The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development stresses the importance of the regional and sub-regional dimensions in follow-up and review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since the creation of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the UN Regional Commissions have organized forums for regional follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. On Wednesday, the first session focused on messages from the regions on how to improve recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, while injecting momentum into the attainment of the SDGs.
The Chairs of the five 2021 Regional Forums on Sustainable Development reported on the recommendations from their meetings.
The Executive Secretaries of the five UN Regional Commissions also presented messages.
In the interactive dialogue “Voices from the regions,” regional representatives from civil society and the private sector discussed COVID-19 recovery efforts and how they are working to achieve and implement the SDGs.
The remainder of the day focused on ten presentations of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). China, Afghanistan, Denmark, Thailand, Chad, Norway, the Bahamas, Tunisia, and the Dominican Republic presented their second VNRs, and Sierra Leone presented its third.
All of the VNR presentations stressed the multi-stakeholder nature of the VNR process. Denmark noted that all new legislation in its country is linked to the SDGs. Norway emphasized that youth are at the heart of its strategy.
China cited its success with eradication of absolute poverty, achieving its goal 10 years ahead of schedule. Afghanistan described how it is integrating the 2030 Agenda into its national peace and development framework. Thailand underlined its focus on a Bio-Circular-Green economic model.
Tunisia noted the need to improve women’s equality, violence against women, and engage more women in policymaking. The Bahamas recalled the dual challenge of managing a Category 5 hurricane in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, while maintaining its commitment to the SDGs.
Chad and the Dominican Republic described their countries’ focus on education and digital connectivity. Sierra Leone described its education programme, which provides free primary education, free school meals and textbooks to children.
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Images from the Meeting
A slide highlights that due to COVID-19, Africa is facing its first recession in 25 years.
László Borbély, State Counsellor to the Prime Minister, Romania, and Co-Chair, 2021 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Region
Rodolfo Solano Quirós, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Costa Rica, Chair, 4th session of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development
Mereseini Rakuita Vuniwaqa, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Fiji, and Chair, 8th session of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development
Faisal Al Ibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning, Saudi Arabia, and Chair, 2021 Arab Forum for Sustainable Development
Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), and Coordinator of the Regional Commissions
Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary, ECE
Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Africa (ECA)
Sergey Glazyev, Minister in Charge of Integration and Macroeconomics, Eurasian Economic Commission
Nadia Al Saeed, General Manager, Al Etihad Bank, Jordan
Kofi Kankam, President and CEO, Elizka Relief Foundation, Ghana
Wardarina, Asia-Pacific Regional Coordination Engagement Mechanisms (APRCEM)
Benedict Okey Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Afreximbank
Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, China
Nicolai Wammen, Minister of Finance, Denmark
Karima Hamed Faryabi, Minister of Economy, Afghanistan
A slide highlights some of the challenges Afghanistan faces in achieving the SDGs.
Nikolai Astrup, Minister of Local Government and Modernisation, Norway
Nadhavathna Krishnamra, Director-General, Department of International Organizations, Thailand
Issa Doubragne, Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Chad (right)
Ali Kooli, Minister of Economy, Finance and Investment Support, Tunisia (center)
Chet Neymour, Permanent Representative of the Bahamas to the UN
Miguel Ceara Hatton, Minister of Economic, Planning and Development, Dominican Republic