Promote civic space and strengthen inclusion- Global perspective 2020, November 4, 2020

Forus and ADA organized the session entitled "Promote civic space and strengthen inclusion" on the 3rd day of #globalperspective2020 organized by International Civil society Centre.
The session highlight was developing the SDG 16.7 indicators by the participants that we got to present during the plenary!!
https://whova.com/portal/globa2_202010/videos/0cjM4MzNzczN/
https://icsc.delegateconnect.co/talks/promote-civic-space-and-strengthen-inclusion

Web seminar: WS11-Accelerating the SDGs Monitoring and Implementation using DGS’s Goal No 5 & 16 for Women’s right and Access to Justice, ASEAN People’s Forum

ADA presented the progress of #SDG16 in Asia since the implementation of SDGs in 2015, highlighting the issues in its implementation, monitoring and review due to the challenges related to the want of disaggregated data and national indicators. The lack of political will to implement SDG 16 was also highlighted with a need to emphasise on ‘Citizen’s led data’

Glocal Advocacy Leadership in Asia (GALA) 2020 – 2ND Capacity Development Workshop (CDW-II) , November 13, 2020

ADA with its 12 members from across Asia is in process of preparing SDG -16 Plus 5 years monitoring report. This is coupled with a monthly capacity-building workshop on CSOs engagement in the SDGs monitoring process at the national, regional, and global process under GALA 2020. The second CDW was organized on November 13

Deirdre De Burca, Policy Manager from Forus, shared Forus experience on CSO’s engagement in the VNR process and the process, benefits, and challenges. apart from this, indicator formulation - Process, Structure, and outcome indicators) with SDG 16+ highlight in the CSO Reporting was also discussed and shared. The 3rd workshop us scheduled to be held on December 11, 2020.

South Asia People’s Forum on Sustainable Development, 22-23 November 2020

The South Asia Peoples Forum on the SDGs 2020 (SAPF 2020) is the collective event of the NGOs, people organizations, civil society networks, social movements, civil society major groups and stakeholders and sustainable development advocates with the objectives to (i) Assess the political, economic, social and environmental situation of the region in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, ii) Identify civic actions and policy demands to protect and fulfill the rights of South Asian peoples and recommend for effective COVID 19 response and just recovery, and iii) Develop strategies to intervene in 4th South Asia SDGs Forum.The SAPF 2020 is now coordinated and facilitated by Asia Pacific Regional CSOs Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM) South Asia Working Group, National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal (NACASUD Nepal, Maldives Association of Persons with Disabilities (MAPD) the Maldives, and Huvadhoo Aid Maldives.

ADA organised the side event on ‘Measuring SDGs progress in S. Asia’.The speakers noted that our region has witnessed the most uneven growth in reducing inequalities (Goal 10), responsible consumption and production (Goal 12) and peace, justice and strong institutions (Goal 16), zero hunger (Goal 2) and clean water and sanitation (Goal 6) are continuously regressing in South and West Asia and moving further from achieving the goal in the last one year. The situation of youth is the most alarming in South and South-West Asia, where more than one-quarter of the young population (27 percent) are not in education, employment or training.
The pandemic has uncovered that people at the village level are the worse hit, and an only smaller group will be benefitted by the vaccine. Poverty, disaster and climate change aftermaths that need to have the survival strategy in this adverse situation.
The group recommended that the Govt must follow the pro-people strategy and address poverty, inequality , marginalization and inclusion of diverse voices and the SA should stand together for transformational opportunities provided by the SDGs of Agenda 2030 and to end the deprivation of all forms.
During the Closing Session (23.11.20), the Dy General, Ministry of Planning, Govt of Maldives underlined 'Development Justice' as a framework we should aspire to achieve the SDGs.' . Excellency Pradeep Gyawali, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and Chair #SAARC concluded the forum highlighting, the pandemic should not be an excuse to the slow progress of #SDGs , they are far too important to be left alone to only the government !!
The forum concluded calling for enhanced sub-regional cooperation , strengthening collaboration/multi-stakeholder partnerships, reversing shrinking civic spaces, localising #SDGs and the recognition for #Citezensleddata
#southasiapeoplesforum2020

CSO Statement on behalf of SA CSOs

Fourth South Asia Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals, 2-3 December, 2020

Fostering Sustainable and resilient recovery from COVID-19 in South Asia, 2-3 December, 2020

The South Asia Forum on the SDGs (SASF), conceived as the subregional preparatory for the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) and the High-Level Policy Forum (HLPF) have been organized by the South and South-West Asia office of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in collaboration with South Asian member States, stakeholders and partners since 2017.

The “Fourth South Asia Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals” was jointly organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Government of Maldives. The Forum took place on 2-3 December 2020 in virtual meeting format, as part of the preparatory process for the 8th APFSD to be held in March 2021, which in turn contributes towards the HLPF 2021.

Detailed Report here

Asia Pacific People’s Forum on Sustainable Development , November 26-30, 2020

CSOs and grassroots representatives from the Asia Pacific region came together to discuss the current state-of-play in the region in the time of COVID-19, economic crisis, and attack on human rights on Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM) annual Peoples' Forum titled "Asia Pacific People’s Forum 2020: Solidarity and System Change are the Only Antidotes to COVID-19" this Nov. 26-30, 2020 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (BKK time)

Action Please!!!

8th Asia - Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development - 23-28 March 2021

The 8th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) will be held from 23 to 26 March 2021 in “hybrid” mode in Bangkok and online.
This regional forum is dedicated to advancing progress on the SDGs by enabling a credible review and evaluation of progress – and sharing insights and good practices among government officials and other stakeholders.
This year, keeping an eye on the SDGs will be more important than ever.
Governments across the world have decided to focus the sustainable development process on the theme “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia and the Pacific” – this will also be the theme of the APFSD this year. Global discussions will focus attention on nine SDGs that likely to be impacted by pandemic disruptions and responses. These are:
SDG 1: No poverty
SDG 2: Zero hunger
SDG 3: Good health and well-being
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 16: Peace and justice
SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
A review of progress and recommendations for each of the above goals is being organized by relevant UN agencies as part of the APFSD. As an important aspect of this review, the forum will seek to understand how COVID-19 has impacted SDG implementation in your country.
Your experiences and insights are critical to a realistic picture of progress.
We would welcome your participation in this online survey on progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Asia and the Pacific.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7QZZYKK
The results of the survey will be used to draw government and stakeholder attention to key issues and regarding progress on each SDG, through a “goal profile” for each SDG and to identify recommendations for action on each SDG
Thank you for submitting your response before 15 December 2020. This should take approximately 15 minutes of your time. Please note that you can choose to respond to questions on one or more SDGs and that the targeted countries are the ESCAP member states.
We thank you in advance for your participation, and for sharing this survey more widely.
Sincerely,
The APFSD Secretariat
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
UN Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, 10200 Bangkok, THAILAND
www.unescap.org
https://www.unescap.org/2030-agenda
www.sdghelpdesk.unescap.org
www.sdgasiapacific.net

Calendar of ECOSOC events for 2021

Please find the 2021 calendar of events and substantive sessions of ECOSOC.

OECD-UNDP Framework for SDG Aligned Finance

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) launched the OECD-UNDP Framework for SDG Aligned Finance to help public and private actors identify and prioritize investments that contribute to the SDGs.

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

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Please reach ADA Secretariat should you have question/suggestions or

want to post anything on the newsletters – info@ada2030.org