URU, Alm.del - 2015-16 - Endeligt svar på spørgsmål 113: Spm. om oversendelse af rapporten "Report of the Secretary-General on critical milestones towards coherent, efficient and inclusive follow-up and review at the global level", til udenrigsministeren

Udenrigsudvalget 2015-16
URU Alm.del
Offentligt

Advance unedited copy

United Nations

A/70/xxx.

Distr.: General

19 January 2016

Original: English

Word count (including

footnotes/endnotes): 10,972

General Assembly

Seventieth session

Agenda items 15 and 16

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

Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit

Report of the Secretary-General on critical milestones towards coherent,

efficient and inclusive follow-up and review at the global level

Summary

Meeting at a special summit at the United Nations in September

2015 World Leaders committed to an ambitious global agenda,

Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development,

with the overarching goal to eradicate poverty and

achieve sustainable development. The Agenda is a plan of action

for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership. All States

and all stakeholders recognized their respective responsibilities for

the implementation of this Agenda. Governments also underscored

that a “robust, voluntary, effective, participatory, transparent and

integrated follow-up and review framework will make a vital

contribution to implementation”

. It will “promote accountability

to citizens, support active international cooperation in achieving

this Agenda and foster exchange of best practices and mutual

learning”

. This report explores how to put in place a coherent,

efficient and inclusive follow-up and review system at the global

level, within the mandates outlined in the Agenda. It does not

attempt to describe or prescribe how to implement the 2030

Agenda, the primary responsibility for which lies at the national

level; nor does it attempt to describe the wide array of possible

multilateral support mechanisms to such implementation efforts.

Agenda 2030, paragraph 72

Paragraph 73

URU, Alm.del - 2015-16 - Endeligt svar på spørgsmål 113: Spm. om oversendelse af rapporten "Report of the Secretary-General on critical milestones towards coherent, efficient and inclusive follow-up and review at the global level", til udenrigsministeren

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

Contents

Paragraphs

Introduction

1-6

II.

A review system oriented towards supporting national implementation

7-9

III.

Working coherently with the institutions we have

10-17

The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

18-35

The General Assembly

36-39

The Economic and Social Council

40-43

Functional commissions and other intergovernmental bodies

and forums

44-54

The UN Regional Commissions and other regional bodies

55-58

IV.

Assessments by non-UN organizations

59-62

Ensuring inclusiveness of global reviews

63-68

VI.

Ensuring that high quality data supports the reviews

69-71

VII. Ensuring ambition and impact of HLPF Voluntary National Reviews

National and sub-national reviews

72-74

Incentives for countries to participate in Voluntary National Reviews

by HLPF

75-76

Periodicity and number of Voluntary National Reviews by the HLPF 77-79

Featuring and discussing Voluntary National Reviews at the HLPF

80-82

Building on existing mechanisms

83-84

Follow-up to national reviews at HLPF

85-86

Recommendations on voluntary common reporting guidelines

87-89

VIII. Annual theme of the HLPF and sequence of thematic reviews over

the 4-year cycle

90-99

IX.

Link between the annual theme of the HLPF and the theme of ECOSOC

100-103

Reporting by major groups, other stakeholders and partnerships

104-107

XI.

Milestones and way forward

108-136

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

INTRODUCTION

1. From Sendai

to Addis Ababa

and from New York

to Paris

, 2015 was a

momentous year for multilateralism and international policy shaping.

Transforming

our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

adopted in New York in

September 2015 is the ambitious shared vision that will guide our efforts to eradicate

poverty and achieve sustainable development over the next 15 years. Seventeen

sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their accompanying targets are at its

heart. The SDGs were developed by UN Member States, in a broad consultative

process that included unprecedented engagement with civil society. The broad

ownership of the 2030 Agenda must translate into a strong commitment by all

stakeholders to implement the Agenda and achieve the Goals.

2. The UN Member States clearly expressed their resolve to buttress the

implementation of the SDGs with a robust, voluntary, effective, participatory,

transparent, and integrated follow-up and review of progress

3. The follow-up and review framework must carry forward the spirit of partnership

and the enthusiastic civil society and business sector engagement that have led to the

successful elaboration of the Agenda. It must institutionalize the principles defined

in the Agenda and address the new areas, including the resolve to leave no one

behind and tackle climate change and the aspiration for peaceful societies and

effective institutions. It must reflect the integrated nature of the Agenda and be

geared towards supporting implementation. It should inspire a multistakeholder

approach to implementation.

4. The present report was prepared in response to paragraph 90 of the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development. Paragraph 90 requests “the Secretary General, in

consultation with Member States, to prepare a report, for consideration at the 70th

session of the General Assembly in preparation for the 2016 meeting of the HLPF,

which outlines critical milestones towards coherent, efficient, and inclusive follow -

up and review at the global level. This report should include a proposal on the

organizational arrangements for state-led reviews at the HLPF under the auspices of

ECOSOC, including recommendations on voluntary common reporting guidelines.

It should clarify institutional responsibilities and provide guidance on annual

themes, on a sequence of thematic reviews, and on options for periodic reviews for

the HLPF”.

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015-2030

Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development

A/Res/70/1

Paris Agreement on Climate Change

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

5. This report reflects my analysis and proposals, drawing from the responses of 119

Member States to a questionnaire circulated by the Secretariat

. UN system

organizations and Major Groups and other stakeholders also provided their views.

6. My proposals aim to help Member States ensure that global follow-up and review is

anchored in the realities of people’s lives and builds on effective reviews at the

national and regional levels. They suggest ways to fully use the potential of the new

high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) as the central follow -

up and review platform. They reflect on how it can rally all international

intergovernmental platforms within the UN system and beyond around the 2030

Agenda, instill coherence in their work and derive political guidance from their

conclusions. My proposals also aim to clarify the respective roles of the UN General

Assembly (UNGA), ECOSOC and other platforms. They underline that we should

work in each and every platform to integrate the SDGs and reflect the principles of

the Agenda. Above all, my proposals start from the premise that whatever we do

should be country-led, people-centred, gender-sensitive, pragmatic, open,

participatory, and useful to all countries and people.

II.

A review system oriented towards supporting national implementation

7. While committing to the systematic follow-up and review of progress at the national,

regional and global levels

, Member States have underscored that the lynchpin of

follow-up and review in implementing the SDGs will be the national level.

8. Follow-up and review processes at the global level must complement and support

national and regional reviews and be guided by the principles defined in the 2030

Agenda.

Those include among others their voluntary and state-led nature, their

respect for national ownership and the Agenda’s characteristics, their emphasis on

means of implementation, their inclusiveness, their use of existing platforms, and

their rigorous, data and evidence-based nature.

9. The ultimate purpose of global follow-up and review is to accelerate progress

towards the eradication of poverty and hunger and other SDGs.

III.

Working coherently with the institutions we have

10. At the global level, the main building blocks of the review architecture are already in

place. This architecture will be centred around the High Level Political Forum

—Including AOSIS, CARICOM, EU, G7 and PSIDS - https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf/follow-up

Para 47

para 74

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

(HLPF), which will provide political guidance and recommendations on the basis of

a global common appraisal of progress towards the SDGs.

