ADA Newsletter- March 2021
Please reach ADA Secretariat should you have any question/suggestions or want to post anything on the newsletters – info@ada2030.org
 On the Occasion of 'International Women's Day ' and in the framework of the 7th Asia Pacific Climate Adaptation Forum, ADA in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Bangkok, UN Women and Jobel Art for Earth organized online SmarTalk "THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION".
ADA made a strong presentation on Women's Role in Climate adaptation in the view of unequal resource allocation, limited decision-making opportunities with an emphasis on the multi-stakeholder partnership, providing opportunities to the grassroots level organizations to ensure balances gendered participation among many recommendations.
The event was made even more powerful with the JOBEL
Art's performances!
 The APPF was organised from March 17-22, 2021 where the CSOs and grassroots representatives from the Asia and the Pacific region came together to discuss the current state-of-play of the region in the time of COVID-19, the progress and implementation of Agenda 2030, and the people's goals towards transformative and genuine change!
The Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM) organised this annual Peoples' Forum titled "Asia Pacific People’s Forum 2021: Beyond Agenda 2030: Asia and the Pacific for Transformative and Genuine Change" this March 17-22, 2021. The forum aimed to foster sharing among constituencies and countries about our region's situation amidst the pandemic, reaffirm our commitment to upholding the development justice framework in implementing the Agenda 2030, and unite on CSOs and people’s organizations' collective action towards people-centered development.
#PeoplesForum2021
#DevelopmentJusticeNow
#AsiaPacificInTheTimeOfPandemic
Day 1 Live Event link here
Day 2 Live Link here - VNRs
8th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), 23-26 March 2021
The 8th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) opened today with a resounding call for countries to build resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate emergency - the twin crises that threaten our future the most.
More than 1000 delegates representing governments, civil society, businesses, and international organizations are gathered online at the Forum this week from 23 to 26 March to discuss sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Full Report here
ADA organized two official side events with its members and partners during the APFSD
 As an integrated and mutually reinforcing whole, SDG 16+ delivers on the promise of inclusive societies free from fear and violence. It embodies a transformative and catalytic shift– that peace and sustainable development are mutually reinforcing and dependent and help ensure that SDG 16+ implementation is not forgotten amidst the health crisis created by the COVID-19. The role of citizens-led data and indicators to measure SDG 16+ could be a major breakthrough if accepted. The side event brought together the CSOs from across Asia apart from the global interventions and human right perspective
We also took the opportunity to launch ADA – JANIC – FORUS SDG 16 Plus Report based on 13 countries case studies (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan, and Kazakhstan)
entitle ‘’Monitoring and Review of SDG 16 Plus at the National and Regional Level ( 2015-2020) in Asia”
Watch the event here
The side event was organized by APRN, ADA, and other partner’s support from Asia and Pacific focussed on challenges and opportunities related to CSO-government engagement based on previous CSO lessons learned during VNR reporting and other SDG follow-up mechanisms in the last five years (2015 -2020) with a huge focus on COVID -19 Pandemic that has brought limitations for CSOs participation in the SDGs monitoring and review programs especially with the introduction of various online platforms and forums for engagement, and its impact in the coming years. The CSO colleagues from VNR 2021 countries presented their past VNR experiences especially from Indonesia, Bhutan, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand with Marshall island’s experience as a country that is preparing and presenting for the first time. The mutual learning and sharing experiences would certainly help the CSOs to prepare better in 2021 and later.
Watch the event here
TAP Network and Global Alliance organized their first of webinar series on learning and sharing experiences on SDG 16 to discuss opportunities, challenges, and gaps from various rightsholders' perspectives like Government, CSOs, UN and others. ADA presented its views from the Asian CSOs perspective especially about Data gaps and accepting the need of citizen’s led data.
Watch the APFSD Full Sessions including CSO statements
Mongolian parliament Adopted the ground-breaking law on legal Status of Human Rights Defenders to protect people who stand up for human rights in the Central Asian country.
’Monitoring and Review of SDG 16 Plus at the National and Regional Level ( 2015-2020) in Asia
Offline and Online, Protests Are Sweeping Across Asia- An Article by Forus and ADA - From Nepal to India, Thailand to Myanmar, people are taking to the streets – or social media – to demand change – The Diplomat
Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Leaving No Country Behind
Registration for IDLO Conference on SDG 16+ (28 to 30 April 2021
SDG 16 Plus Calendar
NGO Major Group Updates
1. Executive Summary of the NGO MG Position Paper is ready for comments – Deadline: Thursday 1 April 5pm EST
Here is the Executive Summary of the NGO MG Position Paper for review and here the form for your feedback. Feedback must be received by Thursday, 1 April by 5pm EST (NY time).
