Initiatives for SDG Implementation – ECOSOC briefing

As part of its dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the UN development system in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) a briefing held a briefing at the end of 2015, in which Helen Clark, Chair of the UN Development Group (UNDG) and Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, and Mahmoud Mohieldin, World Bank Group participated.

Over a 18-month period the ECOSOC dialogue process, which consists of both formal and informal sessions, is expected to be a key input to the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the UN system (QCPR), to be issued in August 2016. The first phase of the dialogue took place from December 2014 to May 2015 and the second phase began in November 2015.

During the briefing, held on 17 December 2015, Helen Clark stated that no single UN agency "working in isolation can make an optimal contribution to the 2030 Agenda.” She also outlined a set of core principles agreed within UNDG to support the implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). These include “following the imperative of national ownership, with UN actions firmly determined by country needs and national capacities; delivering integrated strategic analysis, policy advice, and where possible, programme support; striving for innovation at the global, regional and country levels including in the use of data, technologies and public engagement techniques; and serving the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized.”

The UNDG, to provide coherent and integrated support for the implementation of the SDGs, has developed “an approach on Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS) that pays special attention to the cross-cutting elements of partnerships, data and accountability; and a common reference guide to support mainstreaming the 2030 Agenda, which is being piloted in 20 countries. Guidelines are also being produced for UN Country Teams (UNCTs) to support the development of national SDG reports. A "UN SDG Action Campaign" is also planned to help popularize the SDGs.

In discussing steps to be taken by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and other members of the UN Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs (ECESA) to meet the requirements of the 2030 Agenda, Wu Hongbo said that the “UN regional commissions are planning to strengthen their support to the UN system in promoting the SDGs' integration into national development planning and in enhancing data and statistical capacities at the country level.” In addition, the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) (OHRLLS) is planning to increase support to these countries in special situations; the UN Research Institute for Sustainable Development (UNRISD) and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) are reviewing and redesigning their programmes to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; and DESA is examining “how to better align its main functions (supporting intergovernmental processes, providing analytical work and capacity building) with the Agenda.”

Mahmoud Mohieldin remarked that finance, data and implementation are critical areas for the World Bank Group's contribution to the attainment of the SDGs. The Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will continue to improve coordination and strengthen working relationships, including by providing financial and non-financial support at the regional, country and subnational levels. The World Bank Group is working with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data to launch a US$100 million trust fund to support innovations in technology, as well as innovations to trigger lasting changes in data production, accessibility and use. Two financing facilities are also being developed in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank to mobilize support for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and hosting communities, as well as support for reconstruction and recovery efforts. 

For further information see: http://sd.iisd.org/news/un-system-highlights-initiatives-for-sdg-implementation/