Thursday AfricaDigest (9/23): Remarkds by Obama at the Millennium Development Goals Summit in New York

[AfricaDigest Manager]

Remarks by President Obama at the Millennium Development Goals Summit
in New York, New York
United Nations Headquarters, New York, New York
Sept. 22, 2010

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Mr. Secretary General, fellow
delegates, ladies and gentlemen.

In the Charter of this United Nations, our countries pledged to
work for “the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all
peoples.” In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we recognized
the inherent dignity and rights of every individual, including the
right to a decent standard of living. And a decade ago, at the dawn
of a new millennium, we set concrete goals to free our fellow men,
women and children from the injustice of extreme poverty.

These are the standards that we set. And today, we must ask:
Are we living up to our mutual responsibilities?

I suspect that some in wealthier countries may ask, with our
economies struggling, so many people out of work, and so many families
barely getting by, why a summit on development? And the answer is
simple. In our global economy, progress in even the poorest countries
can advance the prosperity and security of people far beyond their
borders, including my fellow Americans.

When a child dies from a preventable disease, it shocks all of
our consciences. When a girl is deprived of an education or her
mother is denied equal rights, it undermines the prosperity of their
nation. When a young entrepreneur can’t start a new business, it
stymies the creation of new jobs and markets in that entrepreneur’s
country, but also in our own. When millions of fathers cannot provide
for their families, it feeds the despair that can fuel instability and
violent extremism. When a disease goes unchecked, it can endanger the
health of millions around the world.

So let’s put to rest the old myth that development is mere
charity that does not serve our interests. And let’s reject the
cynicism that says certain countries are condemned to perpetual
poverty, for the past half century has witnessed more gains in human
development than at any time in history. A disease that had ravaged
the generations, smallpox, was eradicated. Health care has reached
the far corners of the world, saving the lives of millions. From
Latin America to Africa to Asia, developing nations have transformed
into leaders in the global economy.

Nor can anyone deny the progress that has been made toward
achieving certain Millennium Development Goals. The doors of
education have been opened to tens of millions of children, boys and
girls. New cases of HIV/AIDS and malaria and tuberculosis are down.
Access to clean drinking water is up. Around the world, hundreds of
millions of people have been lifted from extreme poverty. That is all
for the good, and it’s a testimony to the extraordinary work that's
been done both within countries and by the international community.

Yet we must also face the fact that progress towards other goals
that were set has not come nearly fast enough. Not for the hundreds
of thousands of women who lose their lives every year simply giving
birth. Not for the millions of children who die from agony of
malnutrition. Not for the nearly one billion people who endure the
misery of chronic hunger.

This is the reality we must face -- that if the international
community just keeps doing the same things the same way, we may make
some modest progress here and there, but we will miss many development
goals. That is the truth. With 10 years down and just five years
before our development targets come due, we must do better.

Now, I know that helping communities and countries realize a
better future is not easy. I’ve seen it in my own life. I saw it in
my mother, as she worked to lift up the rural poor, from Indonesia to
Pakistan. I saw it on the streets of Chicago, where I worked as a
community organizer trying to build up underdeveloped neighborhoods in
this country. It is hard work. But I know progress is
possible.

As President, I have made it clear that the United States will do
our part. My national security strategy recognizes development not
only as a moral imperative, but a strategic and economic imperative.
Secretary of State Clinton is leading a review to strengthen and
better coordinate our diplomacy and our development efforts. We’ve
reengaged with multilateral development institutions. And we are
rebuilding the United States Agency for International Development as
the world’s premier development agency. In short, we’re making sure
that the United States will be a global leader in international
development in the 21st century.

We also recognize, though, that the old ways will not suffice.
That’s why in Ghana last year I called for a new approach to
development that unleashes transformational change and allows more
people to take control of their own destiny. After all, no country
wants to be dependent on another. No proud leader in this room wants
to ask for aid. No family wants to be beholden to the assistance of
others.

To pursue this vision, my administration conducted a
comprehensive review of America’s development programs. We listened
to leaders in government, NGOs and civil society, the private sector
and philanthropy, Congress and our many international partners.

