Global Forum Webinars are developed and delivered by the Global Forum Secretariat and by the Forum’s network Members and Affiliates. These webinars serve the membership as peer-learning exercises to further develop their capacity to more effectively engage with each other, learn from each other, identify SDG actions that they can realistically engage in. It is envisioned that increased individual capacity to identify the correct actors in their national governments, and a broader range of relevant stakeholders in their respective countries, will strengthen members’ and affiliates’ ability to support their governments to accelerate SDGs delivery.
The webinars will also offer an opportunity to reach a wider audience by including additional colleagues and staff members from Global Forum member and affiliate organizations, answer participant’s questions in real-time, and recorded sessions will become part of the Global Forum knowledge achieve.
Global Forum Working Group on a Regional Multi-stakeholder Partnership Network in Africa Side Event at the 7th Africa Regional Forum for Sustainable Development
Held on 27 February 2021
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Download the report here
Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSPs) have a high potential to be catalysts for delivery on the 2030 Agenda by promoting a whole-of-society approach for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and could therefore act as national champions to accelerate action. MSPs advise their respective national governments, provide knowledge quickly and straightforwardly, can generate learning from their international partnerships, provide impulses for local initiatives and generally support their governments as strong knowledge partners. And also, it can provide platforms for discussing controversial topics and can thereby generate consensus across stakeholder groups (academia, civil society, business, and trade unions).
Against this background, the Global Forum Working Group on a Regional MSP Network in Africa hosted a side event at the 7th AFRSD. The purpose of this side event is to provide a platform for regional peer learning and exchange on Multi-Stakeholder-Platform (MSPs) and to enhance political buy-in at a regional level.
Panelists: Mr. Felix Meyerhoff (German Council for Sustainable Development), Dr. Dineo Seabe (University of Stellenbosch), Dr. Bala Yusuf Yunusa (Senior Technical Advisor at the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) Nigeria), Mr. Michael Mwangi (Kenya SDG Unit, Republic of Kenya), Mr. Francis Shirima (Ministry of Finance and Planning in Tanzania), Ms. Florence Syevuo (Kenya SDGs Forum), Mr. Yared Tsegay (African Monitor), Mr. Stephen Chacha (African Philanthropy Foundation)Moderator: Namhla Mniki (Development Economist and CEO/Founder of Kajeno Bua Inc.)
Host: The Global Forum Working Group on a Regional MSP Network in Africa
Want to know more? Contact Yared Tsegay at [email protected]
Panel Regional: Aceleración/Desaceleración Sostenible en Latinoamérica / ODS / SDG – (Regional Panel: Sustainable Acceleration / Deceleration in Latin America)
Held on Wednesday, December 2, 2020
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On December 2, 2020, Global Forum members from Latin America and the Caribbean organised a regional panel to discuss sustainable development in the region and the progress toward achieving SDGs and the 2030 Agenda.
In the conversation, common issues were addressed by the panelists. First, regarding COVID-19 recovery most panelists agreed this will be the main challenge for countries worldwide that can be an opportunity or a threat if policies do not consider SDG and the 2030 Agenda principles. For this situation, south-south cooperation is seen as a powerful mechanism for cooperation among countries.
Another important topic addressed was to consider that new government institutional arrangement may be needed in order to achieve common goals with other sectors, especially the private sector, in order to drive new investments towards having a green recovery but also to face social issues that will be worsened by the consequences of the pandemic. Finally, the role of subnational governments in order to achieve sustainable development and to measure and connect local impact with national and global efforts is key.
Panelists: Javier Surasky (CEPEI), Josefina Huaman (Mesa de Articulación de redes y plataformas de OSC de América Latina y El Caribe), Adela Olano La Rocha (Pacto Global – México), Fernando Quiroga, (Consejo Nacional de Coordinación de Políticas Sociales de la República de Argentina).
Host: Carlos Miranda (FUDESO), Co-host: Julio López (Grupo FARO)
Want to know more? Contact Carlos Miranda at [email protected]
Global Forum Webinar 2: What are the Structures, Relationships, and Other Factors Needed to Establish Effective and Enduring Subnational and Regional Multi-Stakeholder Sustainable Development Councils and Similar Bodies?
Held on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM New York time.
Download the full program here
Watch the full webinar on YouTube
Subnational networks are commonly found in two forms. Some can be a single advisory body established by a regional government or parliament. Others can be found in countries where subnational governments are designated as ‘states’ rather than countries or autonomous regions. On the other hand, regional networks are those networks consisting of multiple advisory bodies established by national governments that foster cross-border cooperation. Each is tasked with offering independent advice to their respective governing bodies or members and, ideally, include a multistakeholder group of representatives from academia, civil society, the private sector, and public bodies that bring together experts with years of experience in producing independent advice. Successful and effective subnational and regional networks or similar multistakeholder bodies do exist, some well-known and some less so but equally effective in their own right. Yet, many regional and local governments still find it challenging to effectively reach down into their communities to engage the diverse range of stakeholders – and the correct ones – needed to meaningfully engage with in the implementation of SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. Why is that? While some countries practice sustainability because social and environmental stewardship is a part of their ‘cultural-DNA,’ some still regard the concept with suspicion, focusing more on economic growth while seeing sustainability as a barrier to it. As it relates to the SDGs and Agenda 2030, this could be due in part to a lack of understanding of the strong interlinkages between the Goals and the economic opportunities they offer. Another bottleneck could be historical mistrust between the private sector and stakeholders (in particular civil society stakeholders), and governments and their people generally. Sustainability education for decision-makers and other leaders, and communication focused on the public could partially remedy that. But real change comes from the success perceived by a proven benefit to lives and economies. That is why the successes achieved by Global Forum members can make a difference. This leads to the supposition that a joint roadmap for processes that can deliver the 2030 Agenda requires a proactive whole-of-society approach. A greater number of subnational networks and similar multistakeholder bodies – closer to their citizenry and with a nearby regional or local focus, and trusted by them – can be a catalyst for SDGs acceleration where it does not now exist.
Want to know more? Contact Charles Nouhan at [email protected]
Global Forum Webinar 1: Engaging the Private Sector in the 2030 Agenda and Delivery of the SDGs
Held on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM New York time.
Download the presentations here (PDF)
Please note that the ‘No future without sustainable development – no future without business’ presentation by Jan-Gustav Strandenaes cannot be shared until a copyright matter is resolved.
Watch the full webinar on YouTube
There remain significant challenges to meaningfully engage the private sector in the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. While some countries practice sustainability because social and environmental stewardship is a part of their ‘cultural-DNA,’ others regard the concept with suspicion. As it relates to the SDGs, this could be due in part to a lack of understanding of the strong interlinkages between the Goals. Another could be historical mistrust between the private sector and government, the private sector and stakeholders (in particular civil society stakeholders), and government and stakeholders. But a joint roadmap for processes that can deliver the 2030 Agenda requires a whole-of-society approach.
Yet some effective private sector engagement initiatives do exist, some well-known and some less so but equally effective in their own right. The aim of the webinar is to encourage Global Forum members to share their successful – and perhaps not so successful – initiatives as multi-stakeholder bodies as bridges between the private and public sectors. We are hoping that this will include the methods they have used to become the creators of trusted spaces for joint action within society, and examples of how to constructively support government actors in their efforts to deliver national sustainable development goals.
Want to know more? Contact Charles Nouhan at [email protected]