11. The HLPF is the culmination of a network of follow-up and review processes at the

global level. Its “thematic reviews of progress on the Sustainable Development

Goals, including cross-cutting issues”, will be supported by functional commissions

of ECOSOC and other intergovernmental bodies and forums

. The 2030 Agenda

offers an overarching vision and a framework which can truly mobilize and integrate

the work of these separate bodies and forums around the SDGs and ensure that they

work as essential building blocks of a cohesive review system while respecting their

diverse mandates and governance. Building on these forums will ensure an expert

and cohesive, but also an efficient system underpinning the HLPF.

12. Equally important, the HLPF, in fulfilling its role, will work coherently with and

benefit from the guidance and support of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) under whose auspices it meets.

13. Global action and review are only valuable if they build on national and regional

efforts. Regional political, economic and sectoral institutions are thus great sources

of expertise and inspiration for following up on the Agenda at all levels. In this

regard, the regional commissions can play an important role.

14. In addition, a wealth of organizations and actors outside the UN system are planning

to review progress in areas related to the SDGs. Provided they are rigorous and

independent, they may inform and enrich intergovernmental work within the UN.

15. Major groups of civil society and other stakeholders, including business, must

participate in all parts of the follow-up and review architecture. The HLPF should

champion innovative practices to engage non-state actors. People should know

about its work and understand and relate to its conclusions.

16. Overall, ensuring effective global review is about determining how existing

institutions can embrace the principles of the 2030 Agenda and reinforce each

other’s work within a common review architecture. It is about ensuring a stronger

engagement between states and their people and an inclusive approach to realize the

transformations entailed by the SDGs. It is about creating opportunities for

identifying success factors, gaps, lessons learned and for reflecting, sharing and

mutual learning.

17. The integrated and indivisible nature of the SDGs should lead to a review system

that promotes a cross-cutting understanding of the significant interlinkages across

the goals and targets. This should foster at the HLPF, integrated and holistic

Paragraph 85

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

perspectives on progress and obstacles, while precluding any single institution or

forum from claiming exclusive ownership of or responsibility for the review of a

specific goal.

a) The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

18. The HLPF is expected to take a holistic view of implementation. It is tasked with

“assessing progress, achievements and challenges faced by developed and

developing countries” and ensuring “that the Agenda remains relevant and

ambitious”

. Member States have underscored that it should thus draw high-level

political attention to gaps or areas where we are lagging behind and provide

“political leadership, guidance and recommendations for follow-up” to accelerate

progress on the most important issues, based on good practices and scientific

findings.

Meetings under the auspices of the UNGA and meetings under the auspices of

ECOSOC:

19. The annual meetings of the HLPF, held under the auspices of ECOSOC, should pave

the way for its quadrennial meeting under the auspices of the UNGA. This means

that all seventeen SDGs should be reviewed in the HLPF under the auspices of

ECOSOC within a period of four years.

20. At the HLPF meeting under the UNGA, Heads of State and Government will then

provide political guidance at the highest level on the Agenda and its implementation,

identify progress and emerging challenges and mobilize further actions to accelerate

implementation.

These meetings will be the moment to review progress in

implementing the entire Agenda, in a holistic and integrated way and to give

political impetus at the highest level to policies and cooperation to accelerate

progress and bridge gaps, building on the outcomes of the four preceding annual

HLPF meetings. They will also allow to recommit to the 2030 Agenda and provide

directions on how to mobilize the necessary Means of Implementation overall,

drawing from the discussions at the UNGA High-level Dialogue on Financing for

Development. Importantly, HLPF meetings under the UNGA will also be the

moment to determine whether there is need for any adjustment to ensure that the

Agenda “remains relevant and ambitious”

. Given the importance of such decisions

by Heads of State and Government, they should be based on solid evidence and in-

depth analysis in the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), and SDG

progress report.

para 82

para 87

Para 82

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

Contributing to reviews at the HLPF when meeting under ECOSOC auspices:

21. Concretely, the Annual HLPF could typically include four parts: (i) Review of

overall progress, with the review of the SDG progress report, National Reviews, and

Regional Reviews; (ii) Review of progress in specific areas, with thematic review on

the Theme and In-depth Reviews of a subset of SDGs; (iii) Review of SDG 17 and

other inputs on the implementation of the AAAA; and (iv) new and emerging issues

and looking to the long term.

Review of overall progress:

22. One of the core elements of the follow-up and review framework of the 2030 Agenda

is Voluntary National Reviews by the HLPF when it meets under the auspices of

ECOSOC. As with the forum’s thematic reviews of SDGs and its examination of the

report on global progress towards the SDGs, these reviews will assess progress in

implementing the universal goals and targets, including the means of

implementation. Their focus should be the whole of the Agenda.

23. Regional reviews will also be conducted and provide the HLPF with a critical

overview of progress and major policy issues in each region

The regional forums on

sustainable development have an important role and could help bring together

existing review mechanisms. Regional review outcomes would need to be discussed

in a dedicated HLPF part on Regional Reviews.

24. In addition to the SDG progress report, the 2030 Agenda defines the GSDR as a tool

to inform the HLPF and strengthen the science-policy interface

. It will be a critical

tool to anchor the regular reviews of the HLPF in scientific findings and analysis,

enabling the HLPF to take a long-term perspective, complementing the SDG

progress report. The HLPF will use the progress reviews of SDGs as a scorecard to

identify where we are lagging behind.

Review of progress in specific areas:

25. The HLPF thematic review should also be conducted in a dedicated part.

Review of Means of implementation related targets and other inputs on the

implementation of the AAAA:

26. To ensure a holistic approach and build synergies, reviews of means of

implementation could be held not only in connection to national and thematic

reviews, but also at a dedicated part of the HLPF. This part would consider the

Para 83

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

outcomes of the implementation of Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA), while also

reviewing progress annually towards Means of implementation related targets.

27. The HLPF will thus be informed by several forums dedicated to reviewing

components of the AAAA. It will be informed by the intergovernmentally agreed

conclusions and recommendations of ECOSOC Financing for Development (FFD)

Forum

, the summary of the Multistakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and

Innovation (STI). It should also receive the President’s summary of ECOSOC

Development Cooperation Forum (DCF), as well as inputs from other relevant

forums such as the Infrastructure Forum led by the multilateral development bank s,

and the meetings of the international financial institutions or the Global Partnership

for Effective Development Cooperation. These forums could provide insights on the

situation regarding means of implementation and identify gaps and possible

solutions to be further addressed by the HLPF.

New and emerging issues:

28. A critical mandate for the HLPF is to address new and emerging issues. This will

help ensure the continued relevance of the Agenda. Member States and other

stakeholders could draw the attention of the ECOSOC President to such new and

emerging issues in advance of the HLPF. The HLPF itself might also launch further

work on new issues to be addressed at its next session.

29. The HLPF must look at the impact of today’s trends and policy choices on the SDGs

– 10, 15 or 30 years from now – and serve as the platform for identifying and

addressing new and emerging trends, linkages and challenges in a manner that

addresses all dimensions of development and that looks to the long term.

