Asia -Pacific Peer Learning Workshop Mainstreaming The SDGs, Voluntary National Reviews And Their Follow -Up"– April 30, 2021

This regional peer-learning workshop was organized by the UNDP and Global Alliance – Reporting Progress on Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies on SDG mainstreaming and Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) provided a space for countries to exchange practical lessons on how to use the VNRs, including SDG 16, as a vehicle to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in complex development situations and to Build Forward Better after COVID-19. The peer exchange was a multi-stakeholder learning and sharing experience where ADA and the CSO members participated and exchanged the innovative ideas on the basis of their past experiences and their approach for 2021 VNR.

Worth a Read!!

ESCAP Forum Calls for Regional Cooperation to Avoid Greater Economic Divergence

A joint report suggests ways to leave “no person and no country” behind. Read
 

NGO Coalition's VNR Analysis Calls Attention to Closing Civic Space, Accountability Mechanisms

The report finds that the 2020 VNRs contained more reporting on "leave no one behind," but calls for efforts to identify vulnerable groups, develop dedicated strategies, and use disaggregated data. Read
 

Lessons Learned on the Road to 2030

SDG 16 and the 2021 Voluntary National Reviews: An Opportunity to Advance Justice for All

Countries can use existing data to report on new SDG indicator 16.3.3 on access to justice. Read
 

CSOs, Member States Discuss Lessons Learned for 2020 VNRs

Speakers stressed the need for civil society to be included in decision making processes with clear entry points for engagement and a digital enabling environment. Read
 

SDGs Could Be Pushed 10 More Years without Immediate Action: Financing Report

Recommended steps focus on investing in people and infrastructure. Read

Co-Facilitators Finalize Structure for HLPF Ministerial Declaration

NGOs offered input on the outline, suggesting additional priority issues and components for accelerated action. Read

Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report, 2021

’Monitoring and Review of SDG 16 Plus at the National and Regional Level ( 2015-2020) in Asia

Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Leaving No Country Behind

Action Please

HLPF Side Event Application Period Opens

The guidelines indicate that panels held during side events should have a balanced composition in terms of geography and gender. Read
Organizers planning to present side events during the 2021 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) can now submit applications. Selection criteria are provided in a set of guidelines from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
The deadline for submitting applications is 31 May 2021. All side events will be virtual, and will be scheduled to not run parallel to the official sessions of the HLPF programme. Official interpretation services are not available for side events, the guidelines note.
 

Draft HLPF Program – 2021

Find here the draft program for the HLPF 2021.
 

We the Peoples - for inclusive global governance

NGO MG Updates and Resources

1. NGO MG Nominations to the Expert Group Meetings (EGMs) organized by DESA 17-21 May 2021
 
The slate of nominations of the 21 Major Group and other Stakeholders (MGoS) was sent to DESA on Friday, April 30. A total of 54 representatives of the MGoS (six per SDG) will participate in the Expert Group Meetings on SDGs 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16 and 17, the SDGs under review during 2021 HLPF. The Organizing Partners will contact the selected nominees shortly. Thanks to everyone who expressed interest in representing the NGO MG!
 
More information about the Expert Group Meetings can be found here.
 
2. NGO MG Comments on the Zero Draft of the 2021 Ministerial Declaration
 
Please find attached the comments on the Zero Draft of the Ministerial Declaration from the NGO Major Group sent to the co-facilitators, the Ambassadors of Finlandia and Iraq. Thank you so much to the Ministerial Declaration Task Team!
 
3. Calendar of tentative NGO MG Meetings – Next meeting: Wednesday 12 May at 10:00 am EST
 
Tentative calendar for next NGO MG monthly meetings:
- Wednesday 12th May 10am EST
- Wednesday 2nd June 10 EST
 
4. NGO MG Task Teams to 2021 HLPF – Sign up Form
 
Should you be interested in joining the different NGO MG task teams to collaborate on the Ministerial Declaration, the preparation of the NGO MG side event, the VNRs and/or social media, please fill out this form. 
Since the deadline for application to host side events to the HLPF is 31 May 2021, please sign up as soon as possible to collaborate in the preparation of the NGO MG side event.
 
5. Past meeting notes are here
 
6. 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:
Central Africa: Bernard Lutete Di Lutete (bernlutete@yahoo.fr)
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)
 
7. 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. Draft program for the HLPF on Sustainable Development and the High-Level Segment and the Integration Segment of ECOSOC 2021
 
Find here the draft program for the ECOSOC Integration Segment, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC of 2021.
 
2. Zero draft of the 2021 HLPF Ministerial Declaration and letter from the co-facilitators
 
Find here the zero draft of the Ministerial Declaration of HLPF 2021 and here the letter from the co-facilitators sharing the zero draft of the Ministerial Declaration.
 
3. 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.
 
4. NGO Branch in UN DESA: “Webinar on applying for ECOSOC consultative status” -- 5 May 2021, 11:00am - 12:30pm EST (NY time)
 
The NGO Branch, at the Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development in UN DESA, is pleased to invite interested NGOs to an informational session about the application process for ECOSOC consultative status. The event will be held on-line on 5 May 2021 at 11am (New York Time) and will be conducted in English.
The meeting will provide answers to the following questions:

• What is Consultative Status, which organizations are eligible and what are its benefits?
• How the entire application process works since the application is submitted to the NGO Branch until ECOSOC makes its decision?
• What are the main components of the application package?

After the presentation, the floor will be open to answer questions from participants. Such questions may be raised either by chat or by requesting the floor using the Raise my Hand option.
In order to attend to the webinar kindly click here and fill out the registration form; a confirmation e-mail will follow at a later stage with the instructions on how to log into the event.
 
Other NGO Updates and Opportunities
 
1. IISD / SDG Knowledge Hub Story: “Experts Recommend Steps for SDG Implementation in the US”
 
Story highlights:
- Experts have provided suggestions for priorities the new US Presidential Administration should adopt to implement each of the 17 Global Goals.
- The US should prepare and present its first Voluntary National Review during the 2022 HLPF, experts recommend.
- They also call for the US to use the SDGs as its policy framework to guide development investment decisions, convene a national dialogue on a circular economy and materials conservation, and enhance civil rights and racial equity.
 
Read the full story here.
 
2. IISD / SDG Knowledge Hub Story: “FfD Forum Calls for Designing COVID-19 Recovery Strategies to Accelerate SDGs”
 
Story highlights:
- The 2021 session of the Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up took place with both in-person and virtual participation.
- The outcome document asserts that COVID-19 recovery strategies "need to be designed to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the decade of action".
- On the side of the formal meetings, UN entities launched a tool for investors and a set of policy briefs on financing for development.
 
Read the full story here.
 
3. IISD / SDG Knowledge Hub Story: “Escazu Agreement Takes Effect, Enshrining Right to Sustainable Development”
 
Story highlights:
- The Escazu Agreement entered into force on 22 April 2021, a regional treaty that enshrines the right of every person of present and future generations to live in a healthy environment and to sustainable development.
- The first Conference of the Parties to the Escazu Agreement will convene within one year to adopt rules of procedure, including modalities for “significant participation by the public”.
- At the event to commemorate its entry into force, UN officials encouraged the remaining Latin American and Caribbean nations to ratify the agreement as soon as possible.
 
Read the full story here.

 
 SDG 16 Plus 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