C20 Consultations Outline Strategies for G20 Action
April 2014: The Civil Society 20 (C20) Conversations have released summaries of ongoing consultations on four themes: climate and sustainability; governance; inclusive growth and employment; and infrastructure. C20 Conversations is an online platform supporting the preparation of recommendations to the 2014 Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Brisbane, Australia.
A discussion on development and the post-2015 development agenda took place under the theme of Inclusive growth and employment. According to a summary of this discussion, participants supported a universal goals framework with national and sub-national targets based on a human rights-based approach that focuses on the poorest, most excluded groups. Participants proposed a range of strategies, including: more equitable and efficient income distribution; inclusion of civil society in accountability and monitoring of agreements; and strengthened local development that leverages creative potential, ideas and local ideas and includes sustainable agriculture and small farmers. Participants also recommended measures to include vulnerable groups, such as including disability markers that identify the percentage of official development assistance (ODA) spent on disability-inclusive development; promoting preferential hiring of women and the disabled with a measurable goal and annual reporting; and promoting financial inclusion, including financial literacy for all children and youth. Participants advocated endorsement of the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States to support peacebuilding and statebuilding of vulnerable states; supporting global corporate responsibility; and addressing transnational crime. Finally, they recommended strategies related to education, financial inclusion, health, poverty and youth.
Summaries are also available for discussions on climate change and resource scarcity, among others.
The online consultations aim to encourage dialogue between representatives of civil society organizations and political leaders of G20 countries on actions the G20 can take at its Brisbane Summit in November 2014.