30. Currently, a “Dialogue with Executive Secretaries of Regional Commissions” and a

“High-level Dialogue with the Heads of Financial and Trade Institutions”, are held

during the ECOSOC High Level Segment (HLS). As an option, the Bureau of

ECOSOC could consider moving these dialogues to become part of the HLPF

discussions on regional reviews and on Means of Implementation, respectively,

while preserving the reporting link of regional commissions to ECOSOC. Such an

arrangement would enhance the impact of the ECOSOC HLS, which also includes

the HLPF ministerial days.

31. The HLPF could also be informed by and benefit from several specific ECOSOC

forums covering cross-cutting issues in the context of the SDGs, including the

existing forums on Partnerships, Youth and others.

Para 86

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

32. In addition, a forum for countries in special situations, including SIDS, LDCs and

LLDCs, could be held immediately prior to the HLPF. This forum could review the

implications of SDG progress for the action agendas on countries in special

situations. Such a forum could constitute a part of ECOSOC Integration segment.

Attention should also be given to countries in situations of conflict and post-conflict

countries.

33. To ensure that the HLPF gives adequate consideration to vulnerable peoples, the

Commission for Social Development, the Human Rights Council and other forums,

for example, on specific population groups such as on migrants or indigenous people

could also contribute to HLPF discussions through dedicated inputs.

34. The HLPF Ministerial Declaration would capture the essence of the vision and

policy recommendations of the multiple platforms, parts, and discussions, as well as

lessons learned, and translate them into political guidance on further action. It should

also draw critical conclusions from ministerial and other discussions conducted by

the HLPF during the session. It would therefore be necessary to finalize the

Declaration during the three ministerial days of the HLPF so as to benefit from

ministerial guidance.

35. In addition to the broad elements provided by the HLPF Ministerial Declaration, it

would be important to capture in greater detail the conclusions and possible

recommendations emanating from the reviews, as well as possible commitments

made with regard to means of implementation and partnerships. This could be done

through a HLPF Summary by the President of ECOSOC. It would serve as

proceedings of the discussions of the HLPF, facilitating follow-up and review in

subsequent years and supporting the further development of the format of review s.

b) The General Assembly

36. The General Assembly is the chief deliberative and policy making organ of the UN.

It will be able to take an integrated view of the messages emanating from the HLPF,

ECOSOC, the Peacebuilding Commission, the Security Council and other relevant

bodies such as UNEA and the Human Rights Council.

37. In order to take an integrated approach to the 2030 Agenda, the UNGA main

committees would translate the findings and broad political guidance of the HLPF

into more detailed high-level guidance on the issues on the UNGA agenda, including

the specific major UN international conferences and summits the UNGA follows.

38. The UNGA, supported by ECOSOC, is also the main platform for reviewing the UN

system’s contribution to the implementation of the Agenda. Future comprehensive

policy reviews of UN system operational activities (QCPR) should not only look at

how the UN system works, but also review how it performs on helping Member

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

States in implementing the 2030 Agenda. This is a major challenge for the UN

system, as it requires new ways of working and preserving the various elements and

overall balance of the Agenda. ECOSOC has a critical role to support the GA in this

regard, through its annual assessment of progress in implementing the QCPR. In

that vein, the Secretary-General’s report on mainstreaming sustainable development

(A/Res/70/75) could support future QCPRs along with the regular SG report for the

QCPR.

39. The UNGA will also need to ensure that the 2030 Agenda is adequately addressed in

its agenda and shapes the way it conducts its business. While the agenda of the

UNGA is broader than the 2030 Agenda, various aspects of the SDGs are addressed

in the UNGA plenary and in all its main committee. The President of the UNGA has

indicated his willingness to spearhead a review of the way the UNGA addresses the

2030 Agenda, which could be done by the working group on the revitalization of the

UNGA.

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

c) The Economic and Social Council

40. As one of the main organs established by the UN Charter, ECOSOC, under the

authority of the UNGA, discharges UN functions in the area of international

economic and social cooperation and coordinates the work of the UN system and its

own subsidiary machinery. Rio+20 referred to its “key role in achieving a balanced

integration of economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable

development”.

41. The integrated nature of the Agenda will require ECOSOC subsidiary bodies to

harmonise their work programmes and agendas with the annual theme of ECOSOC,

with which the HLPF theme is in line. This annual theme of ECOSOC provides an

opportunity to make system-wide review more coherent. It could be addressed in

each segment of ECOSOC in order to ensure that it is reviewed from multiple

perspectives. As noted previously, ECOSOC can also provide several important

forums in which highly relevant cross-cutting issues to the SDGs can be reviewed,

including on MOIs.

42. Under the guidance of ECOSOC, the functional commissions and other subsidiary

bodies of ECOSOC will need to integrate the 2030 Agenda in their review work,

adhering to the principles identified in the 2030 Agenda and contributing to the

HLPF as the central follow-up and review platform

. ECOSOC could also request

its other subsidiary bodies to make expert contributions to the HLPF, including the

Committee of Experts on Public Administration and the Committee on Development

Policy. The reporting link of all subsidiary bodies to ECOSOC will be unchanged.

43. ECOSOC also has critical responsibilities in the follow-up to the Addis Ababa

Conference on Financing for Development through the new FFD Forum, the STI

forum and the DCF (see paragraph 11-13), all of which inform the discussions of

goal 17 at the HLPF.

44. ECOSOC could strengthen its interaction with the Peacebuilding Commission and

utilize its Operational or Humanitarian segments to review development, peace and

humanitarian issues as a nexus, thus addressing related aspects of the 2030 Agenda.

d) Functional commissions and other intergovernmental bodies and forums

45. The Functional commissions of ECOSOC and other intergovernmental and similar

bodies and forums will support HLPF Thematic Reviews of progress in achieving

the SDGs

Para 85 relates to this issue

para 85

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

46. An inventory conducted by the UN system Technical Support Team

showed that

many intergovernmental UN bodies and forums review progress and discuss policies

in specific areas addressed by the SDGs. Those include, in addition to ECOSOC

functional and regional commissions and subsidiary bodies, intergovernmental

bodies supported by the UN system specialized agencies and other organizations --

such as the UN Environment Assembly, the World Education Forum, the World

Health Assembly, the International Labour Conference, the Conference of the FAO,

UNCTAD, UNIDO, the Committee on World Food Security, the Human Rights

Council along with the Annual Meetings of World Bank Group and IMF and

numerous other assemblies and treaty bodies.

47. The 2030 Agenda can give new impetus to this network of intergovernmental bodies

and forums, providing opportunities to feature their work prominently at the HLPF.

It will be important that each forum seizes this opportunity, participates in the review

of the 2030 Agenda in accordance with its mandate and follows-up on guidance

provided by the HLPF with regard to their contribution to its work. It should be

understood that contributing to the HLPF review does not imply or create a formal

reporting link to the HLPF or modify a forum’s mandate or governance. All forums

will be invited to contribute to the HLPF, with the decision on whether and how to

contribute left to those forums.

