10 November 2017: The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has set dates for the 2018 sessions of the Development Cooperation Forum, the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the SDGs, and the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters. It also adopted the theme for ECOSOC’s 2018 Integration Segment.

The DCF is one of the key mechanisms at global level for follow-up and review of the means of implementation under the 2030 Agenda.

The 2018 Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) will take place from 21-22 May 2018. The DCF operates in two-year cycles, with ECOSOC convening the High-level Meeting of the DCF every other year. The DCF is one of the key mechanisms at global level for follow-up and review of the means of implementation under the 2030 Agenda. The UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and ECOSOC’s Financing for Development Forum are mandated to take the DCF’s work into account. The 2018 session will be the sixth biennial meeting of the DCF.

The STI Forum will convene on 5-6 June 2018, a change from the dates planned earlier (16-17 May). The STI Forum is a component of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM). It is convened once per year by the ECOSOC President to discuss science, technology and innovation cooperation around thematic areas for the implementation of the SDGs.

The 2018 session of the HLPF will take place from 9-13 July, followed by its ministerial meeting from 16-18 July. The ministerial meeting is a joint meeting with ECOSOC and convened as part of its high-level segment, taking place on 16-19 July.

As previously decided, the theme of the HLPF will be ‘Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies.’ The sub-set of SDGs to be reviewed in depth by HLPF 2018 will be: SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) and SDG 15 (life on land). Goal 17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development) is also considered each year. In addition, 48 countries are expected to present their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs).

ECOSOC’s 2018 integration segment will have the theme, ‘iCommunities: leveraging technology and innovation to build sustainable and resilient societies.’

The 16th session of the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters will take place from 14-17 May. [ECOSOC Meeting Summary] [Decision on dates of DCF, STI Forum, HLPF (Document E/2018/L.3)] [Decision on dates of tax committee (document E/2018/L.4)] [Decision on theme of Integration Segment (document E/2018/L.5)]