GFDD at the United Nations DPI/NGO Section weekly briefing on The Monterrey Consensus
New York, United States, March 23, 2006.

On March 23, 2006, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), represented by Maria Victoria Abreu, participated in the weekly briefing meeting of the United Nations Department of Public Information, NGO Section (UN DPI/NGO), which focused on The Monterrey Consensus and the United Nations Development Agenda.

More than one hundred NGOs and CSOs representatives from all around the world gathered at the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium, UN Headquarters in New York City, to discuss with experts and UN representatives the current status of Financing for Development issues. Big topics such as debt relief strategies, trends of the Official Development Aid (ODA) from developed to developing countries, the likelihood of the implementation of the Global Tax for Development, and others, were intensely discussed at the meeting. Panelists included H.E. Kirsti Lintonen, Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN; Alberto D'Alotto, Deputy Permanent Representative of Argentina to the UN; Oscar De Rojas, Director, Financing for Development Office, Department of Economic and Social Affairs; and Philo Morris, Chair, NGO Committee on Financing for Development.

The event also included the viewing of a taped interview made to Ambassador Marjatta Rasi, former President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), in which she pointed out the important role of The Monterrey Consensus on bringing financing development issues to the international negotiation table. She also highlighted the successes that have been achieved since March 2002 when this First Conference on Financing Development happened in the Mexican city. The challenges faced today by the international community on this interesting and urgent topic were also argued.

In addition to DPI/NGO, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) is member of several other agencies within the United Nations as an institution with Consultative Status.