UN Member States urged to act on calls for better governance, services

By responding to an unprecedented global consultation, UN Member States can turn hope into action and build a more equitable world with decent health care, education, and jobs for all, UN Development Group (UNDG) Chair and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark said Monday.

As chair of the UN Development Group, comprising 32 UN funds and programmes that implemented the project, she spoke on a high-level panel about the resulting report "A Million Voices: The World We Want," which gathered views and votes from more than 1 million people worldwide.

"I understand a number of Member States are already paving the way by drawing on the outcomes of their national consultations and global results to shape goals that will succeed the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after their 2015 target," she said. "I welcome this, and hope that it will also inspire other nations to do the same."

"By listening and responding to these voices, UN Member States can chart new territory-generating the kind of public ownership which could turn the world's aspirations into action through an agenda monitored and championed by the people to whom it matters most."

"The World We Want" consultations and surveys found people expect governments and the international community to create conditions for inclusive social and economic development, peace and security, within planetary boundaries.

"A Million Voices: The World We Want" was presented Monday to world leaders during the 68^th Session of the UN General Assembly. Consultations and surveys will continue through 2015 so people's opinions can inform the intergovernmental process shaping the post-2015 development agenda.

More than 300,000 people engaged in face-to-face meetings in 88 countries and 11 consultations on issues such as food security, access to clean water, and governance. The WorldWeWant2015 Web platform hosted online discussions, which brought together communities of experts.

Some 1 million people participated through the MY World 2015 options survey, using digital channels, SMS and extensive offline interactions through a network of over 700 civil society partners. Most MY World votes came from India, Nigeria, Cameroon, Thailand, Philippines, Rwanda, the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, and Indonesia. Half the participants were younger than 30. An online world map show results of the survey-allowing people to separate out the results by countries, regions, gender, levels of education or age.