How to hold the 'rich and powerful' accountable in the 2030 Agenda

Roundtable discussion on monitoring, review and SDG indicators
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SDG Wheel
SDG Wheel
BAHA'I INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, 866 UN PLAZA, NEW YORK
JOINTLY ORGANIZED BY DAWN, THIRD WORLD NETWORK, SOCIAL WATCH

The 2030 Agenda adopted at the highest level in September 2015 has the potential to change the prevailing development paradigm by re-emphasizing the multidimensional character of sustainable development and its universal applicability.

The implementation of the 2030 Agenda depends on the adoption of appropriate strategies and policies, available resources and other means of implementation. Accountability mechanisms are important tools for strengthening political commitment and effectiveness. Thus the success of the new Agenda relies a lot on adopting adequate mechanisms and indicators for the monitoring of progress or regressive developments in achieving the goals.

But monitoring and review should not be reduced to the implementation of the SDGs and their related targets. The monitoring of outputs or outcomes alone is by no means sufficient. Rather, policies and policy changes should be scrutinized. In particular, monitoring and review should include the structural obstacles to the implementation of the SDGs and disclose the actors and vested interests behind them.

As we are entering the implementation phase of the 2030 Agenda, it is necessary to identify the obstacles to the achievement of the SDGs and the ways to address them. This includes the need to analyze and reconsider the approach to work with indicators: Does the proposed set of SDG indicators reflect adequately the goals and aspirations of the 2030 Agenda and its universal character? What are structural and political obstacles to be addressed within and around the work on indicators? How can the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities be operationalized in the formulation and weighting of indicators? And what does this mean for the role of the UN and the High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF)?

The Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development invites you to a discussion on these issues.

Panelists include:

 

  • Barbara Adams, Global Policy Forum
  • Nicole Bidegain, DAWN
  • Roberto Bissio, Social Watch
  • Kate Donald, Center for Economic and Social Rights

Invitation (pdf, 150 KB)

Please RSVP by 4 March 2016 to sarahdayringer[ät]globalpolicy.org.

This event is supported by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.