Introduction to the 2030 Agenda and the Interconnectedness of the SDGs

Aneta Nikolova, Environment Affairs Officer, Environment and Development Division, UNESCAP

The 5Ps underpinning the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

2030 Agenda - requires integrated policy approaches

Integration of the Three Dimensions of Sustainable Development

Transformation towards

Sustainable and Resilient Societies

Transformation with focus on human rights

Social accountability

Protective functionNot just about government - Accountability is mutually established among different groups in society – private sector, academia, civil society

Marginalized, vulnerable groups

Harmful practices

Human rights, rights to development

Non-economic social goods

Development function

Allocation & use of resources (budgetary & other)

Service delivery > more equitable outcomes

Transparency & trust building

Institutional responsiveness, adaptive capacity

Improved decision making:

• Sustainable decisions (from economic, social and environmental perspectives)

• Balancing/aligning

• Private interests & public good

Policy Coherence and Integration

Aspiring Together

Working Together

Managing Resources Together

Engagement of non-government actors in the 2030 Agenda is not “business as usual” ….

2030 Agenda commitments

“Leave no one behind”; Inclusion; partnership (Goal 17), participation

Policy coherence, balanced integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental

Effective institutions, transparency & accountability (Goal 16)

Four elements of an empowerment and inclusiveness approach – derived from relevant SDG targets*

* work in progress

Rights & Justice

SDG Targets 5.6, 5.a, 5.1,

8.8, 1.4

Norms & practices

SDG targets 5.3, 8.7,

10.3

Participation & voice

SDG targets 5.a, 8.5, 9.2,

4.3

Resources & capabilities

SDG targets 5.5,16.7

Across/within Social, Economic, Political and Environmental “realms”

At the global level

Convergence of Global Development Agenda

Adis Ababa Action Agenda

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

Paris Agreement2030 Agenda and the SDGs

Three central concepts of the HLPF 2019 theme

EMPOWERMENT EQUALITY INCLUSION

At the regional level

Asia-Pacific Regional Follow Up and Review

Tracking and

analyzing

progress

• Annual theme report

• SDG Profiles

• SDG, Regional Road Map

progress reports

• Sectoral reports

• SDG Data Portal

5 subregional meetings (APFSD prep),

People’s forum (CSOs)

ESCAP MULTI-SECTORAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT, TECHNICAL, CONVENING,

KNOWELDGE SHARING (SDG HELP DESK) & NORMATIVE SUPPORT

Defining &

taking action

• REGIONAL at the

Commission sessions &

Committees, RCM

(interagency)

• NATIONAL/

SUBREGIONAL via

Programmatic activity,

collaboration with UNCT

and other partners

GOVERNMENT & OTHER EXPERTS * CIVIL SOCIETY * PRIVATE SECTOR

* THINK TANKS * ACADEMIA * UN SYSTEM (RCM, UNCTs) * IFIs * REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

GLOBAL High-level

Political ForumNATIONAL VNR

processes

ASIA-PACIFIC FORUM ON

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Empowerment• Expansion of freedom of choice and action,

increasing control over resources and decisions that affect one’s life

Inclusion • Ensure no one is left behind

Equality• Address enormous disparities of opportunity,

wealth and power

At the national level

Addressing Trade-Offs -

Creating synergies between government policies Setting up the

agenda

Policy formulation

Policy Implementation

Monitoring and policy assessment

Aspiration Policy Cycle

Public Participation

&

Stakeholder engagement

CorporateSocial

Responsibility Open Governance/

Responsive Governance

Aid Effectiveness

Follow-Up

and Review (all levels)

Mutual Accountability

Partnerships

Human Rights

Democracy

Evidence based policy-

making

How can non-government actors contribute?Planning

• Help develop social, political and scientific consensus on priorities & targets

• Strengthen integration and policy coherence

• Ensuring that the perspectives of the disadvantaged are taken into account

Delivery/action

• Spread the word - public outreach and awareness

• Shared vision and awareness at national/province/district & community levels

• Partnerships for delivery

Follow up and review

• Help define data disaggregation needs

• Develop social consensus on progress, priorities and gaps

• Data gaps

The Way ForwardIntegrated SDG planning with transformative stakeholder engagement

Sustainable financing, including for climate resilient development and infrastructure

Integrated planning to optimize resources; scale up the use of nature-based solutions, including green and blue infrastructure in urban and peri-urban areas

Circular economy approaches to reduce waste and address pollution issues

Low carbon green growth/new climate economy for sustainable development

A one-stop shop, partnership-based, online gateway to knowledge products.

Access it now:

sdghelpdesk.unescap.org;

and

https://sdghelpdesk-elearning.unescap.org/thematicarea/detail?id=11