During a one-day workshop on the sidelines of the 2019 United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, HLPF, representatives from national governments and relevant stakeholders discussed how National Councils for Sustainable Development and similar bodies can add to the governmental delivery of the 2030 Agenda.
A primary focus of the day was the discussion about the value for a network of National Councils for Sustainable Development (NCSDs) and similar multi-stakeholder bodies. Organized by Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future for the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE), co-sponsored by the United Nations Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development of UN DESA, and in cooperation with the Friends of Governance for Sustainable Development, the workshop took place on 8 July 2019 in the United Nations Secretariat Building, concluding in a supportive and enthusiastic atmosphere that encourages the organizers to take next steps and to seek broad support.
The idea and vision for the Global Forum were put at the disposal of a wider public by the following founding members:
“The Forum adds value to the individual efforts of those linked in, by providing easy access to shareware tools, and to what works in other contexts to accelerate sustainable development policy-making, and what does not, and can provide easy access also to the ‘whys’. The Forum creates new momentum and supports national sustainable development policy-making in a supportive manner through the collective knowledge of SDG advisory bodies.”
Günther Bachmann, former Secretary-General, German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE)
“Acting as advisor to the government or forming a partnership with the government, and as a facilitator for multi-stakeholder processes, councils, commissions and similar bodies function to identify new entry-points and carve out pathways of action and provide stewardship for sustainable development.”
Annika Lindblom, Secretary-General, Finnish National Commission on Sustainable Development, Finland
“The creation of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), a highly recognized and rewarding process around the HLPFs and throughout the world, is increasingly featuring whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches. This has resonated in the institutional set-ups as well as coordination processes in countries. A Global Forum for national SDG Advisory Bodies can pool resources, allows for learning and sharing of risks and ultimately enhances complex problem-solving.”
Irena Zubcevic, Chief, Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch, UN DESA
“In 2019 we are entering a new ‘Decade of Action and Delivery for Sustainable Development’ wherein the HLPF, national governments, and stakeholders need to speed-up activities and deliver towards implementing the SDGs until 2030. Establishing a Global Forum for National SDG advisory bodies for collective knowledge allows its members entry into a broad and ever-growing range of bi- and multi-lateral research and good practice exchanges by individual countries and institutions.“ shareware tools, and to what works in other contexts to accelerate sustainable development policy-making, and what does not, and can provide easy access also to the ‘whys’. The Forum creates new momentum and supports national sustainable development policy-making in a supportive manner through the collective knowledge of SDG advisory bodies.”
Charles Nouhan, Chairman & Representative to the United Nations in NY, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future
