Countries cannot fulfil the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without engaging and collaborating with civil society. We are halfway to 2030, but still nowhere near achieving the SDGs, and doubling down on action is now critical. Those were the two main messages from the High-level Political Forum’s (HLPF) morning consultation with Major Groups and Other Stakeholders (MGoS). During the rest of the day nine Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) were presented and discussed.
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Perspectives from Major Groups and Other Stakeholders at the Mid-point of the SDGs
UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President Lachezara Stoeva set the tone for this session, emphasizing that MGoS are "woven into the fabric" of the HLPF, and a concerted effort has been made by organizers to include MGoS in all HLPF debates, with a special effort at HLPF 2023 to include more youth voices.
Joan Carling, Executive Director, Indigenous Peoples Rights International, urged states to provide enabling environments and mechanisms for citizen participation at local and national levels. She endorsed the UN Secretary-General’s idea of adopting a new social contract at the World Social Summit in 2025.
Ali Jillani, Vice Chair, Asia Pacific Regional Civil Society Organization (CSO) Engagement Mechanism, said it is high time for the region to democratize development policymaking. Panelists lamented the loss of, and threats to, civic space, with Marianne Haslegrave, Economic Commission for Europe Regional Civil Society Mechanism, calling for its prioritized restoration. Surya Deva, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, highlighted the need for a planet-centered participatory development model.
Mary Maker, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador, expressed hope that future meetings include and spotlight more voices to represent the 110 million displaced people worldwide.
In the ensuing discussion, delegates highlighted the importance of civil society engagement for achieving sustainable lifestyles and combating inequality. Some highlighted inclusion of CSOs’ contributions to the content and process of developing VNRs, as well as national efforts to build multi-stakeholder partnerships, platforms, and dialogues.
Voluntary National Reviews
Liechtenstein, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Zambia, Barbados, Rwanda, Viet Nam, Burkina Faso, and Cambodia all presented their second VNRs, most of which focused on developments since their first VNR and SDG implementation issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery therefrom. Most emphasized the degree to which the preparation of the VNR included citizen participation and input.
Presenters then responded to questions from observers, some of which were MGoS questioning claims of how participatory and inclusive the VNR preparations truly were. Other questions were specific to each VNR; for example, Liechtenstein was asked about its requirement that all government bills submitted to parliament include an SDG impact analysis, while Comoros was questioned about public-private partnerships, and Barbados was asked to further elaborate its rationale for proposing the climate-financing Bridgetown Initiative. Burkina Faso’s report elicited several questions touching on how to maintain SDG progress against a backdrop of growing insecurity.
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All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For HLPF 2023, please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth.
Perspectives from Major Groups and Other Stakeholders at the Mid-Point of the SDGs: Towards Inclusive Transformation
View of the dais during the session on the perspectives of major groups and stakeholders
Paola Simonetti, International Trade Union Confederation
Joan Carling, Executive Director, Indigenous Peoples Rights International
Surya Deva, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, and Mary Maker, Goodwill Ambassador of UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
Ali Jillani, Asia Pacific Regional Civil Society Organization (CSO) Engagement Mechanism
Moderator Rashima Kwatra, Co-Chair, Major Groups and Other Stakeholders Coordination Mechanism
Marianne Haslegrave, Director, Commonwealth Medical Trust, Europe
Bruno Ibarra, The Millenials Movement, Latin America and the Caribbean
Akani Shimange, LGBTI Stakeholder Group, and Paul Divakar Namala, Stakeholder Group on Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent
Jessica Gill, Ireland
Kofi Kankam, President and CEO, Elizka Relief Foundation, Africa
Bitanya Kassaye, Sweden
Mohan Pieris, Sri Lanka
Voluntary National Reviews
Delegates listen to nine VNRs presented throughout the day
A slide from Liechtenstein's VNR highlights their focus on SDG 4 (education)
Dominique Hasler, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Education and Sports, Liechtenstein
Josip Brkić, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina
A slide from Bosnia and Herzegovina's VNR highlights their key commitment areas
A slide from Comoros' VNR indicates their progress in achieving the SDGs
Daniel Ali Bandar, Secretary-General of the Government, Comoros
Delegates listen to the VNR presentations
A key message from Zambia's VNR is that they are 'rising to the challenge' to meet the SDGs targets
Lois Mulube, Permanent Secretary for Planning and Administration, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Zambia
Nguyễn Chí Dũng, Minister of Planning and Investment, Viet Nam
A slide from Viet Nam's VNR shows the progress they are making towards SDG 7 (energy)
A slide from Barbados's VNR highlights their efforts to achieve SDG 1 (no poverty)
Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Barbados
A slide from Burkina Faso's VNR notes the challenges of achieving the SDGs due to ongoing conflict
Ragnaghnewendé Olivia Rouamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, Burkina Faso
Claudine Uwera, Minister of Economic Planning, Rwanda
A slide from Rwanda's VNR highlights the progress they are making for SDG 6 (water)
A slide from Cambodia's VNR indicates they are on track with nearly 75% of their SDG targets
Tuon Thavrak, Secretary of State, Ministry of Planning, Cambodia
Around the Venue
Delegates read the IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) to keep up to date with HLPF 2023
Delegates speak informally
Paul Simon, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
Delegates attending HLPF 2023 show how they are using the SDGs to advance education
Visitors to the UN watch the proceedings of HLPF 2023 from the gallery
