The 2030 Agenda and the SDGs: Background and what it means at the national level

Transcription

1 The 2030 Agenda and the SDGs: Background and what it means at the national level Performance Audits of Preparedness for Implementation of SDGs Stakeholder meeting Jaipur, India, Dec. 8 th, 2017 David Le Blanc UNDESA/DPADM

2 The SDGs - scope

3 Genesis of the SDGs Convergence of development and sustainable development tracks at the UN Past UN development frameworks Agenda 21 Rio principles Millennium development goals end in 2015 JPOI Rio+20 outcome Mandate to negotiate the SDGs One track Sustainable Development Goals

4 Innovative features of SDGs SDGs Goals and targets agreed through negotiation at the UN Scope covers the whole of sustainable development Universal (for all countries) Integrated (the goals and targets refer to one another) MDGs Goals and targets produced by a small group of technocrats after the Millennium Summit Scope: poverty, health, education, gender, plus a few other areas For developing countries (donorrecipient logic) Collection of goals and targets Importance of institutions recognized in the SDGs themselves (SDG 16) Institutions not part of the goals Global follow-up and review process negotiated at the UN (incl. global indicators) Follow-up process was more limited / ad hoc

5 Development issues not included in Millennium Development Goals

6 The SDGs are integrated Source: D. Le Blanc, 2015, Towards integration at last? The sustainable development goals as a network of targets, Sustainable Development, 23,3.

7 Leaving no one behind, the other principle that frames the 2030 Agenda UN General Assembly resolution 70/1 4. As we embark on this great collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. Recognizing that the dignity of the human person is fundamental, we wish to see the Goals and targets met for all nations and peoples and for all segments of society. And we will endeavour to reach the furthest behind first. Implications of this for polices, for audits?

8 Inequality in the SDGs: targets under SDG 10 and other goals

9 SDGs at the national level (1) The 2030 Agenda is not legally binding Countries do not have to implement it Flexibility and recognition of national priorities in the text itself Paragraph 55: countries will.. According to their national circumstances. Encouragement to nationalize the SDGs Incentives for countries to invest in the SDGs? For some countries, ownership / champions from the very beginning Easier access to donors resources in the future? Peer pressure through voluntary national reviews at HLPF each year (?)

10 SDGs at the national level (2) In spite of this, strong ownership / engagement in SDGs observed in many countries In some countries, SDGs inscribed in the hardware : legal / regulatory, decrees, etc., institute responsibility for implementation, coordination, monitoring Strong resonance with civil society in particular through voluntary national reviews at HLPF (importance of signaling) HLPF / VNR show extensive national preparations and strong commitment of national governments Multi-sector coordination structures / mechanisms, mostly at high level Internalizing SDGs into development strategies and planning processes (e.g., Uganda, Indonesia, Sierra Leone) Tools: mapping of inter-linkages among SDGs, mapping of institutional mandates and SDG targets (Sri Lanka). Making budget frameworks SDG-compatible (e.g. Mexico) Strong emphasis on data

11 Some areas where audits could add value What is the gap between rhetorics and performance on SDG implementation? What needs to be done differently? old stuff, new packing? Use lessons learned from past audits, even though not called SDGs How have integrated approaches/ strategies worked at the systemic level, at the sector level? What is the performance of institutions in terms of SDG 16 targets? E.g. Accountability and transparency, effectiveness, corruption How serious is the effort to leave no one behind? Clarifying methodologies / questions for audit purposes could be helpful to others e.g. economic evaluation, environmental and social assessment, integrated assessments

12 Thank you!

13 Follow-up and review at the global level architecture defined by UNGA High-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) National Voluntary Reviews Thematic reviews Set of SDGs reviewed each year 2018: 6, 7, 11, 12, 15, : 4, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17 SDG Progress Report (annual) Global Sustainable Development Report (every 4 years) Countries UN Member States) UN system UN agencies Regional commissions Functional commissions of UN ECOSOC Financing for development forum (Addis track)

14 Follow-up and review at the global level architecture defined by UNGA High-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) National Voluntary Reviews Thematic reviews Set of SDGs reviewed each year 2018: 6, 7, 11, 12, 15, : 4, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17 SDG Progress Report (annual) Global Sustainable Development Report (every 4 years) Countries UN Member States) UN system UN agencies Regional commissions Functional commissions of UN ECOSOC Financing for development forum (Addis track)

15 SDGs at the national level (1) UN General Assembly resolution 70/1 55. The Sustainable Development Goals and targets are integrated and indivisible, global in nature and universally applicable, taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities. Targets are defined as aspirational and global, with each Government setting its own national targets guided by the global level of ambition but taking into account national circumstances. Each Government will also decide how these aspirational and global targets should be incorporated into national planning processes, policies and strategies. It is important to recognize the link between sustainable development and other relevant ongoing processes in the economic, social and environmental fields.