Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as Protagonist: Too late to pace up?
 
The current goals for Sustainable Development emphases on the role of collective transformation in the developing world through a lens that focuses on sustainability, subjecting to the philosophical position of humanitarian issues, implanting optimism for the upcoming generation in times of corporate greed, inequality, and climate crisis.
However, the recent effect of the pandemic made us all re-think the practices of sustainable development goals facing massive economical and infrastructure disasters. The weakness of public sector services was on open display, even for the richest countries. Children around the world lost not only going to school but a part of their childhood that they will never have again. We, the development practitioners, human right activist as well policy makers, were looking for an impromptu script to make the world function as it was. With the invention of Covid vaccines, WHO established a target of 70% worldwide immunisation coverage by mid-2022 in 2021. Only 58 of WHO's 194 Member States had met the 70% target as of June 2022, and only 37% of healthcare professionals in low-income countries had received a full course of primary immunisation.. The pandemic, the lockdown, and the separation anxiety created amongst the entire world caused a loss of connection with human to humans. It limited our preparation for action and with the restriction of time, the intention of action (as transformation) comes as a question.  According to a recent UN report, Asia and the Pacific are currently projected to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2065, which is three and a half decades later than the original deadline.
 The series of recent civil society forums arranged by ADA and other partner organisations make an attempt to re-create and co-create a ‘collective’ curated out of post-pandemic context  We pledge to replace texts of isolation with a  combination of common-ing and shared interests, attempting in turn to create the ground for a possible ‘coming together. The collective voices of these forums also ask: how does one move from a focus on infrastructure or on deliverables (as also pity, benefits, and benevolence) to relationships among war-torn communities, refugee crises, and other humanitarian issues?? How does one inaugurate care and sincereness as the development agenda?  How despite all odds some micro-moments of relating can emerge in the world so that we can keep our promises to our future generations?
 
OP-ED
What Asia needs in a post-pandemic world is people-centered governance.
Read the OP-ED here 
 

What Happened till now?

Sub-Regional Webinars on SDGs Progress in Asia

 
APSD an partnership with ADA and other partners organised 3 sub-regional workshop on SDGs progress in Asia.
 

 

South-East Asia Regional webinar – 5-6 September

The set of reviewed ASIAN countries in 2022 seem to be doing better than the global average on all SDGs – specially on people-centred SDGs + SDGs on infrastructure and innovation and climate change. That said, perception averages are still in the ‘low’ range. The Asian countries under review at HLPF 2022 get slightly better averages scores in every singlekey area – although they don’t scape from the underlying global trendsThe first of these global trends is the gap between the policy environment available and the actual institutional capacities gathered and put into motion for implementation. Another underlying global trend is the lower levels of inclusiveness perceived – civil society participation in policymaking processes is seen at a low level of progress, which implies few spaces for dialogue available, and that those that are in place are tokenistic or consultative at best and far from substantial in terms of actual policymaking, monitoring or policy-prioritization processes.
 

South Asia Regional Webinar (7-8 September)

Despite COVID-19 global pushbacks, South Asian countries’ SDGs scores have marginally improved consistently since 2015 or stagnated but not deteriorated. Within the South Asian region, the top three performers are Bhutan (70.02), Maldives (69.27) and Sri Lanka (68.1) respectively in 2021, and since 2015. From the bottom, Afghanistan (53.56), Pakistan (57.62) and India (60.07), remain the lowest performers in 2021, where most of the South Asian Countries face major challenges in achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). In particular, the performance of all the South Asian countries is off-track on SDG 15 (Life on Land) that relates to protecting biodiversity.
 
 

Central Asia Regional Webinar (7-8 September

Central Asia has not been centrally focussed nor mainstreamed and need to be brought into activism with other parts of Asia . 6 countries in Central Asia and Mongolia have common historical experiences in terms of politics and democracy. However, Mongolia scores the highest (over 6) in score of the EIU Democracy Index among 6 (average 1-3) What are key factors for such a big difference? Is it more political, economic, cultural?
 
 

2022 SDG 16 + Asia Forum

 2022 SDG 16 Plus Forum Asia is the second initiative of the ADA to promote the SDG16+ approach to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda / SDGs and other related issues in Asia and respond to the global challenges based on the Asian experiences. It is organized by ADA in cooperation with APSD, JANIC, TAP Network, FORUS and GCAP. It is part of the Global People’s Assembly held during the Global Week of Action in the context of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2022.
 

 2nd SDG 16 Plus Forum -Asia Declaration here

 

 
Watch the event here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JCROTqv0TQ 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAjaoev7bH8&t=2s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izrrk5vr2SE&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUPXyXa74QA&t=1s
 
 

GALA-ELSAH Training of Trainers (ToT)

The GALA-ELSAH Training of Trainers (ToT) is an online capacity-building program for civil society advocates who are interested to learn and willing to conduct training programs at national and/or international level in Asia about how to engage in policy advocacy on the SDGs through human rights-based approach (HRBA) in partnership with ADA, the Korean Association of Human Rights Studies (KAHRS) ,Asia Civil Society Partnership for Sustainable Development (APSD), JANIC, Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and the Action for Sustainable Development (A4SD) with financial support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Dates	Contents
31 July 2022	Deadline for application
1 Aug.	Notification of the selection
5 Aug.	Orientation for Participants
Aug.	Homework No 1 (8 to 22 Aug)  Homework No 2 (23 to 29 Aug)
Aug.	Webinar No 1 (2-5 PM, GMT+7, Wednesday, 24 August)
Sept. – Oct.	Homework No 3 – 10
Sept. - Oct.	Webinar No 2 to 5
Nov. 1-4	Main Course of GAELA (4 days, 4 hours per day)
Nov. 30	Presentation of the final report and action plan   Certitifcate

