ADA Newsletter- August 2020

Dear ADA Members and Friends,
 
Hope you all got some rest post HLPF and you all are rejuvenated to resume your work in the pandemic era. We are still witnessing an upsurge in the COVID cases in many parts of Asia yet the governments are lifting up many restrictions but international travels are still restricted. The new normal during and post-COVID times is a lot of virtual conversations is a matter of debate regarding the use and misuse of technologies. But for sure, this has not hampered our zeal and energy to better our work in our own unique ways.
 
Hence, please feel free to share your  story on working in this ‘new normal’ along with concerns and opinion and how can we help you, by writing to ADA secretariat and share updates should you wish them published in our monthly newsletter apart from giving your suggestions on how to improve our communication with you at  info@ada2030.org  
 
In solidarity, 

Jyotsna Mohan
Coordinator - ADA

Table of Contents

ADA – JANIC Social Networking Sites (SNS) Three Weeks online Training – (August 26 to September 10, 2020) 3
JANIC Awarded "Okinawa Peace Prize". 3
Action Please!!! 4
NGO MG Position Paper to the 2020 HLPF is being translated. 4
UN (and international organizations) Updates 4
Decision on theme for ECOSOC/HLPF in 2021 and subset of SDGs for 2021 HLPF adopted. 4
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): ·Strengthening Stakeholder Engagement for the Implementation and Review of the 2030 Agenda” – September 2 to December 15, 2020. 4
Worth a Read!! 5
Calendar 6
 
 

ADA – JANIC Social Networking Sites (SNS) Three Weeks online Training – (August 26 to September 10, 2020)

The SNS training is jointly organized by ADA and JANIC aiming at creating  SNS campaigns addressing digital security and infographics to tackle potential human right violations exploring digital infrastructure as they relate to civil society in democracies and shrinking civic space considering the role of privacy, anonymity, free expression, and free association and examine the digital tools and practices that enable these freedoms. The training consists of three two  themes:
 

1. The role of civil society in democracies especially in the context of continued shrinking civic space
2. Individual and collective digital security

 
SNS Training – Week 1 (26-27 August 2020)
The August training focussed on digital civil society, its roles in a democracy, and the political economy of the Internet ecosystem apart from a lecture and discussion on the language of human rights and applications to the digital ecosystem. The training also focussed on the universal declaration of human rights, and their relevance and relation to the digital age - apart from the practical discussion on the trends on the internet and democratic and overall freedom in various countries using a freedom house chart. The training also focussed on the riles of various stakeholders towards maintaining and uplifting Internet Governance.

JANIC Awarded "Okinawa Peace Prize"

 Our heartiest Congratulations  to ADA Member from Japan, JANIC for winning the most prestigious "10th Okinawa Peace Prize"
2020.08.28
JANIC was awarded the 10th Okinawa Peace Prize in recognition of our years of work to support Japanese CSOs that address global issues such as poverty, environmental challenges.
Please read the full statement from JANIC Board and staff here
 


 

Action Please!!!

NGO MG Position Paper to the 2020 HLPF is being translated

 
A total of 14 teams of NGO MG volunteers are working on the translations of the NGO MG Position Paper to the 2020 HLPF to different languages. The purpose of translation (even at this post-HLPF moment in time) is to increase access to the document and to make it possible to share the document further in the lead up to the General Assembly and other upcoming events relevant to achieving the SDGs. The goal is to have translations completed by 15 September 2020. The NGO MG Position Paper in English is already posted on the HLPF website.
 
Thanks to the volunteers for their time and commitment, and to Kathryn Adams for coordinating again the translation teams!
 
 

UN (and international organizations) Updates

 
Decision on theme for ECOSOC/HLPF in 2021 and subset of SDGs for 2021 HLPF adopted
 
The theme for ECOSOC/HLPF in 2021 and a subset of SDGs that will be discussed at 2021 HLPF passed silence procedure and was thus adopted on August 3.
 
The thematic focus of the ECOSOC for its 2021 session and the 2021 HLPF on sustainable development under the auspices of ECOSOC shall be “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, while promoting economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: Building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”.
 