48. Three important steps are recommended to enable functional commissions and other

intergovernmental forums to support the HLPF: First, they should reflect on the

implications of the 2030 Agenda for their respective areas of work, bearing in mind

the integrated nature of the Agenda. Second, they should examine their agendas and

methods of work to ensure that they are able to respond to requests for voluntary

inputs by the HLPF as needed and within the scope of their regular meetings. Third,

they should reflect on their ability to convene and engage the critical actors relevant

to their contributions to the 2030 Agenda, including scientists, local governments,

business, and representatives of the most vulnerable people, as has been done by the

Committee on World Food Security. The secretariats of the functional commissions

and other intergovernmental forums will play a role in supporting these forums in

undertaking these tasks.

49. It would be necessary for the themes of the HLPF to be decided well in advance of the

beginning of its four year cycle. This is critical to provide the necessary predictability to

the various intergovernmental forums, institutional actors and stakeholders to facilitate

timely and effective contributions to the thematic reviews.

50. The thematic reviews of the HLPF will help link the various parts of the UN system

intergovernmental architecture. It will allow intergovernmental forums to contribute

to the work of the HLPF on any theme and alert about emerging issues or gaps. For

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/7186Short%20matrix%20 -%20revised%2029.5..pdf

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

example, the global and regional Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction could be

expected to provide a dedicated contribution to the HLPF when it discusses SDG

targets or themes related to Disaster Risk Reduction, and, in doing so keep track of

the SDGs and Sendai Framework in a more integrated fashion.

51. By including an SDG on climate change, the SDGs bridged the gap that has long

existed between the development agenda and action on climate change, while

respecting the role of the UNFCCC as the platform for climate change negotiations.

Consequently, the UNFCCC COP could be invited to make a contribution to the

HLPF review of SDG 13 and other related SDGs and targets. Similarly, SDGs 14

and 15 are directly relevant to UNCBD, and Goals 2 and 15 intersect with the remit

of UNCCD.

52. While it is important for each forum to have flexibility to decide on its own

approach, contributions by intergovernmental forums to the HLPF can be in different

forms, including that of a negotiated outcome. A summary of the discussions, as one

of the options, might also enable the HLPF to benefit from the review results of

these forums and their expertise.

53. It is critical that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls be

included throughout global review.

54. Inputs to HLPF might follow a simple template covering: (i) an assessment of areas

of progress and setback at the global level; (ii) the identification of areas requiring

urgent attention; (iii) valuable lessons learned; (iv) emerging issues; (v) areas where

political guidance by the HLPF is required; and (vi) policy recommendations and

tools to accelerate progress.

55. The various contributions could be assembled and consolidated into a database for

open reviewing and commenting. The key messages and findings could then be

compiled by the Secretariat through a collaborative process to support the thematic

review and also be made available on the database. It will be important to help the

HLPF to derive political guidance from the multiple inputs it will receive. The

secretariats of the various UN system intergovernmental bodies must work

coherently to support effective global review.

e) The regional perspective

56. The 2030 Agenda recognized the importance of dialogue and review at the regional and

sub-regional levels. Important progress has been achieved in various regions on the

follow-up and review architecture including through regional forums on sustainable

development convened by the regional commissions. The main benefits of regional review

2015 GSDR, Ch. 4

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

activities must be felt at the level of the region and countries. Regional reviews – peer

learning and assessments of progress and policies- will allow for discussions on overall

trends, gaps, lessons learned, best practices, and issues specific to the region- whether they

relate to MOIs, the thematic review or other-as well as boost regional cooperation and

partnerships. Where gaps are noted, additional consultations could help define appropriate

responses.

57. Regional reviews supported by the regional commissions, other regional organizations,

UN system entities and the Global Compact, for example, can provide important inputs to

countries of the region as well as to the HLPF.

58. There are a number of regions where peer review mechanisms exist. They can provide

potential valuable lessons. It is important that the UN regional commissions and other

regional organizations continue working closely together and build on each other’s work.

59. The outcomes of reviews conducted in regional fora may be provided to the HLPF in an

aggregated form. Countries having undergone peer or other reviews at the regional level

could be encouraged to use them in their preparation for national reviews at the HLPF.

IV.

Assessments by non-UN organizations

60. Many international and regional organizations beyond the UN plan to review

implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Many Member States have recognized their

important role, while also pointing to the potential risk of duplicating efforts.

61. Examples include the African Peer Review Mechanism, the peer reviews of the Pacific

Island Forum or the OECD initiative, whose peer and other reviews already cover many

thematic aspects of the 2030 Agenda. The work of such platforms outside the UN can

strengthen global follow-up and review and reflect the universal nature of the Agenda.

62. While conclusions from those reviews may be provided to the HLPF – or regional forums

– in an aggregate form or by the countries concerned, it is important to ensure that all

reviews fed to the HLPF are consistent with the principles set out in the 2030 Agenda

regarding content, approach, ambition, breadth and rigour of the review of SDGs.

63. A variety of coalitions, non-governmental organizations and think tanks also work at

the global and regional levels to collect data and information on trends and policies.

Some multi-stakeholder partnerships likewise conduct stock-taking, collect lessons

learned and provide feedback, all of which can be useful to the HLPF.

Ensuring inclusiveness of global reviews

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

64. Heads of State and Government decided that all reviews of the implementation of the

2030 Agenda will be “open, inclusive, participatory and transparent for all people and will

support reporting by all relevant stakeholders”.

65. It is critical to engage major groups and other stakeholders throughout the review process,

including at the national and subnational level. It will thus be beneficial to the review that

governments ensure inclusiveness and participation through the appropriate mechanisms.

Progress in doing so could also be highlighted in national reviews at the HLPF.

66. The 2030 Agenda also envisages strong participation of non-state actors in UN

intergovernmental forums and bodies. The ECOSOC system in particular provides a space

for multiple development actors to come together to review implementation. The 2030

Agenda also gives a central a role for the HLPF in spurring inclusiveness in follow-up and

review at the global level

. Stakeholders engaged in cutting-edge work - business,

scientists, academia, parliamentarians, local governments, youth representatives and other

major groups and stakeholders - should find relevance in the work of the HLPF and be

able to contribute to it. Only by hearing multiple perspectives, ideas and evidence can the

HLPF break new ground.

67. The President of ECOSOC, who also chairs the HLPF, should aim to promote

innovative ways to operationalize the extensive arrangements approved by UNGA

resolution 67/290 for major groups and other relevant stakeholders to participate in

the HLPF work. They should be able to access the documentation of the HLPF and

to provide comments and inputs through an on-line engagement platform as done

during the negotiations on the Agenda as well as during HLPF meetings. Their input

should be actively solicited through calls for evidence and invitations to present at

the HLPF. Multistakeholder dialogues, such as those held during the negotiations on

the 2030 Agenda could be used more frequently within the scope of regular official

meetings.