 
Global people’s assembly
The Global People's Assembly is a self-organised space during the United Nations General Assembly’s high-level week. Our aim is to bring the voices of the people to the forefront, at a time where decision-makers engage in high-level debate without people's involvement.
Global People’s Assembly Objectives

1. Provide a platform for people’s voices from around the world that can feature at the forefront of the UNGA - including national, constituency, and regional People’s Assemblies from around the world. 
2. Review the impacts caused by COVID-19 and inflation. Develop demands and actions -  including for the People’s Vaccine within the context of the 2030 Agenda. Discuss the implementation of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement and make recommendations.
3. Bring the united voice of the Global People’s Assembly to the UNGA, governments, and UN organizations
4. Strengthen the cooperation between CSO networks for civil society actions and people’s movements

South Asia Regional Webinar (12 PM BKK to 4 PM BKK)
South Asia Regional Webinar is about the SDGs progress, human rights, and civic space in South  Asia. The webinar took place between September 7-8th.
 Transforming Education Summit
The Transforming Education Summit happened on 17th September 2022 in NY.
The Solutions Day event is organised by the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) together with UNESCO Collective Consultation of NGOs on Education (CCNGO Ed2030), Government of Malawi, Government of Argentina, the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS), Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education(ASPBAE), Arab Campaign for Education (ACEA), La Campaña Latinoamericana por el Derecho a la Educación (CLADE), the Africa Network Campaign on Education for All (ANCEFA), European and North American Campaign for Education (ENACE), Education International and ActionAid.
 
 
 

We are keeping our eye on..

C 20 Summit Indonesia, Bali-Indonesia 5-7 October, 2022.

Towards the G20 Summit in November 2022, The C20 will hold a summit where this event is the culmination of a series of C20 activities to prepare collective documents in the form of a communique that will be presented at the G20 Summit.
The meeting will bring three hundred participants representing C20 and CSOs from around the world and participate in several parallel side events organized by all C20 working groups and plenary sessions. Therefore, The C20 Summit 2022 will become the key political event for all civil society organizations and grassroots communities worldwide. ADA Secretariate will act as the international co-ordinator for the humanitarian and SDG working group of C20summit.
 

FINANCEINCOMMON2022

For the third consecutive year, all Public Development Banks will convene to strengthen their partnership and reinforce their commitments in support of common actions for climate change and sustainable development. This year's edition is co-hosted by the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank.
The theme will be “Green and Just transition for a sustainable recovery”, and will provide an opportunity to highlight the key role of PDBs in supporting the transformation of economies and financial systems towards sustainability, while addressing the most pressing needs of developing countries and vulnerable groups. The high-level thematic discussions will take place on the 19-20th, while the 18th will be a Research Conference.
 
 

We are keeping Eye on G20 summit .

The G20 is a strategic multilateral platform connecting the world’s major developed and emerging economies. The G20 holds a strategic role in securing future global economic growth and prosperity. Together, the G20 members represent more than 80 percent of world GDP, 75 percent of international trade and 60 percent of the world population. 
Starting in 1999 as a meeting for the finance minister and central bank governors, the G20 has evolved into a yearly summit involving the Head of State and Government. In addition to that, the Sherpa meetings (in charge of carrying out negotiations and building consensus among Leaders), working groups, and special events are also organized throughout the year.
https://g20.org/

COP 26,  is taking place on 6-18 November

The COP 26 Presidency and the incoming-COP 27 Presidency are committed to ensuring a transparent and inclusive process in the lead-up to COP 27 to be convened in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from 6 – 18 November 2022.
Throughout the year, the Presidencies will engage at ministerial, head of delegation and technical levels, as appropriate, on issues critical to the delivery of work in 2022 and the success of COP 27. Regular multilateral consultations at the level of heads of delegation will provide an opportunity for Parties to engage informally on specific issues and make progress in preparation for Sharm el-Sheikh.
 

We are in Solidarity with the women of Iran

The troubling news from Iran about women's rights violations calls on the international community to stand up for the freedom of movement and the right to protest.
These protests began last Friday, September 16th, following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, who died that day in Tehran, three days after being jailed by "morality police" for displaying too much of her hair in public.
News sources days, 23 of Iran's 31 provinces are now protesting against this horrific act of the state regime.
The crackdown on protestors has drawn international condemnation. We stand in solidarity with Iranian women with their urge to move freely and with right to peaceful protest.
Read more : https://www.voanews.com/a/demonstrations-in-solidarity-with-iranian-women-held-around-the-globe/6762639.html
 

Around the globe

Denmark pledged over $13 million  to support developing nations that have experienced losses caused by climate disruptions, becoming the first country to offer "loss and damage" compensation to the most climate-vulnerable areas.
Danish Development Minister Flemming Møller Mortensen made the pledge on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, saying the new climate funds would go to the Sahel region in northwestern Africa and other fragile regions.
https://www.reuters.com/world/denmark-becomes-first-offer-loss-damage-climate-funding-2022-09-20/
 

Children killed after Myanmar army helicopters fire at school

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62967014
 

Pakistan: Monsoon rains endanger UNESCO World Heritage Site Mohenjo Daro

https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan-monsoon-rains-endanger-unesco-world-heritage-site-mohenjo-daro/a-63051734
 

Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes: Almost 100 killed along border

https://www.dw.com/en/armenia-azerbaijan-clashes-almost-100-killed-along-border/a-63098944
 
NGO MG Global and Regional Organizing Partners ‘contact details
 
Global Organizing Partners (ngomajorgroupopny@gmail.com):
Jessica Bridgers (jessica.bridgers@wfa.org)
Lani Anaya  (lani@myworldmexico.org)
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)
 
Please reach ADA Secretariat should you have any question/suggestions or want to post anything – info@ada2030.org