First Domestic NGO Discussion Meeting Held for Post MDGs

Copyright Ugoku/Ugokasu

Ugoku/Ugokasu (GCAP Japan), a national coalition of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), consisting of 71 Japanese NGOs tackling the problems of poverty and hunger in developing countries, held a first national NGO discussion meeting in Osaka on February 2, 2013. Just before Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a global common framework to eradicate poverty and hunger, expires in 2015, discussions on setting new post-MDG goals have been started. The meeting aims to reflect and communicate voices of Japanese civil society for the post MDGs.

In the meeting, they shared the achievements of the present MDGs and related problems, and then discussed the desirable future of MDGs. As NGOs with different specialties gathered from all over Japan, it was a meaningful that they could look at MDGs from an NGO standpoint and share some viewpoints they seldom considered, learning that MDGs did not directly lead to the resolution of problems in communities.

Some participants highlighted problems of the current MDGs and challenges for post MDGs, suggesting goals with a process for achievement, and indicated the difficulty solving local problems with common global goals.

In order to enhance the effectiveness of post MDGs, more dialogue in Japan is essential. The group will continue to hold such meetings in the future and will work with the United Nations and Japanese government to reflect the voices of the Japanese civil society.

Written by Yuki Sasaki, Africa Japan Forum