Resolution adopted at the conclusion of  the first part of
the third session of the FfD Preparatory Committee for an
International Conference on Financing for Development 

Preparations for the substantive preparatory process and the International Conference on Financing for Development

The Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Financing for Development recommends to the General Assembly at its 55th session, the adoption of the following draft resolution:

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 54/196, 55/186, 55/213, 55/245 and the Session of the Preparatory Committee decision 1/1.

Taking note with appreciation of the Report of the Bureau to the Preparatory Committee (1) as well as all other inputs (2)  submitted to date to the consideration of the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee,

Welcoming the progress made in consultations with the major institutional stakeholders, in particular the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO, with regard to their involvement in the process of financing for development;

Encouraging Governments and all other relevant stakeholders to continue considering concrete initiatives in support of the financing for development preparatory process and the International Conference on Financing for Development, within the framework of its substantive agenda;

Further encouraging the deepening of efforts of all relevant stakeholders, including at the regional level as well as by the civil society and the business sector, in support of the financing for development preparatory process and the International Conference on Financing for Development within the framework of its substantive agenda;

Recalling the holistic nature of the financing for development preparatory process and the need to take into account other ongoing processes of relevance to the substantive agenda for the financing for development process;

Reiterating its appreciation to Governments for the support provided to the Trust Fund for extrabudgetary contributions for the financing for development process,

1. Stresses the importance of a successful outcome of the Conference as reflected by the Heads of State or Government in the Millennium Declaration and expresses appreciation to those Heads of State and Government who responded to the letter addressed to them by the Secretary General in compliance with resolution 55/213.

2. Stresses the importance of effective preparations for the International Conference on Financing for Development, and welcomes the preparatory activities carried out so far, including the substantive interactive dialogue and contribution of all stakeholders held during the third Session of the Preparatory Committee;

3. Expresses its gratitude to the host country, Mexico, for its announcement regarding the venue and timing of the International Conference and decides that the International Conference on Financing for Development will take place in Monterrey, capital of the State of Nuevo Leon, in Mexico, from 18 to 22 March, 2002.

4. Requests the Secretary-General, to continue to provide the preparatory process and the International Conference with all needed support, including a secretariat commensurate with the level of the event and adequate staff and other resources, including launching a global public awareness campaign with as much support as possible from public/private partnerships in order to ensure, in collaboration with the authorities of the host country, the successful realization of the International Conference and public awareness of its outcome;

5. Requests the coordinating secretariat to provide all relevant information to the Preparatory Committee on a regular basis on the progress of the global public awareness campaign.

6. Invites all relevant stakeholders to continue their active involvement in support of the financing for development preparatory process, including through staff support from the major institutional stakeholders to the FfD Coordinating Secretariat and in this context invites the Coordinating Secretariat to continue to provide support to the Facilitator, including in the preparation of the concise first draft mandated by decision 55/245 taking into account the substantive interactive dialogue and all other relevant inputs received by the Session of the Preparatory Committee within the framework of its substantive agenda.

7. Requests that the first draft be presented to the Preparatory Committee in mid-September for the consideration starting at the resumed session of the Third Preparatory Committee, to be held in the week from 15 to 19 of October.

8. Encourages Governments as well as all relevant stakeholders, including the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO, the UNCTAD, the UNDP, the regional development banks and all other relevant regional bodies, to continue considering concrete initiatives in support of the financing for development preparatory process and the International Conference on Financing for Development, within the framework of its substantive agenda, including through the organization of expert panels and roundtables, and in this regard requests the Coordinating Secretariat to bring information on this work to the attention of the Preparatory Committee at its resumed third substantive session.

9. Reaffirms the importance to continue strengthening ways and means to deepening the efforts of all relevant stakeholders, including at the regional level as well as by the civil society and the business sector, in support of the financing for development preparatory process and the International Conference on Financing for Development within the framework of its substantive agenda, and in this regard, having considered the report "Engaging with the business community" and the proposals contained therein (letter 21 March 2001 from the co-chairs) and on that basis.

        a) Express its satisfaction with the informal discussion carried out with business sector interlocutors on 2 May 2001, and in this context, requests the coordinating secretariat in full consultation with the bureau to advise, assist and monitor a program of work developed with the business sector that draws on its perspectives relevant to the substantive agenda items. This program of work may run from May 2001 to the conference and may include workshops, seminars, round-tables, forums and other forms of input. The secretariat should bring the outcomes to the attention of preparatory committee.

        b) Decides to invite the participation of business sector entities as follows:

                1.- Business sector entities in consultative status with ECOSOC will participate according to the existing rules,

                2.- Business sector entities not having consultative status with ECOSOC will be accredited on an ad hoc basis in a similar manner as non-governmental organizations (3), using the following procedure: They shall provide the name and information about the company or organization such as annual reports and business prospectus to the coordinating secretariat which shall distribute the names and information of these entities to members of the Preparatory Committee which will decide on a non-objection basis.

        c) Further decides that the modalities for their participation in the Conference will be finalized when the format of the Conference will be decided by the Preparatory Committee at the resumed session of the Third Preparatory Committee.

        d) Encourages other initiatives to involve the business sector at national and regional levels and to inform the Preparatory Committee thereof.

10. Decides that the format of the Conference should include a high-level official meeting, on the 18 of March; a segment at the ministerial level where delegations will be invited to send fully integrated delegations with representatives from all relevant national ministries, the 19 and 20 March; and a segment at the Summit level with the participation of Heads of State or Government, the 21 and 22 March 2002.

11. Also decides that the Conference shall include the participation of Member States of the UN and States Members of the specialized agencies and Observers in accordance with the established practice of the General Assembly

12. Further decides that the Conference shall also include the participation of all relevant stakeholders, including the business sector and civil society

13. Requests, in reference to paragraphs 11 and 12, that the Bureau prepares a proposal for the consideration and decision of the session of the Preparatory Committee, at its third resumed session, on the specific format and rules of procedure of the Conference as well as possible roundtables or other suitable arrangements for the various segments.

14. Further agrees that the Preparatory Committee, taking into account the dialogue held during its Third session, will decide on the nature of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development no later than the resumed third session of the Preparatory Committee, in order to guide the Facilitator in the continued intergovernmental negotiations and in the preparation of the draft outcome documents.

( 1 )       A/AC.257/22

( 2 )       A/AC.257/23, A/AC.257/24

( 3 )     A/55/28, Section VIII.