And today, I’m announcing our new U.S. Global Development Policy
-- the first of its kind by an American administration. It’s rooted
in America’s enduring commitment to the dignity and potential of every
human being. And it outlines our new approach and the new thinking
that will guide our overall development efforts, including the plan
that I promised last year and that my administration has delivered to
pursue the Millennium Development Goals. Put simply, the United
States is changing the way we do business.

First, we’re changing how we define development. For too long,
we’ve measured our efforts by the dollars we spent and the food and
medicines that we delivered. But aid alone is not development.
Development is helping nations to actually develop -- moving from
poverty to prosperity. And we need more than just aid to unleash that
change. We need to harness all the tools at our disposal -- from our
diplomacy to our trade policies to our investment policies.

Second, we are changing how we view the ultimate goal of
development. Our focus on assistance has saved lives in the short
term, but it hasn’t always improved those societies over the long
term. Consider the millions of people who have relied on food
assistance for decades. That’s not development, that’s dependence,
and it’s a cycle we need to break. Instead of just managing poverty,
we have to offer nations and peoples a path out of poverty.

Now, let me be clear, the United States of America has been, and
will remain, the global leader in providing assistance. We will not
abandon those who depend on us for life-saving help -- whether it’s
food or medicine. We will keep our promises and honor our
commitments.

In fact, my administration has increased assistance to the least
developed countries. We’re working with partners to finally eradicate
polio. We’re building on the good efforts of my predecessor to
continue to increase funds to fight HIV/AIDS, increasing those funds
to record levels -- and that includes strengthening our commitment to
the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria. And we will lead in times
of crisis, as we’ve done since the earthquake in Haiti and the floods
in Pakistan.

But the purpose of development -- what’s needed most right now --
is creating the conditions where assistance is no longer needed. So
we will seek partners who want to build their own capacity to provide
for their people. We will seek development that is sustainable.

And building in part on the lessons of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation, which has helped countries like El Salvador build rural
roads and raise the incomes of its people, we will invest in the
capacity of countries that are proving their commitment to
development.

Remembering the lessons of the Green Revolution, we’re expanding
scientific collaboration with other countries and investing in game-
changing science and technology to help spark historic leaps in
development.

For example, instead of just treating HIV/AIDS, we’ve invested in
pioneering research to finally develop a way to help millions of women
actually prevent themselves from being infected in the first place.

Instead of simply handing out food, our food security initiative
is helping countries like Guatemala and Rwanda and Bangladesh develop
their agriculture and improve crop yields and help farmers get their
products to market.

Instead of simply delivering medicine, our Global Health
Initiative is also helping countries like Mali and Nepal build
stronger health systems and better deliver care. And with financial
and technical assistance, we’ll help developing countries embrace the
clean energy technologies they need to adapt to climate change and
pursue low-carbon growth.

In other words, we’re making it clear that we will partner with
countries that are willing to take the lead. Because the days when
your development was dictated by foreign capitals must come to an
end. (Applause.)

This brings me to a third pillar of our new approach. To unleash
transformational change, we’re putting a new emphasis on the most
powerful force the world has ever known for eradicating poverty and
creating opportunity. It’s the force that turned South Korea from a
recipient of aid to a donor of aid. It’s the force that has raised
living standards from Brazil to India. And it’s the force that has
allowed emerging African countries like Ethiopia and Malawi and
Mozambique to defy the odds and make real progress towards achieving
the Millennium Development Goals, even as some of their neighbors --
like Cote d’Ivoire -- have lagged.

The force I’m speaking about is broad-based economic growth.
Now, every nation will pursue its own path to prosperity. But decades
of experience tell us there are certain ingredients upon which
sustainable growth and lasting development depends.

We know that countries are more likely to prosper when they
encourage entrepreneurship; when they invest in their infrastructure;
when they expand trade and welcome investment. So we will partner
with countries like Sierra Leone to create business environments that
are attractive to investment, that don't scare it away. We’ll work to
break down barriers to regional trade and urge nations to open their
markets to developing countries. We will keep pushing for a Doha
Round that is ambitious and balanced --one that works not just for
major emerging economies, but for all economies.

