The Dominican Republic as a pilot project.

• Author: Gagain, John R., Jr.
• Position: Millennium Development Watch

SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN visited the Dominican Republic for the first time on 4 August 2006, at the invitation of President Leonel Fernandez, to learn about the country's progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The visit was prompted by the fact that the Dominican Republic was chosen as one of the UN Millennium Project's "pilot countries" in 2004--an initiative commissioned by Mr. Annan and directed by a distinguished economist, Jeffrey Sachs--and the only one so far that has created a Presidential Commission exclusively to coordinate, monitor and follow up on the MDG progress.

The Secretary-General was deeply impressed with the Commission's presentation, stating that the Dominican Republic is "heading the right way" and setting a "model", which will be of great interest to many countries in the region and around the world. It is "an inspiration to the international community and an example to the developing world", he added. But, the remark that most caught the audience's attention was Mr. Annan's statement that "you cannot have security without development and you cannot have development without security". This encouraged many of those present to think beyond mainstream ideology regarding what type of model was being established in the Dominican Republic.

The "Dominican Model", primarily in its initial stages, is in reference to President Fernandez's commitment and dedication to the MDGs, both politically and institutionally, resulting particularly from his creation of the Commission. The idea of the "Model" has since taken on added value because of its evolving nature. The Commission has been a "work in progress" that adapts to the needs of the country and those who are disadvantaged and impoverished.

The Dominican Republic has become a model for both security and development. It is a living example of what United Nations discourse is preaching in this era of UN reform, particularly after Mr. Annan's efforts towards making the world body more in tune to the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century. This work was enshrined in the two initiatives he has established: the UN Millennium Project and the Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change. The United Nations was created "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war". However, 61 years later, the twenty-first century provides for an era where maintaining peace and security must focus on our greatest...