Regional Sustainable Development Forums leading to 2021 HLPF

Each UN Regional Commissions is organizing its Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSDs) in the lead  up to the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) to be convened from 6-15 July 2021, under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).  

The HLPF thematic focus is Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, that promotes the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: Building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.

It will focus in particular on nine SDGs: Goals 1 - No poverty; 2 - Zero hunger;  3 - Good health and wellbeing; 8 - Decent work and economic growth; 10 - Reduced inequalities; Goal 12 - Responsible consumption and production; Goal 13 - Climate action; 16 - Peace, justice, and strong institutions; and 17 - Partnership for the Goals. In preparation for these thematic reviews, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) will organize expert group meetings.

All five RFSDs will be held in March 2021: 

•  UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) RFSD: 1-4 March in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, in hybrid format;
•  UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) RFSD: 15-18 March in Costa Rica, in virtual format;
• UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) RFSD: 17-18 March in Geneva, Switzerland, in hybrid format;
• UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) RFSD – the eighth Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD 8): 23-26 March 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand, in hybrid format; and
• UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) RFSD: 29-31 March in Beirut, Lebanon, in hybrid format.

Voluntary national reviews for 2021

44 countries will present their voluntary national reviews (VNRs) during the 2021 HLPF. They are intended to track progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs at the country level. To date 205 VNRs have been presented by 168 countries. (Not sure how to do this one -- The  countries presenting VNRs in 2021 include ten first-time reports, 25 second reports, and nine third reports.  

Information to assist countries in their reports include: 

• facts sheets on countries participation in various human rights mechanisms and procedures, and groups at risk of being left behind, as well as guidance on data collection and linking the 2030 Agenda with human rights follow-up processes, prepared by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights participation in among other information.
• UN issues guidance for countries on preparing their VNRs, which has been updated for the 2021 HLPF.
• Series of workshops being organized by DESA for officials preparing the VNRs in each country. 
• Workshops for all RFSD on regional specificities and lessons learned by previous VNR countries

It is expected that the HLPF will adopt a Ministerial Declaration for which consultations will be held in advance. The ECOSOC President will also prepare a summary of discussions during the HLPF

For HLPF Timeline for Preparations, see: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf/2021#preparation