We also know that countries are more likely to prosper when
governments are accountable to their people. So we are leading a
global effort to combat corruption, which in many places is the single
greatest barrier to prosperity, and which is a profound violation of
human rights. That’s why we now require oil, gas and mining companies
that raise capital in the United States to disclose all payments they
make to foreign governments. And it’s why I urged the G20 to put
corruption on its agenda and make it harder for corrupt officials to
steal from their own people and stifle their nation’s
development.

The United States will focus our development efforts on countries
like Tanzania that promote good governance and democracy; the rule of
law and equal administration of justice; transparent institutions with
strong civil societies; and respect for human rights. Because over
the long run, democracy and economic growth go hand in hand.

We will reach out to countries making transitions from
authoritarianism to democracy, and from war to peace. The people of
Liberia, for example, show that even after years of war, great
progress can be achieved. And as others show the courage to put war
behind them -- including, we hope, in Sudan -- the United States will
stand with those who seek to build and sustain peace.

We also know that countries are more likely to prosper when they
tap the talents of all their people. And that’s why we’re investing
in the health, education and rights of women, and working to empower
the next generation of women entrepreneurs and leaders. Because when
mothers and daughters have access to opportunity, that's when
economies grow, that's when governance improves.

And it’s why we’re partnering with young people, who in many
developing countries are more than half the population. We’re
expanding educational exchanges, like the one that brought my father
here to America from Kenya. And we’re helping young entrepreneurs
succeed in a global economy.

And as the final pillar of our new approach, we will insist on
more responsibility -- from ourselves and from others. We insist on
mutual accountability.

For our part, we’ll work with Congress to better match our
investments with the priorities of our partner countries. Guided by
the evidence, we will invest in programs that work; we’ll end those
that don’t. We need to be big-hearted but also hard-headed in our
approach to development.

To my fellow donor nations: Let’s honor our respective
commitments. (Applause.) Let’s resolve to put an end to hollow
promises that are not kept. Let’s commit to the same transparency
that we expect from others. Let’s move beyond the old, narrow debate
over how much money we’re spending, and instead let’s focus on results
-- whether we’re actually making improvements in people’s lives.

Now, to developing countries, this must be your moment of
responsibility as well. We want you to prosper and succeed -- it is
not only in your interest, it is in our interests. We want to help
you realize your aspirations as a nation and the individuals in each
of your countries.

But there is no substitute for your leadership. Only you and
your people can make the tough choices that will unleash the dynamism
of your country. Only you can make the sustainable investments that
improve the health and well-being of your people. Only you can
deliver your nations to a more prosperous and just future. We can be
partners, but ultimately you have to take the lead.

Finally, let me say this. No one nation can do everything
everywhere and still do it well. To meet our goals, we must be more
selective and focus our efforts where we have the best partners and
where we can have the greatest impact. And just as this work cannot
be done by any one government, it can’t be the work of governments
alone. In fact, foundations and private sector and NGOs are making
historic commitments that have redefined what’s possible.

And this gives us the opportunity to forge a new division of
labor for development in the 21st century. It’s a division of labor
where, instead of so much duplication and inefficiency, governments
and multilaterals and NGOs are all working together. We each do the
piece that we do best -- as we’re doing, for example, in support of
Ghana’s food security plan, which will help more farmers get more
goods to market and earn more money to support their families.

So that’s the progress that’s possible. Together, we can
collaborate in ways unimaginable just a few years ago. Together, we
can realize the future that none of us can achieve alone. Together,
we can deliver historic leaps in development. We can do this. But
only if we move forward with the seriousness and sense of common
purpose that this moment demands.

Development that offers a path out of poverty for that child who
deserves better. Development that builds the capacity of countries to
deliver the health care and education that their people need.
Development that unleashes broader prosperity and builds the next
generation of entrepreneurs and emerging economies. Development
rooted in shared responsibility, mutual accountability and, most of
all, concrete results that pull communities and countries from poverty
to prosperity.

These are the elements of America’s new approach. This is the
work that we can do together. And this can be our plan -- not simply
for meeting our Millennium Development Goals, but for exceeding them,
and then sustaining them for generations to come.

Thank you very much, everyone. Thank you. (Applause.)
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It is pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness; poverty and
wealth have both failed.

Kin Hubbard (1868 - 1930)
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