By: Dustin Wright
Reflecting the CSW58 priority theme of “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for women and girls,” over the coming months Ecumenical Women will be posting stories about our individual member organizations’ efforts to implement the MDGs. What follows is our sixth installment, this one about how the Anglican Communion, an EW member organization, recently held regional consultations using the MYWorld Global Survey to discern individual’s priorities for global development/ the post-2015 development agenda. What follows is an interesting look at the results of that effort.
The MY World survey shows that a good education, better healthcare, and an honest and responsive government, are the top three priorities for the world so far. These priorities change when targeting different demographics:
Both men and women
1. A good education
2. Better healthcare
3. An honest and responsive government
Both Brazil and Burundi
1. A good education
2. An honest and responsive government
3. Better healthcare
UK
1. A good education
2. Access to clean water
3. Affordable and nutritious food
You can see more results – split by country, gender and age – here: http://www.myworld2015.org/?partner=alliance&page=results
Priorities from Anglicans The Anglican Alliance held regional consultations in 2011, to hear Anglicans’ top priorities for development, relief and advocacy in each region. These largely addressed the gaps in the MDGs, such as disability in emergencies and economic inequality.
Consultation in Hong Kong (Asia)
1. Economic empowerment and peace and reconciliation were the key issues.
2. Climate change and youth empowerment
3. There was discussion about changing women’s empowerment to making it women and children, or making youth empowerment a cross cutting issue.
4. Governance within the church as well as in communities.
5. Extractive industries, including issues about indigenous people, climate change and justice.
Consultation in Honiara (Pacific)
1. Climate change, survival and food security
2. Forced migration, migrants and refugees
3. Youth empowerment – including violence against young women and gang culture
4. Peace and reconciliation
Consultation in Nairobi (Africa)
1. Access to finance and economic empowerment
2. Food security and climate change
3. Financing for provision of services, in particular water and sanitation
4. Governance
Anglicans have also voted for their top priorities post-2015 on the Alliance MY World partner page. In order of priority, Anglicans worldwide have chosen:
1. Affordable and nutritious food
2. Access to clean water and sanitation
3. A good education
4. Better healthcare
5. Equality between men and women
6. An honest and responsive government
7. Protection against crime and violence
8. Action taken on climate change
9. Reliable energy at home
10. Protecting forests, rivers and oceans
11. Freedom from discrimination and persecution
12. Support for people who can’t work
13. Better job opportunities
14. Political freedoms
15. Better transport and roads
16. Phone and internet access
Women make up 75 per cent of Alliance votes. Countries with a high human development index (HDI) make up 45 per cent of votes, and 45 per cent come from countries with a very low HDI.
Most Anglican votes have come from Bangladesh, where women at the grassroots have shown notable engagement with the survey; over 500 women have already voted using a paper ballot system and another round of votes is currently taking place. Their top five priorities are:
1. Better healthcare
2. A good education
3. Affordable and nutritious food
4. Access to clean water and sanitation
5. Reliable energy at home
Regional results also vary:
Africa
1. A good education
2. An honest and responsive government
3. Access to clean water and sanitation
Asia
1. A good education
2. Better healthcare
3. Affordable and nutritious food
Oceania
1. Protecting forests, rivers and oceans
2. Affordable and nutritious food
3. Action taken on climate change
Americas
1. Access to clean water and sanitation
2. Affordable and nutritious food
3. An honest and responsive government
Europe
1. Access to clean water and sanitation
2. Affordable and nutritious food
3. A good education