/237 approved commencement of the
International Decade for People of African
Descent in 2015 with objectives of recognition, justice
and development.
2. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - a
human rights based approach to development with
fundamental goals; SDG 10 – reduce inequality within
and between countries.
3. Limitations – symbolic & not binding, fiscal austerity,
nationalism

3. TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD
Aim: to create new knowledge and actionable data.
Objectives: a) critically analyse implementation of
existing anti-discrimination norms, e.g. ICERD 1965 in EU
states.
b) critically analyse & evaluate policy development by
partnerships between public bodies & civil society, to
recognise IDPAD & implement the 2030 Agenda.
Can norm implementation and policy building
achieve fundamental transformative shifts of poverty
alleviation and inclusive sustainable development for
PAD ?

4. SCOPE
 to make an original contribution to the paradigm of race
equality through critical overview of SDGs linked to
recognition of IDPAD & its objectives.
 engage democratically with major stakeholders in the
achievement of fundamental transformative shifts of the
SDG Agenda, e.g. public bodies & civil society.
 a human rights theoretical approach to policy building &
norm implementation. E.g. use of equality data to plan,
act, observe and reflect on interventions to reduce
Afrophobia & race inequality.

5. PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT
- recognition, justice and development
Illustrate local, national and regional outcomes:
 by monitoring the achievement of SDGs, in relation to
Afro-phobia & the Plan of Action for IDPAD.
 through use of qualitative and quantitative equality data
from action research with ngos representing African
diaspora communities in EU states.
 observe & reflect on sustainable development
interventions achieved which empower PAD.

6. ENAR’s Draft EU Framework for national strategies to
Combat Afrophobia
 Advocates disaggregated data collection and analysis to enable policy
development & reduce race inequality. E.g. equality data collection for
monitoring inclusive access for Afro-Europeans to equitable education and
other headline targets for EU2020 & the 2030 Agenda.
 Highlights Afro-phobia & discriminatory practices violate international human
rights norms, e.g. ICERD 1965 & DDPA.
 Asserts Article 14, ECHR 1950/53 & Article 21, EU Charter for Fundamental
Rights also prohibit racial discrimination.
 Illustrates collaborations are vital to advocate principles of human dignity,
race equality and social justice for PAD.
 Recommends European Commission funding to prioritize reduction of race
inequality which disempowers Afro Europeans.

7. ACTION PLANNING
 Asserts inclusive anti-racist norm implementation, e.g. recognition of IDPAD
and its Plan of Action by the EU to fill existing gaps.
 Advocates disaggregated data collection of empirical evidence to ensure
elimination of race inequality for people of African descent in the EU.
Recommendations for equality data collection practices, have been endorsed
by most anti racism ngos in the network, as well as other stakeholders.
 Evaluates outcomes of advocacy actions which address Afro-phobia locally,
nationally and regionally in the EU. E.g. dissemination of disaggregated data by
public bodies; and positive outcomes through disaggregated data analysis by
the various stakeholders.
 Critically analyse & evaluate adoption of inclusive, responsive and
participatory policy development, Target 16.7 which ensures PAD become
stakeholders, e.g. in Europe 2020.

8. Example A Equality data collection,
2001 & 2011 UK pop’n census
NATIONAL
 Student attainment in the UK
is generally low in comparison
with other EU states.
 54.7 % of white applicants
received offers from Russell
Group Universities, compared
to 21.9 % of their Black peers.
 Affirmative Action vs
Positive Action
(E.g. to learn from good practice
between education authorities).
LOCAL
 Bristol ranked 7th highest for
race inequality in UK.
 housing inequality increased
between 2001 & 2011.
 African students experience
highest levels of education
inequality in schools.
 PAD have highest levels of
unemployment both in Bristol
& nationally.
 Bristol Manifesto for Race
Equality-

9. Example B Equality data collection in UK HEIs
ECU Race Equality Charter Mark
 advocates disaggregated data
collection by ethnicity for staff and
students in UK HEIs.
 Encourages inclusive, representative
and participatory involvement of staff
and students from underrepresented
ethnicities.
 Highlights gaps e.g. unequal recruitment
& progression levels for students &
academic staff of African descent.
 Enables discourse on student satisfaction,
curricula, teaching standards, etc.
 Enables action planning to address
issues highlighted

10. Extracts from letter to Frans Timmermans, 1st V.P. of the European
Commission, endorsed by Leaders of European Civil Society,
dated 9/02/16.
“ We call on the EU and each of its Member States to develop an overarching Sustainable
Development Strategy with a timeline of 2030 and a concrete implementation plan which
coordinates the achievement of the 17 goals, 169 targets and their indicators which goes
beyond policy-as-usual ...
 the implementation plan should be based on the results of the European Commission’s on-going
gap analysis, where existing EU policies and processes should be scrutinised (…) to achieve goals
and targets, and they should be adapted where appropriate. Detected gaps should be filled with
new actions.
 the Sustainable Development Strategy and associated implementation policies should be
subject to broad consultation with all stakeholders through an institutionalised and
inclusive process….
 the EU will need (…) to ensure that funding mechanisms and budget lines for civil society
organisations are aligned with the new needs of global and European challenges, for more
(…) holistic approaches.
 the European Commission should urgently consider designing strong monitoring, review and
accountability mechanisms (…) which differentiate between the parts of the 2030 Agenda for
which Member States are primarily responsible versus those for which an EU lead is necessary and
for which the EU must be held to account. Accountability must also incorporate the concept of
Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development.”

11. BIBLIOGRAPHYAbdikeeva, A., (2014) Measure, Plan, Act: How data collection can support racial equality, ENAR
Centre for the Study of Ethnicity & Citizenship (2015) A One Day Symposium on Ethnicity and Educational
Inequality: the Role of Aspirations, University of Bristol , 19/08/2015
Ed. Christie, I., (2014) ENAR’s 6th European Annual Equal @ Work Seminar Report: Equality data Collection in
Employment & the Workplace, ENAR
Equality Challenge Unit (2014) Equality in Education Statistical Report, ECU
Khan, O. & Elahi, F. (2015) Addressing Local Ethnic Inequalities in Bristol, The Runnymede Trust
Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform (2015) Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld: United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs [ accessed 21/10/15]
United Nations (2015) 2015 – 2024 International Decade for People of African Descent
http://www.un.org/en/events/africandescentdecade/ : UN Web Services [20/08/15]
UNESCO, Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice, http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-
URL_ID=13161&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html : [17/03/16]
UNESCO& UNICEF (2013) Making Education a Priority in the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Report of the Global
Thematic Consultation on Education in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, UNESCO