68. Non-Governmental Organizations, business and other major groups and other

stakeholders could also be encouraged to announce their commitments for achieving

the SDGs, with measurable milestones and deliverables. Major commitments could

be compiled and made available through a database accessible to all and be followed

up. Ample space should also be given to non-state actors to organize events before

and during the HLPF, with links to official meetings.

69. Bearing in mind the principles highlighted in the 2030 Agenda, I encourage countries that

carry out Voluntary National Reviews at the HLPF to invite civil society and the private

sector to engage in their preparations including in national and subnational reviews. The

UN system stands ready to support this process if Member States so wish.

Paragraph 89

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

VI.

Ensuring that high quality data supports the reviews

70. The Secretary-General’s Annual Progress Report on SDGs will be produced in

cooperation with the UN system based on the global indicator framework. Building

on the model of MDG progress reports, it will depict and analyze trends in a factual

manner, drawing on already existing in-depth technical analysis and datasets, while

also clearly highlighting aspects deserving the attention of the HLPF.

71. Regarding financing for development, the inter-agency task force will prepare its

annual report on progress in implementing the AAAA and the means of

implementation of the 2030 Agenda and “advise the intergovernmental follow-up

thereto on progress, implementation gaps and recommendations for corrective

action, while taking into consideration the national and regional dimensions”.

72. The availability and access to high quality data is essential to measuring and

achieving the SDGs. The relevant provisions on data in the 2030 Agenda need to be

followed up. The UN Statistical Commission makes important recommendations in

this regard. Ideas can also be drawn from the UN Data Revolution report "A World

That Counts". The HLPF will need to provide adequate space for assessing whether

the necessary measures are in place to produce the data necessary to underpin the

review of SDGs.

VII.

Ensuring ambition and impact of HLPF Voluntary National Reviews

a) National and sub-national reviews

73. The 2030 Agenda encourages Member States to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of

progress at the national and sub-national levels which are country-led and country-

driven

. The success of the review system will ultimately be determined by its ability to

help translate the Agenda into a nationally owned vision and objectives, leading to

transformative action. This can only happen if reviews building on existing structures

draw on contributions from all stakeholder groups.

74. The 2030 Agenda does not stipulate a frequency for the national and sub-national reviews.

However, more frequent reviews, grounded in a national context, will support stronger

national engagement. The UN system stands ready to provide coherent support to the

conduct of national reviews, including for strengthening the capacity of national statistical

offices, data systems and evaluation bodies.

75. Such regular national reviews are expected to serve as a basis for the Voluntary National

Reviews by the HLPF.

Paragraph 79

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

b) Incentives for countries to participate in Voluntary National Reviews by

HLPF

76. Above all, HLPF Voluntary National Reviews must be geared towards accelerating

implementation. They aim to enable mutual learning across countries and regions and help

all countries, in particular the countries being reviewed, to enhance their national policies

and institutional frameworks and mobilize necessary support and partnerships for the

implementation of the SDGs. The value of a unified and universal approach to such

reviews can be seen in the WTO Trade Policy Review Mechanism and the Universal

Periodic Review in the area of human rights.

Those also provide useful insights on how

to organize and support voluntary universal reviews.

77. Country-level reviews and preparations are, in and by themselves, useful, as they can

reveal challenges at the domestic level and enhance cooperation across ministries and

institutions. They can help reduce silos and identify gaps and areas where support is

needed. Some Member States see an opportunity for the HLPF to be a “matchmaking

market place” and the Secretariat is ready to support the necessary arrangements

c) Periodicity and number of Voluntary National Reviews by the HLPF

78. The 2030 Agenda does not provide details on the periodicity of Voluntary National

Reviews. Experiences from existing mechanisms suggest that it is important to have

regular reviews in order to enable all countries to learn from the process over time and to

identify trends, patterns and lessons learned. As the 2030 Agenda is a universal agenda,

all countries would be expected to regularly carry out reviews at the HLPF.

79. Each country could thus consider carrying out up to two Voluntary National Reviews at

the HLPF between now and 2030. Those reviews will be timed by countries so that they

are most useful to their own national policy making process. Reviews at each HLPF

session will need to strive for an equitable geographical distribution of countries and

include countries at different stages of development, including countries in special

situations as well as countries in post-conflict situations.

80. Regional reviews can help to keep track of how the conclusions of the HLPF reviews are

being followed up. Conducting national reviews at the HLPF itself will allow an

interregional exchange of experiences.

d) Featuring and discussing Voluntary National Reviews at the HLPF

ECOSOC (2015) “President’s Summary of the High-level segment of the 2015 session of the Economic and S ocial

Council and high-level political forum on sustainable development convened under the auspices of the Council”

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

81. Given the limited time allocated to its meetings, the HLPF will not be able to listen to a

long series of comprehensive presentations on national reviews. With this in mind, some

Member States have suggested that as an alternative, comprehensive reviews be

synthesized ahead of the HLPF session.

82. It will thus be important to give guidance to the ministers of the volunteering countries

presenting their reviews at the formal meeting of the HLPF. Presentations should have a

time limit. They could highlight two or three good practices identified by their country-

level review; two or three major challenges their country is currently facing in

implementing the Agenda and any lessons it learned in trying to address those; two or

three areas where it needs to hear about other countries’ good practices; as well as two or

three areas where it needs support from other countries and actors in terms of finance,

capacity building, technology, or partnerships. At the end of the HLPF, each Minister

could outline the main messages and recommendations the country took from the

discussions and the next steps it intends to take. On the margins of the HLPF, or during

informal preparatory meetings, volunteering countries would be able to showcase their

reviews at dedicated workshops discussing also prospective partnerships and cooperation

to address key challenges in implementation.

83. Volunteering countries should also be able to present a more focused written national

report highlighting the conclusions and main messages of their national review of progress.

The report could be based on a voluntary template, including the country’s SDG statistical

annex.

e) Building on existing mechanisms

84. The 2030 Agenda cautions against overburdening countries with the national reviews,

especially those with limited capacities and resources. Member States are already subject

to reporting obligations in many areas related to the SDGs, both to UN bodies -such as the

Human Rights Council, treaty monitoring bodies and specialized agencies -and non-UN

bodies

. The follow-up and review of the implementation of the SDGs should build on

such existing reporting mechanisms as recommended by the 2030 Agenda. Fostering

coordination at the domestic, regional and global level is therefore crucial.

85. The Secretariat intends to develop an on-line platform to support and document the

reviews of the HLPF. The webcast, documents and content of HLPF Voluntary National

Reviews could be made available, along with the reports countries have submitted to other

These include, for example, national reports that countries submit to the Universal Periodic Review to the Human

Rights Council; the Human Rights Committee; the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Committee

on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; the Committee on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities; the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; the Convention on Biological Diversity;

Basel Convention on Waste and to the ILO Supervisory mechanisms on the application of International Labour

Standards..

E.g. Trade Policy Reviews at World Trade Organisation, African Union peer revie ws at regional level.

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

reporting mechanisms. Countries would be able to upload summaries of their national and

sub-national reviews: related information, documents, comments or requests for advice.

