UN officials discussed the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in crisis-affected and post-crisis countries, at a high-level event organized by the UN Development Group (UNDG) on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA).
Participants heard that: Somalia has mainstreamed the SDGs into its first national development plan in more than three decades; the g7+ group of self-identified fragile states is prioritizing peace- and state-building within SDG planning processes; and Burkina Faso integrated climate risks into its recently approved national development strategy.
23 September 2016: UN officials discussed the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in crisis-affected and post-crisis countries, at a high-level event organized by the UN Development Group (UNDG) on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA). Participants heard that: Somalia has mainstreamed the SDGs into its first national development plan in more than three decades; the g7+ group of self-identified fragile states is prioritizing peace- and state-building within SDG planning processes; and Burkina Faso integrated climate risks into its recently approved national development strategy.The event, titled ‘Sustainable Development Goals Coming to Life – Envisaging a common and resilient future.’ took place on 23 September 2016, in New York, US.
Opening the meeting, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted the impacts of climate change and the increasing number of violent conflicts. He stressed the importance, for crisis-affected and post-crisis countries, of implementing: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) on financing for development; the Paris Agreement on climate change; the outcomes of the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS); and the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.
Helen Clark, Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), noted that some of the most innovative examples of early action on the SDGs have come from countries where development challenges have been exacerbated by crises and shocks. She said it is “vital” to ensure that the 1.4 billion people who live in such settings, among whom are half of the world’s extremely poor people, are not left behind.
Abdusalam Omer, Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion, stressed that strong institutions and empowered health and education sectors are needed in order to build sustainable and democratic societies. He said Somalia will prioritize SDG implementation, with its main focus remaining on institution-building, education, and creating jobs. He further underscored that SDG 17 on means of implementation is essential for bringing the SDGs to life.
Alpha Barry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, announced that his country has just adopted a national development plan that aims to reduce unemployment and underemployment for young people, by supporting their creativity and entrepreneurship. He also stressed the need for “rationalized” interventions from UNDP and UNDG and effective resource mobilization.
Tone Skogen, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, said Norway can contribute to building resilience through means other than financing, such as through internet-based solutions to learning, of which the Norway-sponsored EduApp4Syria is an example. Skogen identified gender discrimination and the current migrant and refugee crisis as among the world’s greatest vulnerabilities. Reiterating the WHS’ call that the international community move from delivering aid to ending need, she called for stronger links between humanitarian assistance and long-term development. Since fragility and poverty are “avoidable,” she said, the 2030 Agenda is not charity, but a “high-time transformative change.”
Leymah Gbowee, Founder and President of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, underscored that national budgeting needs to be aligned with the SDGs, and cautioned that militarism cannot continue to take the majority of funding while gender issues remain underfunded. Mats Granryd, Director General of Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), noted that mobile connectivity: enables economic growth and education services; can serve as a lifeline in emergency humanitarian systems; and plays a key role in early warning systems. An an example, he said internet hot spots have been set up in Iraq to enable internally displaced persons (IDPs) to access the information that they need.
In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed: challenges posed by underfunded agreements and mandates; the need for funding, technical capacity, official development assistance (ODA), trade, capacity building, and policy support; and the importance of SDG 16 on peaceful societies. Canada stressed the need to put crisis-affected people at the center of the international community’s efforts. [Meeting Webcast] [UN Secretary-General Remarks] [UNDP Administrator Remarks] [Event Website]