I am closely following the UN Conference on Financing for Development happening now in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and I am thinking of the potentialities and the (hopeful) opportunities that a conference of this caliber can have on a global scale, making a meaningful impact on the lives of millions of people in developing countries.
We are in an historic moment, where the future of development cooperation, global tax system, transparent funding mechanisms and development aid assistance can play a huge role in alleviating poverty. If and only if we know how, where and when to allocate financial sources to help the most vulnerable populations on earth.
If we fail, it is because we lack a strategy. A long-term vision and a detailed and collaborative preparation and management towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals will imply strong negotiations, transparent and open talks, ability to listen and to compromise, without forgetting the final goal of eradicating poverty, ensuring peace and security and allowing people to have a life of dignity and be able to build their future.
If we fail, it is because we lack research. Failing to retrieve reliable datasets, statistics and relevant pieces of information do not allow us to assess, monitor and track the progress of our development interventions. In the Internet age, where technology and ICT systems constitute part of our daily activities, we should use it to find out problems and look for ways to create knowledge platforms, share ideas and implement concrete and sustainable actions, involving all members of society ( not only academia, research centers and civil society, but also the private and public sector).
If we fail, it is because we lack of news reading. If we listen to the radio, read the news and follow the development of what happens around us, we can perceive that there are many global challenges that we are called to solve, from regional conflicts to unbalance of economic powers, social inequalities, violence, unemployment and lack of basic social protection.
If we fail, it is because we lack cooperation. As Winston Churchill was hoping for the United States of Europe, the global community today, united by the United Nations system after the II world war, should strive for shared working schemes and increased communication and transparency in collecting, sharing and disseminating trustworthy information. The knowledge society should heavily rely on people and their higher purpose of making the world a better place for all.
And finally, if we fail, it is because we lack a heart. My brother is a journalist and he is always on mission to the most dangerous places in the world. I always pray that he is well, but I strongly support him. He reports the reality, what happens and what we can do when we see. I believe we should share more information, more real life stories, stories of normal people devastated by natural disasters, people who do not have access to education, health care; people who are hungry, who are orphans; stories of women with no freedom, of men in armed conflicts, of unemployed people. People who do not know what a toilet is. People like us that fight for better social and equal conditions. Not dominated by financial dominance and material goods. People animated by solidarity and more humanity, what we truly are and be educated in a fearless society that gives opportunities and hope for a better future.
Ask more WHYs. This is my suggestion for you. If you do, you will find the inner reason of living and of connecting with humanity for a greater good. Ciao!@GaiaParadiso