The following opinion pieces discuss the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, taking place this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Huffington Post: Financing for Development — What Does Success Look Like?
Kolleen Bouchane, director of policy and advocacy at A World at School and director of policy and research at Global Business Coalition for Education

“…Despite progress, too little attention, aid, financial justice, and too little of the right kinds of investment are currently targeted at the countries and people that need it most. We must aggressively work towards equity of outcomes in order to reach those people left behind by the last development framework. Without a focus on equity the end of poverty will continue to elude us” (7/12).

Reuters: How to make sure ‘developing’ countries can develop
Michael Elliott, president and CEO of the ONE Campaign

“…The challenge at the Addis Ababa meeting is to deliver for both [the poorest nations in the world and those approaching middle-income levels], with their very different needs. The conference needs true leadership to knock heads together until both wealthy and poor nations agree to take action. The poorer countries must agree to mobilize more public and private domestic revenues for national development. Meanwhile, the wealthy nations must agree to deliver more foreign assistance — and send that assistance to those that need it most…” (7/10).

The Guardian: Financing the sustainable development goals will rely heavily on the tax factor
Jonathan Glennie, director of policy and research at Save the Children

“…[T]he reforms required to enable low- and middle income-countries to bolster their tax revenues in order to spend them on the poorest are ambitious and will need the international community to pull together in a bold new way. … For all the welcome focus on tax, domestic resources, and fiscal self-reliance, this conference should not squander the opportunity to ring in this historically significant procedural change…” (7/13).

The Guardian: Global development — and global team work — are key to humanity’s prosperity
Jacob J. Lew, U.S. Treasury secretary; Luis Videgaray Caso, secretary of Mexico’s Department of Finance and Public Credit; and Sufian Ahmed, minister of Ethiopia’s Department of Finance and Economic Development

“…The new chapter of Financing for Development … moves away from merely managing poverty and toward spurring transformation. That requires three primary sources of development finance: donor assistance, domestic resources, and private investment. … To maximize the impact of money spent on development, we also must do more to incorporate key enablers of development — including making better use of science, technology, and innovation. … We are committed to working together and urge others to join us in seeking to revitalize a partnership for sustainable development — a partnership that, for the first time, can be built on a shared and universal agenda for change…” (7/13).

Project Syndicate: Africa’s Opportunity in Addis
Macky Sall, president of Senegal

“…African governments must seize this opportunity to advocate for increased financing for sustainable development, building on the mobilization of more significant domestic revenue. … This week’s conference in Addis Ababa should lay the foundation for more effective external financing of sustainable development over the course of the SDGs. But the quality of what is built on that foundation will depend on the commitment and mobilization of all actors, particularly those from Africa” (7/13).

Huffington Post: Will Financing for Development 2015 Be ‘Good News for the Poor’?
Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury

“…We need to re-set the dial, to re-examine the way that our global economy works, and to put the flourishing of all humans at the heart of what we are collectively trying to achieve. We need a global economy that includes everyone, in which no-one is without a voice. This year’s global gatherings are the best opportunity we have had for a long time to do just that. … My appeal is that our political leaders do not forget this, and as they negotiate this vital agreement, ask themselves: is this fair? Is this generous? Is this sustainable?…” (7/13).