23 May 2017: The co-facilitators to lead the consultations on the 2017 Ministerial Declaration of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) High-Level Segment and the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) issued draft elements of the Joint Ministerial Declaration. The co-facilitators indicate that intergovernmental consultations on the Declaration should be concluded by 30 June 2017. A briefing on the status of preparations for the 2017 HLPF is scheduled for 26 May.

The 2017 session of the HLPF will take place from 10-19 July, and will consider the theme ‘Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world’ as well as conduct an in-depth review of a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 1 (no poverty); SDG 2 (zero hunger); SDG 3 (good health and well-being); SDG 5 (gender equality); SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure); SDG 14 (life below water); and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals). The HLPF’s three-day ministerial segment will take place from 17-19 July, as part of the High-level Segment of ECOSOC (17-20 July). The joint Ministerial Declaration should be adopted by the HLPF on 19 July 2017, as well as at the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC on 20 July 2017.

The elements paper refers to the SDGs as integrated and indivisible, and mentions reforming the UN development system to be fit for purpose.

In their letter to UN Member States, the co-facilitators, Jan Kickert, Permanent Representative of Austria, and Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica, note that the draft elements of the Ministerial Declaration build on the preparatory process for the 2017 ECOSOC cycle, combining analytical contributions from the ECOSOC segments and fora, as well as preparations for the HLPF. In its introductory part, the elements paper refers to the SDGs as integrated and indivisible, and mentions reforming the UN development system to be fit for purpose. The paper also includes elements related to: progress towards the seven SDGs under review; gaps and challenges, in particular for the SDGs under review; countries in special situations; means of implementation, including financing for development and science, technology, and innovation, and partnerships; and follow-up, review and monitoring.

The co-facilitators’ proposed timeline for the consultations includes: meetings to hear feedback from UN Member States and UN Major Groups and other stakeholders on the draft elements, on 26 May; the issuance of a zero draft of the Ministerial Declaration, on 7 June; and consultations on the draft Ministerial Declaration, on 15-16 June 2017 (first reading), 21-22 June 2017 (second reading), and 29-30 June 2017 (third reading).

The UN Secretariat has issued a draft programme of the HLPF and the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC. The programme includes sessions on: the introduction of the UN Secretary-General’s SDGs progress report and discussion on implementation at the regional and sub-regional levels; thematic reviews as well as review of SDG implementation; investing in and financing for SDGs; advancing science, technology and innovation (STI) for the SDGs; leveraging inter-linkages for effective implementation of the SDGs, the science-policy interface and emerging issues; Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs); and a high-level policy dialogue with international financial and trade institutions, as well as a thematic discussion on the main theme of ECOSOC 2017 session. [Draft Elements for Ministerial Declaration] [HLPF 2017 Website] [Draft Programme of the HLPF 2017] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on HLPF Preparations] [IISD Sources]