Bold Action and Outcomes: Governance Challenges in Achieving Sustainable Development
Objective: To advocate bold action and solutions to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for
sustainable development
Critical Issues:

The role of good governance in localizing the Post-2015 Sustainable development agenda

The political will and leadership required to overcome challenges to sustainable
development

The need to strengthen institutional capacity, with particular regard to efficiency,
accountability and transparency

The need to balance economic development with environmental stewardship

The promotion of the rule of law at the national and regional level to foster a legal and
political framework for sustainable development
Introduction
In shaping the post-2015 agenda for the Caribbean, valuable lessons could be learnt from the
implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), primarily, the importance of
governance to the realisation of development objectives. Former Secretary General Kofi Annan
declared “Good governance at the local, national and international levels is perhaps the single
most important factor in promoting development and advancing the cause of peace.”
(Strandenaes 2012, 4) The correlation between governance and sustainable development was
emphasised by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 66/288 2012 which recognised
that to achieve sustainable development goals, states “need institutions at all levels that are
effective, transparent, accountable and democratic.” This perspective is reflected in the post2015 agenda, where governance permeates the 17 proposed Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), particularly Goal 16 which urges nations to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies
for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and
inclusive institutions at all levels.” (Open Working Group of the General Assembly on the
Sustainable Development Goals n.d.)
While sustainable development is critical to the future of the region, there are vulnerabilities that
Caribbean SIDS face which are hindrances to their development efforts: external shocks
stemming from downturns in the global economy and the myriad effects of climate change.
Moreover the economic classification as High and Middle Income Countries (HMICs) has
limited their access to concessional development financing and rising crime rates continue to
undermine development. Given the emphasis on participation, inclusion, leadership and
ownership to the Post-2015 sustainable development agenda, this plenary will analyse some of
1
the governance challenges faced by Caribbean SIDS seeking to advance the post 2015 agenda
and explore possible solutions.
Achieving Good Governance in Caribbean SIDS
Good governance refers to the mechanisms through which the state is transparent in efficiently
managing the resources of the country and actively encouraging the equal participation of all
citizens at all levels of decision making and policy implementation. While the objective of good
governance is sustainable development, it is also true that good governance is also the means to
achieving sustainable development itself.
Panellists will explore approaches to advancing good governance as the foundation for
sustainable development. Panel presentations and discussions could focus on issues raised in the
Discussion Paper Governance for Sustainable Development. (UNDP 2014)
1. Effective, responsive and accountable state institutions
Effective and responsive governance in Caribbean SIDS involves the capacity to implement
government policy throughout the state, responding to the needs of the citizens. It also includes
the political will to address challenges which hinder sustainable development, as well as the
flexibility to commit resources to building resilience. Decentralisation increases efficiency in
governance and allows for the adaptation of national policies to the particular local context.
Accountability is the process through which the citizens and other stakeholders review the output
of state institutions, with respect to both quantity, the number of services delivered and the
number of persons reached, as well as quality.
2. Openness and transparency – public access to information
Openness and transparency foment the conditions necessary for increased investment and public
scrutiny which can result in sustained economic growth. Openness involves the ability of
citizens, investors and those who engage the state, to access information regarding the operations
of the state, including policies, laws, and human rights obligations. Policies shrouded in secrecy
dampen public confidence and trust, leading to less support and buy-in from the populace.
Citizens who are uninformed of their rights are less able to enforce their protection. Businesses
that are refused access to information on financial policies or the performance of certain
industries will be less inclined to risk investment funds.
3. Addressing corruption and curbing illicit financial flows
Caribbean SIDS, with their burgeoning middle class, are experiencing greater demands for
accountability and increased outcry against corruption from the populace. In reviewing the
Transparency Index for 2014, one would observe that the smaller states in the region are
perceived as less corrupt than larger states. Barbados, which is ranked at number 17 globally, is
2
the second least corrupt country in the Americas. Conversely, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica
are ranked at 85; Suriname at 100; and Guyana at 124. (Transparency International 2014)
Corruption and illicit financial flows distort the market resulting in inflation; create a shadow
economy which denies the government much needed tax revenues; and frustrate the ease of
doing business within the region. Corruption de-stabilises institutions and thus obstructs
economic development.
4. Justice and the Rule of Law
People-centred sustainable development is buttressed by the rule of law. Human Rights which
are legal entitlements are better protected in a framework where all are equal before the law and
all are granted equal access to justice. Engendering respect for the Rule of Law would necessitate
strict enforcement. “It has been shown that countries adhering to the rule of law have higher
levels of growth and investment through the protection of property rights.” (UNDP 2014, 7)
5. Participation in decision-making
Inclusion of stakeholders and citizens in the decision making processes adds legitimacy to the
policies pursued. Civil society, grassroots organisations, women, youth, private sector and any
other organisation which interacts with the state would put forward their perspectives and
priorities for consideration, ensuring diverse views are considered in policy making. Countries
have been encouraged to hold local consultations on the localisation of the post-2015 agenda,
ensuring the participation of the citizenry in policy formulation and implementation.
Participation of the people in the development agenda fosters national ownership and ensures
that “no one gets left behind.” (Mohammed 2014)
6. Curbing violence and combating transnational organized crime
Citizen security is essential to sustainable development. Development in the Caribbean is being
undermined by rising crime and violence and in some countries in the region, gangs rival the
state for control. The crime situation is further exacerbated by criminal deportee programs for
which governments have been ill prepared. In addition, transnational criminal activity, such as
the illicit arms trade, drug and human trafficking and money laundering, take full advantage of
the challenges faced by Caribbean SIDS in patrolling their borders.
Achieving good governance and sustainable development is a delicate balancing act involving
the efficient management of state resources in the furtherance of interconnected and competing
goals of environmental preservation and economic prosperity.
3
Works Cited
Mohammed, Amina. 2014. "2015- Time for Action." Development 25-29.
Open Working Group of the General Assembly on the Sustainable Development Goals. n.d. Open
Working Group proposal for the Sustainable Development Goals. Report: Document A/68/970,
United Nations. Accessed April 1, 2015. http://undocs.org/A/68/970.
Strandenaes, Jan-Gustav. 2012. "A Sustainable Development Council: A better Rio +20 Outcome than
reforming ECOSOC." Stakeholder Forum. Accessed April 1, 2015.
http://www.stakeholderforum.org/fileadmin/files/SDG%20Paper%20Jan%20Gustav.pdf.
Transparency International. 2014. Corruption Perceptions Index 2014: Results. Accessed April 5, 2015.
https://www.transparency.org/cpi2014/results.
UNDP. 2014. "Governance for Sustainable Development: Integrating Governance in the Post-2015
Development Framework." UNDP, March.
United Nations General Assembly. 2012. "Resolution 66/288 The future we want." New York City: United
Nations, July 27.
4