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 (3rd); Cyprus (2nd); Czech Republic (2nd); Denmark (2nd); Germany (2nd); Norway (2nd); San Marino; Spain (2nd); Sweden (2nd)
(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:
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
Meeting of RCEM: Wednesdays at 12.00 – 13.00 CET