12 March 2013: Ahead of the first meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Member States are conducting informal consultations on the programme of work, working methods, and meeting organization. The OWG’s first meeting will take place on 14-15 March 2013.

The consultations, which began on 6 March, are led by co-facilitators Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya, and Csaba Körösi, Permanent Representative of Hungary.

Agreements have been reported on the Programme of Work for the duration of the OWG, seating arrangements for the first meeting, and priority speaking rights.

Discussions continue on the proposed methods of work for the group, including whether decisions will be taken by consensus and the potential inclusion of diverse views in the group’s report to the 68th UNGA. Delegates also have deliberated on the participation of Member States, Observer States, specialized agencies, and NGOs in OWG meetings.

Draft decisions reached in the informal consultations will need to approved formally by the OWG. [IISD RS Sources] [IISD Story on Appointment of Co-Facilitators for Preparatory Consultations] [Draft Programme of Work] [UN Division for Sustainable Development Website on OWG] [Concept note: Interactive discussion on the SDGs]