November 28, 2011 ― One third of the world’s poor and 17% of the world’s seven billion live in fragile states. Nineteen fragile states, including Afghanistan, Haiti, South Sudan and Timor-Leste are the nations farthest from reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

To define and advocate vital peace-building and state-building measures to stop conflict, build nations and end poverty, these nineteen states have recently come together as part of the g7+ group to rally for a common objective.

On October 18-19, 2011, the g7+ held their first retreat in Juba, South Sudan to consolidate their position in the lead up to the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to be held in Busan, South Korea from November 29-December 1, 2011.

“The g7+ are coming together and finding solutions that make sense in their situations,” said Sanjay Pradhan Vice President of the

World Bank Institute (WBI). “Our approach to capacity building is to support domestic leadership and multi-stakeholder coalitions that collaboratively tackle pressing development challenges and we continue to assist the g7+ in helping move their agenda forward.”

Fragile states need first to end conflict, build their nation, before trying to end poverty. H.E. Emilia Pires, Minister of Finance,
Timor-Leste and Chair of the g7+.

Despite international engagement through donor aid and assistance, little progress has been made in alleviating the suffering of people in these countries. With 54% higher prevalence of malnutrition, 20% higher child mortality rate and 18% lower primary education completion rate compared to other developing countries and regions, it is clear that urgent action is required.

“Fragile states need first to end conflict, build their nation, before trying to end poverty,” said H.E. Emilia Pires, Minister of Finance, Timor-Leste and Chair of the g7+.

The g7+ seeks to provide a fragile state perspective on fragility in order to work with donors to improve the effectiveness of their assistance and to say ‘goodbye to conflict and hello to development’.

“We appreciate the strong leadership that the g7+ has shown. We have supported the group since its formation and we look forward to continue supporting the important reforms they advocate," says Jim Adams, Vice President for the World Bank's East Asia and Pacific Region.

Forming a “New Deal”

What came out of the retreat was the “New Deal” explaining that the current paradigm for international support to fragile states is not effective.
Since the MDGs assume a basic human and institutional capacity, which does not exist in those countries, measuring progress against MDGs in those is unrealistic.

The g7+ proposes a set of peace-building and state-building goals (PSGs) that would lay the foundation for the MDGs:  

• Legitimate Politics (a State for all), 
• Security (safety for all), Justice (equity for all),
• Economic Foundations (jobs for all),
• Resources and revenue management (services for all).

These goals have been developed by the g7+, and are fully aligned with the findings of the World Bank's 2011 World Development Report on Conflict, Security and Development.  

Shifting the Paradigm

The g7+ wants donors to do things differently. In an address to the donor community in Juba, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão said, “We still need you. We just want to correct how you help us.”

“This is not a substitute to the MDGs, because some countries are further along on the fragility spectrum. PSGs will be complementary,” said Siafa Hage from Liberia’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs and focal point for the g7+.

The g7+ asked donors to endorse the PSGs and use them as the framework to allocate aid.  Additionally, donor presence in countries is fragmented, lacks a coherent focus, and provides little country ownership. The g7+ proposes country-led assessments and national plans and seeks predictability in aid.

H.E. Kosti Manibe, Minister of Finance, South Sudan added that ‘the only way you can drive is from the driver’s seat, not from the back seat, and this is what we want to tell our friends.” Armand Kasumbu of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of  National Planning and g7+ focal point, added “we want one vision, and one plan, our plan, and for donors to align with it."

Finally, the g7+ member countries commit to increased transparency by publishing national and international budgets. They are also strengthening national capacity through limiting the use of external technical assistance and increasing learning through South-South exchanges. In return, they are asking donors for enhanced transparency in aid allocation, higher risk tolerance, greater speed and predictability of funding, and more investment in country systems and capacities.