Conference on Financing Sustainable Development Curbing Illicit Financial Flows
1. Mahmoud Mohieldin
Senior Vice President
Conference on Financing Sustainable
Development
Curbing Illicit Financial Flows
Beirut, November 28, 2018
@wbg2030
worldbank.org/sdgs
2. The SDGs present a major opportunity for
transformation
Global development agendas serve as a guide for countries to determine their national development path
MDGs (2000-2015) SDGs (2016-2030)
Goals/Targets/Indicators 8/21/60 17/169/~230
Priority Areas Human Development Holistic: Economic, Social, Environmental
Scope Developing Countries Universal
3. (i) economic—helping the
low-income countries
achieve the SDGs
(ii) social—the importance
of inclusion and equity
(iii) environmental—
tackling climate change
(iv) governance—the
centrality of strong
institutions
Four dimensions of
achieving the SDGs
4. Economic Dimensions of Achieving the SDGs
1
Economic
effects of lack
of access to
essential
services
2
High levels of
debt,
especially in
low-income
countries
3
Prioritizing
lower income
countries
4
Partnerships
are key
9. Source: From billions to trillions – MDB contributions to financing for development, July 2015
10.
11. Notes: Components of IFFs include both source of funds and motivations of IFFs and may not be mutually exclusive. Individual
transactions from different channels may be combined by actors to try to obscure the source, motivation and/or use of funds. Size of
arrows does not represent the magnitude of flows, and are illustrative rather than comprehensive.
Source: IATF
A general definition of what constitutes IFFs
12. Heat Map of Illicit financial Flows, by country as percentage of GDP – An
issue focused in developing economies, which have less resources to
achieve the SDGs
Source: Mbeki IFF Report, 2015
13. Source: IATF – Coherent Policies for Combatting IFFs, July 2016
14.
15. Mahmoud Mohieldin
Senior VP
Thank You
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Notas do Editor
1) And 2) Low-income countries are borrowing more on non-concessional terms, increasing interest service costs.
Income Inequality
Income inequality has become one of the global economy’s greatest challenges. Inequality has been reduced between countries. But not within countries.
Reducing inequality, research suggests an important role for public investment in health, education, and social protection systems. The private sector also has a role to play.
Gender Inequality
The sad reality is that girls and women all over the world continue to face the daily indignities of discrimination, harassment, and too often violence as well.
About 90 percent of countries have some legal restriction on women’s economic activity.
invest in the SDGs and boost women’s empowerment, which in turn lays the groundwork for broader SDG success.
The Paris Agreement. Countries committed to reducing carbon emissions—with the goal of stopping global temperatures rising by more than 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels. This commitment will entail moving toward a zero-carbon global economy over the coming decades.
Carbon Pricing. Carbon pricing comes with many advantages. It is easy to administer if done by integrating carbon charges into fuel tax systems.
Adaptation to this new normal will also be important. Vulnerable countries will need to invest in areas such as coastal protection and more resilient infrastructure and agriculture
Good governance is essential. If institutions are weak, the odds of SDG success are severely handicapped. This is why the SDGs call for “effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”
By undermining trust and delegitimizing institutions, corruption makes it hard for countries to take the collective decisions needed to advance the common good.
Successful anti-corruption initiatives are built on institutional reforms that emphasize transparency and accountability—for example, shining a light on all aspects of the government budget.
A related problem is the massive extent of tax avoidance and tax evasion. One estimate is that the wealth in offshore financial centers reaches 10 percent of global GDP. This makes it really difficult to finance the SDGs.