Without prejudice to the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the SDGs, the HLPF 2021 will discuss the following set of goals in depth: 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16 and 17. The review will cover the targets of the SDGs with a 2020 timeline.
 
Here is the link to the letter of the President of the General Assembly in that regard. See also attached the unedited text of the decision.
 
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): ·Strengthening Stakeholder Engagement for the Implementation and Review of the 2030 Agenda” – September 2 to December 15, 2020
 
This massive open online course (MOOC) provides key information and tools on how to strengthen the engagement of stakeholders from different sectors and levels in the implementation and follow up of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This course is a self-paced course requiring around 10-12 hours of effort in total. It is free of charge. This e-learning course targets governmental officials but also other stakeholders such as UN staff, local governments, civil society and others.
 
Register now here.

Worth a Read!! 

 
UNDESA and UNITAR Publication: “Stakeholder Engagement & the 2030 Agenda – A Practical Guide”
 
This practical guide includes key elements about how to strengthen stakeholder engagement in the implementation and follow up of the 2030 Agenda, including:
 
- The 2030 Agenda and commitments related to stakeholder participation at global, regional and national levels.
- Aspects, principles and constituencies related to meaningful stakeholder engagement and provisions for participation, including leaving no one behind.
- Concrete examples, tools and methods that can be adapted by government representatives and other stakeholders in setting up and implementing stakeholder engagement plans.
 
Access the document here.
 
 
UN CDP Paper: “National Reports on the 2030 Agenda: What do they (not) reveal?”
 
On July 13th, the Graduate Programs in International Affairs at The New School, along with UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP), Social Watch International and Global Policy Forum, held a webinar titled, “Launch of CDP Paper: National Reports on the 2030 Agenda: What do they (not) reveal?”.
 
The webinar was a side event of the High-Level Political Forum and it had the purpose of presenting the CDP Background Paper with the same title. During the webinar, the importance of national reporting on the 2030 Agenda, both by governments (VNRs) and civil society (“spotlight” or “shadow” reports) was discussed. Prof. Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Vice-Chair of the CDP, presented key findings of the analysis of 2019 VNRs, analyzing how countries addressed four key issues: leaving no one behind; pursuing global partnership as means of implementation (SDG17); addressing inequalities (SDG 10) and gender inequality (SDG5).
 
Read the paper here.
 
  
Cepei Report: “HLPF 2020 Analysis: Beyond virtuality” // Informe Cepei: “Análisis del HLPF 2020: Más allá de la virtualidad”
 
This work completes a series of publications made by Cepei around the realization of the HLPF 2020. We present our first reactions and analysis of its final results. “The effort made by the UN to organize a virtual HLPF 2020 was successful, despite the difficulties faced by some attendees to participate in the different working sessions”.
 
Read the full report here.
 
Este trabajo complete una serie de publicaciones realizadas por Cepei en torno a la realización del HLPF 2020. Presentamos aquí nuestras primeras reacciones y análisis de sus resultados finales. “El esfuerzo realizado por la ONU para organizar el HLPF 2020 de manera virtual fue exitoso, a pesar de las dificultades que enfrentaron algunas de las personas que quisieron hacer uso de la palabra en las diferentes sesiones de trabajo”.
 
Lea el informe completo aquí.
 
 
CIVICUS Monitor: Civic Space in Numbers
The CIVICUS Monitor rates the conditions for civil society or civic space. The Monitor provides ratings for civic space in 196 countries (all UN member states and Kosovo, Palestine and Taiwan). At CIVICUS, we see civic space as the respect in policy and practice for the freedoms of assembly, association and expression which are underpinned by the state’s duty to protect civil society.
Today, only 3% of the world’s population lives in countries with open civic space. This has decreased from 4% last year. Check the Civic Space in Numbers here. 

Calendar

• ADA's official website has been renewed. All the information related to the implementation of SDGs in Asia and actions conducted by Asian CSOs will be accumulated on this website. Please visit www.ada2030.org
• ADA's Facebook page has been activated! The page will channel useful information among civil society actors in Asia. Feel free to tag @Asia Development Alliance in future collaboration. The page is accessible with this web address: https://www.facebook.com/ada2030/ 
• ADA Twitter account @alliance_asia