FAMBB

WIDENING PARTICIPATION155© ReutersCan ordinary people shapedevelopment outcomes?Societies must be more involved in setting the development agendaif it is to become truly inclusive. How can this be achieved?By Mariana Rudge, Post-2015 AdvocacyAdviser, Bond; UK Coordinator, Beyond 2015As world leaders gather to define theshape of development for the next15 years, citizens from around theworld have a unique opportunity to influencethe outcome of negotiations around thenext generation of Sustainable DevelopmentGoals (SDGs) to succeed the UNMillennium Development Goals (MDGs).Despite their great success in reducingpoverty, the MDGs fell short on inclusion.The goals were defined in the corridors ofthe UN by diplomats, far away from thereality of poor people’s lives, and citizenswere not included in the monitoring andimplementation of the goals. But peoplehave the ability to shape the policiesthat affect them. They want to have asay in their future and should be giventhe opportunity to do so. It is, therefore,encouraging to see the effort made bythe UN system to ensure that the processis different this time. It launched thebroadest consultative process ever, withconsultations in over 100 countries and awide-reaching online conversation.However, while admirable, acommitment to consultation can beperceived as superficial and limitedengagement if it is not coupled withinitiatives to reach the poorest and mostmarginalised. Civil society, UN agenciesA Yemeni Akhdam family in their hut in a slum area near Sana’a. The Akhdam are similar to hereditarycastes and are at the bottom of Yemen’s social ladder. Civil society organisations have the responsibilityto ensure that the voices of the poorest and most vulnerable can be heardGLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS 2014