Independent Expert Group on a data revolution for sustainable development – kick-off meeting during General Assembly Week

The first meeting of the Independent Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) on a data revolution for sustainable development was held in New York 25 - 26 September, during the General Assembly. 

The group reviewed their mandate and agreed that it included: 

•  defining what a data revolution for development means
•  suggesting measures to close data gaps
•  seeking opportunities for new innovations and data sources while strengthening accountability at all levels.  

It discussed the substance and timing of the report to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, due in early November.

Among the issues highlighted were:

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RESURJ Statement to the General Assembly Special Session on the 20th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development UN

Last week, the United Nations held a “High Level Meeting” to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of the groundbreaking International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo. Twenty years ago, it was groundbreaking because it amassed world leaders who committed to approaching population and development policies placing women’s health and our human rights at its center. Last week’s commemorative meeting failed to replicate this spirit and momentum, even after considerable resources were spent in countries, regionally and globally to galvanize political will and commitment to this end.

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Further information on UN General Assembly Debate on follow-up to ICPD Programme of Action

The following information and clarifications about the UN General Assembly Debate on follow up to ICPD Programme of Action on 9 October have been made available to us by Kwabena Osei-Danquah and members of the UNFPA ICPD Beyond 2014 staff:

There will be no resolutions at the end of the debate.

At the end of the UNGASS, the General Assembly agreed, without objection or reservation, to the procedural conclusion of the session. It reads:

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UN General Assembly discusses follow-up to ICPD Programme of Action

Under the topic  “Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences”, the President of the General Assembly will hold a debate on agenda item 13 “Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields. The second part of this agenda item is on “Follow-up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development”. It will take place tomorrow, Thursday 9 October 2014, at 10.00 am in the General Assembly Hall, New York. 

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Commonwealth Heads of Government adopt Statement on Post-2015 Development

At the end of their meeting on 26 September in New York during the UN General Assembly, Commonwealth Heads of Government adopted a statement on the UN post-2015 development agenda, which will be submitted to the UN Secretary-General. 

The Commonwealth, which comprises over 2 billion people and over one quarter of the United Nations membership in its 53 member states, welcomed in its statement “the inclusive inter-governmental process in the United Nations to achieve a concise, compelling, ambitious and balanced development agenda beyond 2015, building on and reinforcing existing agreements, and recognizing the many outcomes that may feed in to the intergovernmental process.”  It noted, in particular, the contributions made by the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel of Eminent Persons, the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development.  

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UN General Debate Continues Addressing Post-2015 Agenda on final day

30 September 2014: On the final day of the UN General Assembly's (UNGA) 69th General Debate, speakers again addressed their countries priorities for the post-2015 development agenda as well as topics such as climate change, health and security. Closing the Debate on 30 September, UNGA President Sam Kutesa urged Member States to “make real and meaningful change in the livelihoods of humanity and the health of our planet.”

Several speakers shared their countries' progress towards realizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including Yousef Bin Al-Alawi Bin Abdulla, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Oman, Collin Beck, Permanent Representative, Solomon Islands, and Jorge Alberto Silva Borges, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cape Verde. Wilfred Elrington, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Belize, said its MDG experience “makes us less than sanguine that we will be more successful in achieving the post-2015 development agenda.” Alva Romanus Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation, Saint Lucia, welcomed the development bank established by Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa (the BRICS), which he said would assist countries to achieve the MDGs. Rimbink Pato, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration, Papua New Guinea (PNG), said it tailored the MDGs to its national priorities with 88 indicators connected to its national development plan.

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UN General Debate Continues Addressing Post-2015 Agenda on Day 4

27 September 2014: At the 69th UN General Assembly (UNGA) General Debate, Heads of State and Government continued their discussion of the post-2015 development agenda alongside consideration of a range of other issues.

Several countries described national efforts on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including Sheikh, Prime Minister, Bangladesh, and Enele Sosene Sopoga, Prime Minister, Tuvalu. Zarar Ahmad Osmani, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan, said it began working toward the MDGs in 2005 and is committed to achieving most of the Goals by 2020, while also planning to synchronize its efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Oldemiro Marques Balói, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mozambique, supported guaranteeing the sustainability of MDGs already achieved, and accelerating implementation on those lagging behind. Ri Su Yong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Democratic Republic of Korea, said the post-2015 agenda should consolidate MDG successes. Prosper Bazombanza, Vice President, Burundi, recommended building on progress to define post-2015 objectives.

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UNGA General Debate 2014 Continues Focus on MDGs, Post-2015 Agenda, SIDS

29 September 2014: As the 69th UN General Assembly's (UNGA) General Debate entered its second week, speakers continued to reflect on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and outline their priorities for the post-2015 development agenda, including gender equality and women's empowerment, peace and security, and oceans. Small island developing States (SIDS) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) highlighted particular challenges and vulnerabilities, with some also addressing the challenge of graduation from least developed country (LDC) status.

Several speakers described their countries' progress toward achieving the MDGs, including Jean-Paul Adam, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Seychelles, Phandu Skelemani, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Botswana, Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lesotho, and Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bahrain. With much remaining to be done, said Albert del Rosario, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the Philippines, the country has strengthened data collection and analysis as a tool for measuring MDG progress and supporting decision-making.

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69th General Debate Addresses Post-2015, Countries in Special Situations

26 September 2014: Speaking during the General Debate of the 69th UN General Assembly's (UNGA) on its third day, Heads of State and Government continued highlighting their priorities for the post-2015 development agenda, including on countries in special situations. Speakers also discussed global challenges such as security, terrorism, UN reform, climate change and sustainable energy.

Many speakers described their countries' progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including Namibia, El Salvador, Haiti, Dominica, the Comoros, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, and Trinidad and Tobago.

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29th Special Session of the UN General Assembly on ICPD Beyond 2014

The 29^th Special Session of the UN General Assembly on ICPD Beyond 2014 took place on Monday 22 September 2014. The main item on the agenda was the “Follow-up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population Development beyond 2014.”

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon said in opening the meeting, "As we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Cairo Conference and look ahead to the future, we cannot afford to short-change development," He noted that some 800 women still died each day from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and an estimated 8.7 million young women in developing countries resorted to unsafe abortions every year. Millions of people, particularly in the world’s poorest countries, also still suffered from poverty, hunger, unemployment, low life expectancy and scant access to health care and education.

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