East Timor: For Fragile States, MDG Summit Outcome Off-target

This article from the Inter Press Service (IPS) Africa describes signs of impact of the April 2010 meeting in Timor Leste of fragile states, collectively known as the g7+, described as "an independent and autonomous forum of fragile and conflict affected countries and regions which have united to form one collective voice on the global stage." The g7+ met for the purpose of critiquing the spending of aid dollars, describing why global aid continues "to miss the target in their countries, despite both sides’ previous agreements on aid delivery like the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda."

Following the first meeting, more fragile states joined the original group, totalling 17 countries, which sought to convey the message that developed countries need to "Work with us, not against us, or the MDGs [Millennium Development goals] will never be achieved." Representatives stated that there is a need to first focus on peacebuilding and then statebuilding prior to beginning work on the MDGs, though currently much aid finding is tied to the MGDs.

As stated here: "...fragile states say the way aid is used to help rebuild their countries is too often shaped by donor priorities, which places an enormous burden on the capacity of recipient countries and negates the need to consolidate peace and stability". The g7+, at the MDG Summit in New York, NY, United States, September 20-22 2010, represented the frustration of fragile states through a call to action by Timor Leste's president, announcing that his country will allocate funding to the g7+ to prioritise the principles of peacebuilding and statebuilding as mechanisms to achieve the MDGs. As stated here, "international engagement is slow in action and blocked by administrative and bureaucratic constraints. These hinder the effective and real-time engagement required to counter uncertainty, conflict, destruction and loss of life."

Nonetheless, the New York MDG meeting outcome document is described as making "bare mention of conflict and fragility."