28 July 2016: The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) opened its 2016-17 session with calls for concerted efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to review ECOSOC’s structure and working processes to ensure the Council remains “fit for purpose.”

Addressing Member States in New York, US, on 28 July 2016, incoming ECOSOC President Frederick Musiiwa Makamure Shava (Zimbabwe) proposed that the Council should consider how to promote a coherent direction for the UN development system (UNDS), with a view to ensuring that the SDGs are fully implemented. He called for discussion of sustainable agriculture, infrastructure development and industrialization, noting that the lack of infrastructure remains one of the key impediments to development in Africa.

Shava also highlighted the need to address issues of inequality, and to strengthen multilateralism. He pledged to explore possibilities for enhancing partnerships between ECOSOC and other relevant UN bodies.

Outgoing ECOSOC President Oh Joon (Republic of Korea) welcomed the national reviews by 22 volunteer countries, which had taken place during the 2016 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), saying that the first round of voluntary national reviews (VNRs) had set “an excellent stage” for the follow-up and review of the SDGs in the future.

Oh also recommended that ECOSOC’s agenda and working methods be reviewed in a systematic manner. He said the structure of the ECOSOC system should made “fit for purpose,” noting there is currently a lack of coordination in the current arrangements.

The EU, represented by the UK, called for sessions of the HLPF and high-level segment of ECOSOC to be merged, to avoid duplication and confusion. [UN Press Release] [Meeting Summary] [Meeting Agenda] [Statement of Incoming President] [IISD RS Story on HLPF 2016]