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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ON TYPE 2 OUTCOMES OF WSSD
1. What are Type 2 outcomes?
Non-negotiated partnerships and initiatives to implement Agenda 21
are expected to become an important element of the outcomes from the
World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Summit will not only
result in a high-level political declaration and a programme of action
for the further implementation of Agenda 21, which are fully negotiated
and agreed by all governments (Type 1 outcomes). Type 2 partnerships
will also become an integral part of the Summit, even though they
will not be negotiated by all present. Rather, they need only be agreed
by those directly involved, who will commit themselves to taking the
partnerships forward and making them a success.
2. What is the purpose of partnerships or Type 2 outcomes of WSSD?
These partnerships would enable all stakeholders to make concrete
contribution to the outcome of the Summit by launching implementation
initiatives. Secondly, these partnerships are expected to improve
the quality of implementation by involving those stakeholders whose
activities have direct impact on sustainable development. The need
to actively engage these actors in implementation has become more
pressing in view of the changes brought by globalization. These partnerships
will provide an effective vehicle to promote sustainable development
in a globalizing world.
3. Are these partnerships meant to provide a substitute for
actions and commitments by governments?
No, certainly not. There is no substitute for governmental action.
Commitments by governments are the corner stone of national, regional
and global efforts to pursue sustainable development. Agenda 21 is
a testimony to that fact. However, to pursue the goals of Agenda 21
in a global setting that is considerably different from 1992 there
is a need to broaden and strengthen the role of major groups in implementation.
The partnerships are meant to supplement and not to supplant actions
and commitments by governments.
4. How are these linked with Type 1 or globally agreed outcomes
of the Summit?
Type 2 outcomes or partnerships share the same objectives as Type
1 outcomes and that is implementation of Agenda 21. However, direct
linkages in terms of modalities and goals may differ from issue to
issue. On certain issues, a broad political agreement in Type 1 could
provide basis for launching Type 2 outcomes. In other instances, the
agreed document might contain details of the implementation initiatives
that would provide a direct link for partnerships. Given the broad
range of issues being negotiated, it would not be difficult to link
a Type 2 initiative with the negotiated outcome. While maintaining
the flexibility of these linkages, it would be possible to somehow
anchor all Type 2 outcomes in Type 1 outcomes.
5. How will the partnerships be governed or managed? Who will run
or own them?
The partnerships will be governed by partners through a mutually
agreed mechanism. The governance mechanisms may vary from partnership
to partnership. These structures could be built along the lines of
existing partnerships like the Global Alliance on Vaccine and Immunization
(GAVI), the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
(CGIAR), the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) etc. These
partnerships will be owned and run by the partners themselves.
6. How are the partners selected?
These are voluntary initiatives. There is no formal selection process.
Interested parties can get together and launch implementation initiatives
to achieve the goals of sustainable development.
7. How will the partnerships be selected to become part of
the outcomes of WSSD? Are there criteria for selection?
There are no strictly defined criteria for selection of Type 2 outcomes.
However, there are certain basic requirements that each partnership
is expected to fulfil. Such partnerships should be regional or international
in their scope. They should clearly define their targets, expected
results and timeframe, arrangements for funding, monitoring arrangements,
coordination and implementation mechanisms. These requirements were
listed in the form/table circulated by the Chairman of the PrepCom
last February, which is available at the official web site (www. Johannesburgsummit.org)
of the Johannesburg Summit.
While maintaining this flexible framework for including partnerships
into Type 2 outcomes, the Bureau of the PrepCom will review the information
provided by the partners and determine whether all the requirements
have been met.
8. How will the performance of partnerships be monitored or
reviewed? What will be the accountability mechanism to ensure that
partnerships are contributing to the goals of sustainable development?
Partnerships will be self-governing bodies with their own accountability
mechanisms. It is expected that all Type 2 outcomes will have effective
monitoring mechanisms to evaluate their performance. They are supposed
to review their performance against the goals that they set for themselves.
But they are also part of the implementation process in the post-Johannesburg
phase. All those partnerships that become part of the Type 2 outcomes
are expected to keep the Commission on Sustainable Development informed
of their activities and progress in achieving targets.
Proposals for specific arrangements within CSD are part of the sustainable
development governance discussion. One option could be to transform
the inter-sessional adhoc working groups of CSD into implementation
groups and provide a forum for dialogue on Type 2 outcomes.
9. How will these partnerships be presented at the Summit?
All those partnerships that are deemed to fulfil the requirements
will be part of the Type 2 outcomes. Some of them could be presented
at the Summit. Specific modalities to provide opportunities for partners
to make such announcements during the first week (26-31August) of
the Johannesburg Summit will be considered and finalized at the fourth
session of the Prepcom to be held in Bali (27 May-7June).
10. Are there any themes or areas specified for initiating these partnerships?
No. Partnerships can be launched on any area related to sustainable
development, particularly the implementation of Agenda 21. It is,
however, expected that partnerships will be closely linked with the
negotiated outcome of the Summit.
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