The platform will also highlight areas where countries seek support in the form of

resources, technology transfer, capacity development or partnerships as well as record

commitments made to respond to those needs. There could be a related dedicated space

for major groups and other stakeholders to submit comments through a moderator from the

Secretariat and/or Major Groups.

f) Follow-up to national reviews at HLPF

86. There are various views among Member States as to whether national reviews should lead

to an outcome beyond the general guidance reflected in the ministerial declaration of the

HLPF. The President, in his summary of the discussion of the HLPF, could capture the

key messages from the discussions on national reviews at the HLPF as well as at its

preparatory meetings. He could highlight the lessons learned and best practices, emerging

trends and innovations, outstanding challenges and gaps, conclusions and

recommendations, areas requiring support, commitments made by countries or other actors

with regard to offering support as well as the next steps outlined by each country being

reviewed.

87. When presenting for the second time at the HLPF, and/or when conducting a review at the

regional level, countries could refer to the main conclusions identified at their first HLPF

review. The follow-up and review process should be seen as a cycle through which States

continuously review national implementation of the 2030 Agenda, learn and mobilize

support and advice through regular reporting at regional and global levels, and update their

implementation strategies.

g) Recommendations on voluntary common reporting guidelines

88. Experiences from existing review mechanisms show that, where there is limited

comparability between reviews of different countries, it is difficult to aggregate lessons

from the reviews. Voluntary common reporting guidelines may prove helpful to allow for

comparability, enabling a discussion of good practices and the tracking of global trends.

They should also ensure flexibility, as countries’ capacities vary, and reviews must be

state-led and state-owned.

89. The guidelines should uphold the principles identified in the 2030 Agenda

and aim to

support the HLPF in addressing achievements and progress, gaps and challenges, and

emerging trends.

90. Above all, such reporting guidelines should not become a cap on the ambition of

countries. Each country is encouraged to champion innovative, ambitious and inclusive

Paragraph 74

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

approaches to these reviews. For example, small groups of countries could volunteer for

championing voluntary peer reviews starting in July 2016, building on existing

arrangements and practices.

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

VIII. Annual theme of the HLPF and sequence of thematic reviews over the 4-year

cycle

91. The General Assembly decided that the HLPF, when meeting under the auspices of

ECOSOC “… Shall have a thematic focus reflecting the integration of the three

dimensions of sustainable development, in line with the thematic focus of the activities of

the Council and consistent with the post-2015 development agenda”

. In practice, the

usual breadth of ECOSOC themes leaves ample room to find a theme for the HLPF that

addresses specific components or characteristics of the 2030 Agenda and the three

dimensions of sustainable development.

92. Examples of such possible HLPF themes provided by Member States included

“Governance for sustainable development: a means and an end”; “empowering women and

girls for sustainable development”; “integrating sustainable development into plans and

processes”: “Giving effect to the 2030 Agenda; eradication of poverty in all its form and

dimensions”; “integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development”;

“strengthening and renewal of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development”;

“science and technology and productive diversification for sustainable development”; and

“crosscutting enablers of sustainable development: culture and the rule of law”. Some also

suggested organizing the work programme around People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and

Partnerships as contained in the 2030 Agenda.

93. Other possible cross-cutting themes could also relate to people in protracted crises, disaster

prevention through risk management, climate change adaptation, the rights of children and

youth, etc.

94. The 2030 Agenda decided that the HLPF will carry out thematic reviews of progress on

“the SDGs including cross-cutting issues”. There are various options for reviewing the

SDGs.

95. A first option is, in any given year, to have a comprehensive review of all the SDGs

through the lens of the theme. Such an option will help examine the linkages and

synergies among the goals and targets. This however may restrict the depth of the

treatment of the SDGs during the HLPF, given the number of meeting days.

96. As a second option, the HLPF could look not only at all 17 goals through the lens of

the theme for that year, but also, in addition, carry out an in-depth Goal by Goal

review of a few SDGs.

UNGA resolution 67/290

For example, in 2015-16, the annual theme of ECOSOC is “Implementing the post -2015 development agenda: moving

from commitments to result

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

97. This would allow thematic reviews to cover all SDGs within four years, in

preparation for the comprehensive review to be conducted at the HLPF under the

UNGA. The choice of goals for a given year would not be mutually exclusive, and

Member States could bring other goals and targets into the discussions.

98. The following table provides illustrative examples for a possible sequence of broad cross-

cutting themes and thematic reviews that the HLPF could cover over a period of four years

when meeting under ECOSOC, building up to the comprehensive review of all the SDGs

under the UNGA. It is based on the proposal of the President of ECOSOC that the theme

of the HLPF for 2016 will be “Ensuring that no one is left behind”, and that SDGs 1, 6, 8,

10 and 17 will be selected for thematic reviews. It should be noted in this regard that the

theme and focus for the 2016 HLPF will be decided after this report is issued.

99. Under each option, SDG 17 would be addressed every year. The subsets of goals in the

two examples were chosen to echo the theme for that year as much as possible, bearing in

mind that the themes chosen for the HLPF would, in essence, cut across all the SDGs.

Theme of the

HLPF

2016

Ensuring that no

one is left behind

2017

Ensuring food

security on a safe

planet by 2030

2018

Making cities

sustainable and

building

productive

capacities

2019

Empowering

people and

ensuring

inclusiveness:

peaceful and

inclusive

societies, human

capital

development, and

gender equality

SDGs 3, 4, 5, 16

SDG 17

The subset would

look at the

relationships

between peaceful

and inclusive

societies, gender

equality,

education and

health

Suggested non-

exclusive subset of

SDGs for (thematic

review)

Comment on the

choice of SDGs for

review

SDGs 1, 6, 8, 10

SDG 17

SDGs 2, 13, 14,

SDG 17

The subset would

address the theme

through the angle

of food security,

climate change,

terrestrial

ecosystems and

oceans

SDGs 7, 9, 11, 12

SDG 17

The subset would

look at the

linkages between

energy, cities, and

industrialization,

and sustainable

patterns of

consumption and

production.

100.

The themes and thematic reviews for the next HLPF cycle should: (i) enable the

HLPF to deliver on its mandated functions; (ii) support substantive policy discussions in

order to enable the HLPF to provide effective policy guidance, taking into account

exchange of experience and lessons learned; (iii) inspire and enable UN organizations to

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

contribute substantially to follow-up and review; and (iv) incentivise high-level

representation from various sectors at HLPF each year, from different policy areas. The

order of the themes/SDG subsets can be chosen, for example, to contribute to the

preparation or follow-up of a major UN conference or to use data recently generated by a

review mechanism.

IX.

Link between the annual theme of the HLPF and the theme of ECOSOC

101.

Ensuring that the theme of the HLPF is in line with the thematic focus of the

activities of ECOSOC, as mandated, is an important way to ensure coherence and

complementarity in their work

102.

A possible approach would be that the HLPF focuses on reviewing progress in

implementing the SDGs, as mandated in the 2030 Agenda, bringing together the components

of the 2030 Agenda and providing high level political guidance. ECOSOC for its part could

build on its mandates, institutional strengths and authority and examine how the UN

development system can be mobilized and transformed in supporting the implementation of

the 2030 Agenda as part of its operational segment’s work on the follow-up to the QCPR and

on the long term positioning of the UN system - as well as in other segments.

