The CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) acknowledges the important principles included in the European Commission’s Communication ‘A Global Partnership for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development after 2015.’ We agree that the promotion and
protection of all human rights should be the fundamental basis for a sustainable post-2015 world and that solidarity and cooperation are important pillars on the road to ending poverty.

We also welcome the resolve of the EC to put in place a Global Partnership that recognizes the important role of civil society as well as the EC’s recommitment to inclusive development that ensures the widest participation of citizens and other stakeholders in decision-making
processes.

However, in keeping its mandate to uphold the principles of development effectiveness in all areas of work, the CPDE raises caution on a number of issues that should be addressed in order to contribute in global efforts to end poverty after 2015. We express concern on the increasing push for private sector enagement in development processes without proper discussion on regulatory and accountability frameworks ensuring that private sector involvement is predicated on social and environmental accountability and aligned with international standards on business and human rights, ILO and UN protocols. Despite endeavours to promote corporate social responsibility as a form of private sector accountability, the current voluntary systems have evidently limited scope while big businesses continue to externalise environmental and social costs.