Role of UNECE-RCEM

The Regional Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (RSEM) for the UN Economic Commission for Europe UNECE) is responsible for planning interventions and strategy meetings related to the Regional Forum for Sustainable Development (RFSD) for the region 

UNECE RFSD 2021

The meeting will take place on 17 and 18 March

Registration deadline for NGOs is 1 March at: https://indico.un.org/event/34866/

The meeting will be in a hybrid format with limited translations and accessibility. It will be chaired by Romania and Portugal.

The programme will consist of:

(1) Formal sessions

17 March

10.00 – 12.00 Opening and High-level Policy Segment: Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and action and delivery on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the UNECE Region

12.00 – 14.00 Lunch break

14.00 – 16.00 Plenary Session: Key actions and accelerators to tackle the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 and to promote a sustainable recovery

18 March

10.00 – 12.00 Plenary Session and Closing: Experiences from the region with Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs)

(The following countries will be reporting: Azerbaijan (3^rd); Cyprus (2^nd); Czech Republic (2^nd); Denmark (2^nd); Germany (2^nd); Norway (2^nd); San Marino; Spain (2^nd); Sweden (2^nd)

(2) Virtual peer learning round tables

10-16 March Preceding the RFSD will be virtual peer learning round tables in three clusters:

Cluster 1: PEOPLE Strengthening health, food and social protection systems towards COVID-19 recovery and resilience

Session 1-1: Health and social protection

Session 1-2: Accelerating SDG progress in the time of a pandemic: making healthy diets accessible to all

Session 1-3: Road safety (target 3.6)

Cluster 2: PROSPERITY: Building back innovative, inclusive and sustainable economies and providing decent and productive jobs for all

Session 2-1: Recovering from COVID-19 through a sustainable and human-centred approach to the future of work

Session 2-2: The socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on youth

Session 2-3: Transforming tourism for a sustainable, prosperous and inclusive post-COVID-19 world

Cluster 3: PLANET Pathways to a sustainable COVID-19recovery for climate and the environment

Session 3-1: Partnerships for a sustainable recovery initiatives to accelerate the achievement of the environment and climate goals of the 2030 Agenda

Session 3-2: Sustainable consumption and production patterns

Session 3-3: Building back better: Climate-resilient recovery

Session 3-4: Snapshot on Boreal forests’ contribution to the SDGs

Cross-cutting sessions

Session 4-1: SDG data and statistics

Session 4-2: Digital Transformation for SDG implementation

Most speakers, if not all, will be connected on line. 

The platform for plenaries will be Interprefy or another UNOG-approved platform

Platforms to be used for roundtable sessions will include Zoom, Webex and MS Teams

Other sessions

A number of side events are included in the programme:

Wednesday 10 March: 

Water dialogues – Accelerating SDG 6 implementation

Creative mobilisation spaces for feminists and women’s rights activists

COVID-19 recovery inclusive of refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons and migrants

Delivering on both Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda

Upholding equality and protecting against discrimination and hate

Civil Society: Reducing Inequalities to Promote Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies 

Thursday 11 March

Follow-up of Voluntary National Reviews in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (in Russian)

Financing for gender equality

The role of research in tackling COVID-19

Friday 12 March

Rethinking the Care Economy

Economies in transition: Trade, innovation and sustainable development

Rural women, youth and economic opportunities

Accelerating Development through Informed Governments and Societies

Monday 15 March 

Blockchain Technologies for Sustainable Recovery

Adjusting statistical activities to monitor the SDGs

The Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities

Tuesday 16 March

Role of policy coherence for sustainable economies and societies

A global to local approach to COVID-19 recovery

Circular and sustainable value chains in the garment and footwear sector

Nature-based recovery from COVID-19

Wednesday 17 March

Shaping resilient societies for longterm recovery 

PRE-MEETINGS (Virtual)

Civil Society Pre-meeting

A number of working groups are being established on:

•  Agenda and strategy meeting planning
•  Advocacy 
•  VNR
•  Communications and Outreach
•  Accessibility and interpretations
•  Fundraising (for accessibility options)

Local governments: The role of SDG Voluntary Local Reviews

SDG Business Dialogue

Parliamentarians: The role of parliaments in SDG implementation

Opportunities for civil society engagement

• Opening plenary and High-level segment should include a slot for CSOs (about 2-3 mins)
• Plenary on Key actions and accelerators (?) 
• Closing session (?)
• Peer learning roundtables including Health and social protection; socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on youth; SDG data and statistics
• Side events
• Civil Society Pre-meeting including workshops

Meeting of RCEM: Wednesdays at 12.00 – 13.00 CET