103.

Ensuring that the HLPF and ECOSOC address implementation from mutually

complementary angles and closely align their thematic focus, along with ensuring

predictability through the early adoption of a four-year programme of work, will facilitate the

organization of work of functional commissions and other bodies in support of the 2030

Agenda.

Reporting by major groups, other stakeholders and partnerships

104.

In an innovative provision

, the 2030 Agenda called on major groups and other

relevant stakeholders to report on

their

contribution to implementation. This provision is

particularly important for the voluntary reporting and accountability by non-governmental

actors who manage significant resources or assets, and therefore play an important role in the

achievement of individual SDGs and targets on the ground. These could include for example

business, NGOs, specific partnerships and alliances, large cities, and others. To ensure

comparability, reports from such stakeholders could build on a voluntary template based on

existing tools and models.

105.

Reporting on partnerships and voluntary commitments for sustainable

development, including to the HLPF, also needs to be strengthened to enhance visibility of

successful examples and foster accountability. On-line platforms could play a unique role in

this endeavour. The UN Partnerships for SDGs online platform will be further developed to

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

keep track of how partnerships are delivering on their commitments to support

implementation. The SIDS Partnership Framework, recently created by the UNGA, is piloting

an innovative approach to overseeing how partnerships are being held accountable and deliver

on their commitments

106.

The ECOSOC Partnership Forum can serve as the platform for drawing attention to

areas requiring policy attention in regard to partnerships’ contribution to implementation.

Reviews of partnerships engaging the UN system will help promote accountability, build trust

and transparency of partnership efforts and ensure UN’s values and mandates are preserved.

107.

Voluntary reports by non-governmental actors and partnerships to the HLPF could

be supplemented by a more general report on the major group or other stakeholder’s

aggregated contribution in a specific focus area. Such a report could for example be prepared

by the Global Compact in the case of business. These various reports could be considered by

the HLPF during a dedicated multi-stakeholder session. Opportunities could also be created

on the margin of the HLPF for further reporting. This would be in addition to the position

papers that major groups and other stakeholder constituencies submit to the HLPF annually.

XI.

Milestones and way forward

108.

The recommendations below may help the General Assembly in considering

further steps to ensure coherent, efficient and inclusive follow-up and review at the

global level.

109.

The General Assembly could:

Theme and thematic reviews

110.

Based on the above options, take a decision on:

The themes for the meetings of the HLPF under the auspices of ECOSOC in

2017, 2018 and 2019, leading to a holistic review of progress in

implementing the Agenda at the meeting of the HLPF under the UNGA in

2019 and

A sequence of thematic reviews for the same period that support the annual

HLPF themes; with SDG 17 reviewed every year.

Invite ECOSOC to decide on its annual themes for these same years, bearing

in mind the link with the theme of the HLPF.

HLPF Voluntary National reviews

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

111.

Encourage all Member States to volunteer to carry out up to two Voluntary

National Reviews by the HLPF by 2030. Reviews at the regional level may provide the

opportunity to prepare and follow up on HLPF national reviews;

112.

Encourage the HLPF to adopt innovative organizational arrangements for its

national reviews, bearing in mind the principles defined in the 2030 Agenda.

Encourage Member States to support the convening of (ad hoc, informal) meetings to

prepare the review and presentations at the HLPF, including through financial

contributions;

113.

Encourage all countries to champion inclusive and rigorous approaches to

HLPF reviews, including where appropriate, conducting peer reviews and reviews

among groups of countries facing similar situations, taking into account existing

arrangements and practices;

114.

Invite the President of ECOSOC to prepare, in consultations with Member

States, a summary of the discussions of the HLPF meetings including an account of the

discussions on follow-up and review;

115.

Invite the Secretary-General to further elaborate voluntary guidelines for the

national reviews at the HLPF, based on the principles outlined in the 2030 Agenda and

the elements contained in the Annex to the present report, and to keep updating those

guidelines in light of experience gained;

116.

Invite the UN system to support countries conducting reviews at the HLPF

upon request.

Work of the UNGA

117.

Decide to review its working methods and agenda to reflect the approaches

and priorities of the 2030 Agenda, through its Ad hoc working group on the

revitalization of the UNGA;

118.

Decide, as part of the QCPR, to review UN system’s support to the

implementation of the 230 Agenda based on the Secretary-General’s existing reports on

the QCPR and on mainstreaming the SDGs in the UN.

Work of ECOSOC

119.

Call on ECOSOC to ensure that its subsidiary bodies reflect on the

implications of the Agenda for their work and contribute to the review of the

implementation of the 2030 Agenda in a coherent, effective and inclusive manner,

consistent with the principles established in Agenda 2030, and that they provide

adequate contributions to the global HLPF reviews;

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

120.

Invite ECOSOC to review the calendar of conferences to ensure that it allows

the various intergovernmental bodies to contribute to HLPF review;

121.

Invite ECOSOC to hold its DCF before the HLPF to facilitate its contribution

to the HLPF;

Functional commissions, and other intergovernmental bodies and forums including

those convened by specialized agencies

122.

Call on functional commissions and other intergovernmental bodies and

forums to (i) to contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; (ii) to this end,

review their working methods and agendas in order to ensure that they address the

implementation of the 2030 Agenda within their respective area of expertise and

mandate; and (iii) enhance the engagement of non-state actors in their work and ensure

that all relevant actors have the opportunity to contribute;

123.

Note that no single institution or forum can claim exclusive ownership of or

responsibility for the review of a specific goal. Also note that contributing to the HLPF

thematic reviews does not imply or create any formal reporting link to the HLPF nor

modifies a forum’s mandate or governance.

Follow-up to conferences on countries in special situation

124.

Invite ECOSOC, as part of its integration segment, to review progress in the

the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for countries in special situation; and invite the

Secretary-General to support these reviews within existing mandates;

Regional reviews

125.

Invite the Regional Commissions, through their intergovernmental process, to

consider a common format for conveying the results of the regional forums on

sustainable development to the HLPF;

126.

Invites Regional Commissions, through their intergovernmental process, to

consider how they could best support regional reviews.

Non-UN organizations

127.

Invite non-UN intergovernmental regional and international organizations to

consider contributing to follow-up and review at the HLPF;

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

128.

Invite the Secretary-General, in preparing his reports for the HLPF, to take

into account assessments and conclusions from reviews conducted by relevant non -UN

organizations;

129.

Invite countries carrying out reviews in such platforms to use them in their

preparations for national reviews at the HLPF;

Major groups and other stakeholders and partnerships

130.

Welcome the many reviews of progress in specific areas of the 2030 Agenda

undertaken by think tanks, civil society and other organizations, scientists and

partnership initiatives such as the Global Compact, drawing attention to the principles

defined in paragraph 74 of the Agenda;

131.

Call on major groups and other stakeholders to continue reviewing

implementation and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda at all levels;

132.

