UN in Focus Newsbrief N0. 8/2010 December 2010 Quick Links FES NY Events FES NY Publications More About Us Dear Friends, This is the last issue of our"UN in Focus" Newsbrief for 2010. Let me first draw your attention on a FES Perspective publication that was authored by Thomas G. Weiss on the pitfalls and promises of reforming the UN:"ECOSOC is Dead, Long Live ECOSOC" Further below we are delighted to report back about our annual capacity building program for young policy analysts, which included a debate with Michelle Bachelet in her new capacity as head of the United Nation's gender entity UN Women. And in December, FES New York together with the Chair of the UN's Peacebuilding Commission organized a debate on the mobilization of resources for peacebuilding. Yet neither resource mobilization nor agreements are sufficient as long as the political will for a lasting peace is in doubt. Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement that will expire in 2011 is a case in point. We will conclude our series of discussion events at the UN with an expert panel on the referendum for secession of South Sudan. We wish you very happy holidays and a peaceful and successful 2011! With all best wishes from New York, Werner Puschra Director Friedrich Ebert Stiftung- New York Office

Recent Events Fifth FES Fall Academy"Understanding the United Nations" Also this year, from November 15- 19, FES New York hosted its annual Fall Academy. 17 young policy analysts from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East came to New York to learn hands-on about the work of the United Nations. Throughout the week, participants met with UN diplomats, Secretariat, and NGO experts to discuss the UN's work on peace and security issues, the MDGs, and the organization's most recent reform initiatives. The group also had a meeting with the newly appointed UN Under-Secretary-General of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet (center). Program "Uniting for Peacebuilding: Synergies Between the PBC and the World Bank in Mobilizing Resources and Coordinating Policies" On December 3, FES New York and the Permanent Mission of Germany organized a discussion on the relationship between the United Nation's Peacebuilding Commission(PBC) and the World Bank. By revisiting some of the joint experiences of the first five years of the existence of the Peacebuilding Commission, the debate highlighted comparative advantages of the two bodies and how they can best be utilized in mobilizing resources and coordinating policies for sustainable peace-building. Program

Upcoming Events Please note that all events are by invitation only, unless otherwise announced. "Referendum in Sudan: Crack-up or Peace? " The people of Sudan's South will vote in a referendum on 9 January 2011 to determine the region's future status, with independence widely seen as a probable outcome. The UN Mission in Sudan is gearing up to prevent an immediate violent break-up of Sudan after the referendum, but the risk of renewed violence is real. For what contingencies should the international community be prepared? What and who can sustain a new, independent state in South Sudan in terms of development, infrastructure, and public administration? Politically, what challenges will other African states and the African Union face if the referendum leads to new state formation? On December 17th, the FES New York and the Century Foundation will host a lunchon discussion to explore the imminent contingencies and long-term consequences, and to discuss the various options for UN action to prevent the outbreak of further violence. Program FES Publication"Sudan and Somalia- Linchpins on the Horn of Africa" Recent Publications Tom Weiss:"ECOSOC is Dead, Long Live ECOSOC"(December 2010) As legions of piecemeal ECOSOC reform efforts have amounted to little, this publication proposes four changes that would dramatically alter the ways that ECOSOC, and more broadly the United Nations, conducts business. Download Publication Frank Schroeder:"A Shot in the Arm for Climate Finance? New Directions for Delivering on International Pledges and Development"(December 2010) While a large number of mechanisms for financing climate change mitigation and adaptation have started to develop at the global level, the total level of financial resources falls far short of what is actually needed. In this publication the author argues that a system for monitoring, reporting and verifying climate finance flows will be important to enhance the credibility of climate funds. Download Publication

Jens Martens:"Thinking Ahead: Development Models and Indicators of WellBeing Beyond the MDGs"(November 2010) In this publication the author argues that if the Millennium Development Goals are to be reached by 2015, development as concept must be fundamentally revised. Development is still primarily measured by economic indicators while factors like income distribution, environmental consequences and gender equity are given little attention. Martens promotes a new approach in which poverty and wealth must not be viewed as separate, but rather as but mutually interdependent. Download Publication Juergen Kaiser:"Resolving Sovereign Debt Crises: Towards a Fair and Transparent International Insolvency Framework"(September 2010) The global financial crisis has dramatically increased public debt, but mechanisms that would allow dealing with this new wave of sovereign over-indebtedness are lacking. The present study explains principles of an ad-hoc or an institutionalized international insolvency framework, and describes the possibilities to obtain political support and technical advice for countries that may find themselves in need of an orderly debt-workout. Download Publication Winrich Kuehne:"The Role of Elections in Emerging Democracies and PostConflict Countries: Key Issues, Lessons Learned and Dilemmas"(August 2010) This publication argues for a new type of concerted development aid. Improved donor governance, accountability of recipient countries' governments to their citizens, and direct budget support should all go hand in hand to improve aid effectiveness. Download Publication Eveline Herfkins:"Beyond Old-Style Aid"(August 2010) The author of this publication makes the case for a new type of concerted development aid. Improved donor governance, accountability of recipient countries' governments to their citizens, and direct budget support should all go hand in hand to improve aid effectiveness. Download Publication