The Executive Summary has been jointly drafted by those who have volunteered to prepare the NGO MG Position Paper. Thank you for your work and commitment!
2. NGO MG Task Teams to 2021 HLPF
Should you be interested in joining the different NGO MG task teams to collaborate on the Ministerial Declaration, the preparation of the NGO MG, the VNRs and/or social media, please fill out this form.
3. Calendar of tentative NGO MG Meetings – Next meeting: Wednesday 7 April at 8am EST
Tentative calendar for next NGO MG monthly meetings:
- Wednesday 7th April 8am EST
- Wednesday 5th May 9am EST
- Wednesday 2nd June 10 EST
4. NGO MG Global and Regional Organizing Partners ‘contact details
Global Organizing Partners (ngomajorgroupopny@gmail.com):
Jessica Bridgers (jessica.bridgers@wfa.org)
M. Victoria Espada (mariavictoria.espada@dianova.ngo)
Oli Henman (oli.henman@action4sd.org)
Regional Organizing Partners:
Eastern Africa: Henry Oriokot (henrycidc@gmail.com)
Northern Africa: Hagar Monsif (h.monsif@maatpeace.org)
Southern Africa: Joseph Mihaye (aminiac15@gmail.com)
Western Africa: Kofi Kankam (eri@eri.kabissa.org)
Caribbean: Donovan McLaren (kevoy1@yahoo.com) and Joseph Severe (unascadhaiti@gmail.com)
North America: Kehkashan Basu (kehkashanbasu@greenhopefoundation.com)
South America: Rosario Diaz Garavito (r.garavito@themillennialsmovement.org)
Asia: Jyotsna Mohan (jyotsna@ada2030.org)
Central Asia: Artem Stepanenko (a.stepanenko@eca-ces.ru)
Europe: Lara-Zuzan Golesorkhi (golesorkhiwow@gmail.com)
Middle East/North Africa: Anis Brik (anisdago@gmail.com)
Pacific: Emeline Siale (siale@piango.org)
5. NGO MG Donations / Contributions -- Thank you for the contributions received!
Please check the link for information on donations / contributions to NGO Major Group.
We suggest a contribution of US$50.00, but please feel free to adjust the amount to your organization´s or individual capacities. Please have in mind that everything we have done thus far has been on a voluntary basis - imagine what more we could do if we had a little bit of funding!
UN (and international organizations) Updates
1. Letter from the co-facilitators for the Ministerial Declaration of 2021 HLPF and structure of the Ministerial Declaration
Find here the letter from the co-facilitators for the Ministerial Declaration of 2021 HLPF and here the structure of the Ministerial Declaration.
2. Guidelines for Side Events and Virtual Exhibitions in the margins of the 2021 HLPF – Deadline: end of May
Find here the guidelines for the organization of virtual side-events and here the criteria and guidelines for virtual exhibitions on the margins of the 2021 HLPF.
Other NGO Updates and Opportunities
1. IISD / SDG Knowledge Hub Story: “SDG 6 Acceleration Efforts Underway as Data Shows Targets Off Track”
Story highlights:
- UN-Water convened its 34th meeting to discuss accelerating progress towards water and sanitation for all by 2030, and a report that indicates ambitions for 2030 remain off-track.
- Participants were briefed on the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework, upcoming high-level events on water, and the preparatory process for the 2023 UN conference for the midterm review of the Water Action Decade.
- The first annual SDG 6 Special Event will convene in July 2021 to review progress and trigger new commitments to advance action.
Read the full story here.
2. IISD / SDG Knowledge Hub Story: “Expert Make Recommendations on Fulfilling Two UN75 Commitments”
Story highlights:
- A series of expert discussions is generating proposals for the UN Secretary-General’s forthcoming report on ways to reinvigorate multilateralism.
- The roundtables are being co-sponsored by the Coalition for the UN We Need, CIVICUS, and the Stimson Center, and in collaboration with The Elders.
- On Commitment #12 (we will be prepared), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said the monopolization of vaccines by rich and powerful countries “risks preventing much of the Global South from having widespread access to vaccines until 2022 or 2023".
Read the full story here.
- 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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