7 August 2014: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has issued the Chair’s summary of a regional consultation on ensuring accountability for implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. The consultation took place during ESCAP’s 70th session in Bangkok, Thailand, on 5-6 August 2014. The meeting was the second in a series of regional consultations on accountability organized by the UN regional commissions.

Approximately 150 government and civil society delegates took part in the one-and-half-day consultation, which was chaired by Oyun Sanjaasuren, Minister of Environment and Green Development, Mongolia. The meeting discussed examples of good practice for accountability, such as participatory and gender budgeting, and invited views on ensuring a strong framework for accountability.

Delegates highlighted the importance of ensuring good data is available and comparable across countries. They recommended that the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) become a regional platform for monitoring and accountability on sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), building on the work of existing sub-regional and regional mechanisms, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). They called for the ESCAP Statistics Committee to be strengthened, including through closer collaboration with sub-regional statistical bodies.

Delegates said that South-South cooperation should not replace development aid, and that the needs of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and other countries with special needs should continue to be a focus of international support.

An ESCAP background paper lists current platforms and mechanisms for an effective accountability framework for the post-2015 development agenda. Delegates noted that further work is needed ‘to “get the SDG framework right” to support transparency and stakeholder engagement.

The APFSD met for the first time from 19-21 May 2014, in preparation for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) meeting in New York in July 2014. [ESCAP Press Release] [Chair’s Summary for the Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation on Accountability for the Post-2015 Development Agenda] [Agenda] [Background Paper] [IISD RS Sources]