Invite Member States to create the necessary opportunities and modalities for

their engagement in State-led reviews and preparations and conduct of review and

follow-up at the HLPF;

133.

Encourages the private sector and civil society to inform the UN of their

commitments to implement the SDGs as part of their contributions to follow-up and

review;

134.

Invite major groups and other stakeholder to self-organize and volunteer to

carry out comparable rigorous reviews at the HLPF on their contribution to the

implementation of the 2030 Agenda and regularly report to the HLPF;

Way forward

135.

Decide to review progress in implementing this resolution and GA resolution

67/290 on the format and organizational modalities of the HLPF at its 74

session

instead of its 73

session, in order to benefit from lessons from the 2019 meeting of the

HLPF under the auspices of the GA;

Annex:

Proposal for voluntary common reporting guidelines for Voluntary National

Reviews at the HLPF

The 2030 Agenda decided that the HLPF, when it meets under the auspices of ECOSOC,

shall carry out regular voluntary reviews. Those reviews will “include developed and

developing countries as well as relevant UN entities and other stakeholders, including civil

society and the private sector. They shall be state-led, involving ministerial and other

relevant high-level participants. They shall provide a platform for partnerships, including

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

through the participation of major groups and other relevant stakeholders”

. The Agenda

also encourages Member States to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the

national and sub-national levels which are country-led and country-driven. Voluntary

National Reviews at the HLPF will likely build on such reviews.

The following components are suggested as a way to help countries frame the preparations

for Voluntary National Reviews at the HLPF, bearing in mind that each country will decide

on the scope of their review and the format in which they want to present their findings.

The expectation is that each country being reviewed may present a focused report to the

HLPF and make brief presentations during the HLPF meeting.

Opening statement:

An opening statement by the Head of State or Government, a

Minister or other high-ranking Government official could highlight the key messages

from the review and touch on critical issues in implementation of sustainable

development that the country wishes to highlight.

Summary:

a one-to-two page synthesis of the process and findings of the review

highlighting two or three good practices the country wishes to share, two or three

lessons it has learned in trying to accelerate implementation, two or three challenges on

which it wishes to hear about other countries’ good practices and two or three areas

where it would need support in terms of finance, capacity building, technology,

partnerships etc.

Introduction:

The context and objectives of the review could be presented here. The

introduction may briefly describe key features of the country context as it pertains to

the 2030 Agenda, with a discussion of national priorities and targets for sustainable

development and their relations to the SDGs, and a discussion of critical challeng es.

Methodology and Process for Preparation of the Review:

This section may discuss

the methodology that was adopted for the review, including its scope, depth and

limitations. Information on the process for preparation of the national review may be

presented, including, for example, how different levels and sectors of Government

contributed to the review, whether parliaments were engaged, whether national

evaluation/oversight institutions contributed, how stakeholders from civil society,

academia and the business sector were involved, which consultations took place, and

possibly whether another Member State or institutions contributed to the review, etc.

Lastly, the country may indicate what support it received. The sources used for the

review may be discussed. This could include, as per paragraph 74(f) of Agenda 2030,

how existing platforms and processes have been built on, as well as how existing

national reports have been used in the process.

Paragraph 84

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

Policy and Enabling Environment

(a)

Creating ownership of the SDGs.

The review could outline efforts made towards all

stakeholders to inform them on and involve them in the SDGs and targets, including

national and local government, legislative bodies, the public, civil society and the

private sector. It could indicate how it is planned to keep the SDGs under review at

the national level and, including the possible dissemination of reviews and their

findings.

(b)

Incorporation of the SDGs in national frameworks:

The review could outline critical

initiatives that the country has undertaken to adapt the SDGs and targets to its

national circumstances, and to advance their implementation. It may describe

national efforts made to integrate the SDGs into the country’s legislation, policies,

plans and programmes, including the sustainable development strategy if there is

one. The review could indicate the main challenges and difficulties experienced in

implementing the SDGs as a whole. It could also highlight additional goals, beyond

the SDGs, which are national priorities. Countries could consider referring to major

efforts undertaken by local authorities and non-state actors to implement the SDGs,

including partnerships.

(c)

Integration of the three dimensions:

The review might discuss how the three

dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental) are

being integrated and how sustainable development policies are being designed and

implemented to reflect such integration. The review could also assess how other

principles of the 2030 Agenda, for example leaving no one behind, have been

mainstreamed in the implementation of SDGs.

(d) Goals and targets:

The review may provide brief information on progress and the

status of all SDGs, and critical difficulties encountered in reaching them, making

reference, when appropriate, to data provided in the statistical annex (see section 8

below). The review may indicate whether a baseline for the SDGs has been defined

and remaining obstacles to doing so. The review may also provide a more in-depth

analysis on a few selected SDG and targets. Those may be chosen by the country in

light of its priorities but also because they were tackled through innovative policies,

are relevant to other Member States, and can be addressed in an international

context. The discussion could focus on trends, successes, challenges, emerging

issues, and lessons learned, and describe what actions have been taken to address

existing gaps and challenges. It could support the identification of gaps, solutions,

best practices and areas requiring advice and support. The review may examine the

agreed global indicators for those goals and targets identified as priorities.

Countries may choose to refer to complementary national and regional indicators.

Advance unedited copy

A/7x/xxx

(e) Thematic analysis:

As appropriate for the country, the review could include an

analysis of progress and initiatives related to the HLPF’s thematic focus for that

year.

(f)

Institutional mechanisms:

The review could provide information on how the country

has adapted its institutional framework in order to implement the 2030 Agenda.

This could include information on how the views of different ministries, agencies,

levels of government and non-governmental stakeholders are taken into account and

on the institution in charge of coordination and integration. The review could

consider highlighting efforts to mobilize institutions around the SDGs, improve their

functioning, and promote change. Information may also be provided on how

responsibility is allocated amongst various levels of Government (national, sub-

national and local) for coherent implementation and review of the 2030 Agenda. It

would be useful to highlight how the country intends to review progress in

implementing the SDGs including possible plans regarding the conduct of national

reviews.

Means of implementation:

Based on the above challenges and trends highlighted, the

review may discuss how means of implementation are mobilised, what difficulties this

process faces, and what additional resources are needed to implement the 2030 Agenda,

including in terms of financing, capacity development needs, including for data and

statistics knowledge sharing, technology and partnerships.

Next steps:

The review could outline what steps the country is taking or planning to

take to enhance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Statistical Annex:

Countries may include an annex with data, using the global SDG

indicators to be proposed by the Statistical Commission as a starting point and adding

priority indicators identified at the regional and national levels. They may highlight

whether statistics were collected from the national statistical system and pinpoint major

gaps in official statistics on indicators.

Conclusion:

This section may present a summary of the analysis, findings and policy

implications. It may discuss new or emerging issues identified by the review. Lastly,

the country may indicate what lessons it has learned from the review process, what

support it would need in the future for preparing such reviews and any adjustment it

believes should be made to the guidelines to ensure that they are useful.

10. The report could have a link to more in-depth national reports and reviews through the

dedicated UN Secretariat website.