General Assembly meetings in 2014 for post-2015 development agenda: announcement of arrangements

As was announced by the President of the UN General Assembly during its Special Event in September, six meetings will be held in 2014 to operationalize the theme for the 68th session UN General Assembly: The post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage!

There will be three thematic debates and three high level events to enable Member States to begin the elaboration of the priority areas for the post-2015 development agenda, as well as a final high level “Stock-Taking” event.

The thematic debates will be carried out in consultation with the co-chairs of the OWG and of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing to avoid duplication and promote synergies.

The tentative calendar is as follows:

February	Thematic Debate	Water, sanitation and sustainable energy in the post-2015 Development Agenda
March	High-level event	The role of women, the young and civil society to the post-2015 Development Agenda
April	Thematic Debate	The role of partnerships and their contribution to post-2015 Development Agenda
April	Thematic Debate	Ensuring stable and peaceful societies in the post-2015 development framework
May	High-level event	Contributions of South-South, Triangular Cooperation, and ICT for Development to the post-2015 Development Agenda
June	High-level event	Contributions of Human Rights and the Rule of Law in the post-2015 Development Agenda
September	High-level event	“Stock-Taking Event"

Organizational aspects

a) The three high-level events will consist each of a one-day plenary segment, followed by consecutive, interactive, multi stakeholder panel discussions and a brief closing segment. Member States will be invited to participate at the highest political level.

b) The three thematic debates will consist each of an opening segment, three consecutive, interactive, multi stakeholder panel discussions and a brief closing segment. Each thematic debate will take place over a period of one and half days.

c) Permanent Missions will be invited to nominate representatives at the Ministerial level, to co-chair panel discussions.

Further information from the Women’s Major Group (tbc) and EuroNGOs Digest SRHR & Post-2015, 6-12 December 2013

Tentative dates

According to the Women’s Major Group (WMG) the following are the tentative dates for the six meetings:

Feb 20-21	Water, sanitation and sustainable energy in the post-2015 development agenda (just after the last OWG meeting)
Mar 6-7	Role of women, the young and civil society in the post-2015 development agenda (just before CSW)
April 7-8	Role of partnerships and their contribution to the post-2015 development agenda (just before CPD)
Late April	Ensuring stable and peaceful societies in the post-2015 development framework
May 20-21 or 21-22	Contributions of South-South, Triangular Cooperation and ICT for Development to the post-2015 development agenda

Preparations

• There shall be six concept notes (one for each meeting) to be prepared by the UN Technical Support Teams (TSTs) and posted on 20 December on the President of the General Assembly website; feedback can be provided through written submissions.


• There should be also a consultation with CSOs in late January/early February, which should be an additional opportunity to provide feedback on concept notes.

Format & Participation

• Format high-level events: There will be thematic roundtables + plenary; co-chaired by ministers (TBD); limited number of speakers; will alternate between member states and civil society representatives.
  Outcome – short document (similar to summaries of OWG co-chairs).

Meetings shall be open to participation by ECOSOC accredited civil society organization and those registered for the MDGs Special Event on 25 September. Interventions by CSOs should be coordinated by UNGLS, UNDESA (including Major Groups,) UNDPI and the UN Office of Economic Support and Coordination.