Over the past twenty years we have heard constantly that the world has the resources to address global development challenges such as poverty, environmental degradation, diseases and inequalities. However, despite the resources “being there” human development plans have been consistently underfunded.

Clearly, existing “trickle-down” and redistribution mechanisms are not being effective and will be woefully inadequate to fund the implementation of the universal SDGs agenda.

The phenomenon known as “Sinai Trafficking” started in 2009 in the Sinai desert and it involves the abduction, extortion, sale, torture, sexual violation and killing of men, women and children. Migrants, a majority of them Eritrean, are abducted and brought to the Sinai desert, where they are sold and resold, extorted for very high ransoms collected by mobile phone, while being brutally and “functionally” tortured to support the extortion. Many of them die in Sinai.

Developing countries need sufficient policy space in particular in the areas of trade, finance and industrial development if they are to meet the goals of the post-2015 development agenda, says the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations discussed on 23-25 February the Secretary General report on the implementation of the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review requested by the General Assembly. Under a cryptic title, the meeting addressed core issues, such as the UN development system’s role (and its relevance) in the post 2015 agenda.

When it comes to the UN’s role in development, there is a broad consensus on the unique value the UN brings to the table because of its history, neutrality, convening power and universal representation. However, it is important to underline that the development ecosystem is being populated in recent years by emerging economic powers and new actors such as philanthropic organizations, large INGOs, regional institutions and development banks.

Moreover, the UN is no longer the biggest funder of development activities, as it is now finds itself in second position, behind the European Commission.

Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) recently launched a new book entitled, “The Remaking of Social Contracts: Feminists in a Fierce New World”, edited by Gita Sen and Marina Durano, published by ZED Books, London.  This book is a result of a long process of debate and reflection that DAWN members engaged in, along with partners and allies in different civil society organizations and social movements. It follows from the previous groundbreaking books that DAWN has published through the years, starting with Development, Crises and Alternative Visions: Third World Women’s Perspectives (Sen and Grown,1987);  Population and Reproductive Rights: Feminist Perspectives from the South (Correa and Reichmann, 1994) and The Marketisation of Governance (Taylor, 2000).