18 May 2015: The fifth session of the intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda opened on 18 May 2015, at UN Headquarters in New York, US. The five-day session is focusing on follow-up and review of the post-2015 agenda.

Post-2015 Co-Facilitator Macharia Kamau (Kenya) opened the meeting, noting that only three sessions are left between now and the conclusion of the process. He called on delegates to decide how these three sessions will be handled, and expressed hope that the post-2015 process will be agreed by the end of July in order to provide enough time for capitals to “get themselves ready” for September. He noted that “we will not be able to pick and choose which goals to implement and which goals not to” as they are interrelated, and added that the follow-up and review framework must be the point at which “we all keep on track systematically,” He said the follow-up and review framework should relate to people, the planet, prosperity and partnership, and remarked that the social, economic and environmental components must not be lost. He also reminded participants of the need for “vertical” coherence between the community, national, regional and global levels, and horizontal linkages between governments, multilateral agencies, and other stakeholders, among others.

Co-Facilitator David Donoghue explained that a number of questions are set out in the Discussion Paper that was shared in advance of the session to facilitate the discussion on follow-up and review, and requested constructive and precise proposals as to how the follow-up and review should be structured. He stressed that this will be a voluntary framework and is not intended to be a burden, but rather to be a supportive, positive and constructive aid to Member States.

Co-Facilitator Kamau noted that Monday and Tuesday would focus on follow up and review, and Wednesday morning would be dedicated to a discussion with Major Groups and other stakeholders. He said, on Thursday, delegates would engage in a discussion on targets and indicators, and he called on delegates to conclude their discussion on this matter at the end of the week, as well as on the themes of the interactive dialogue for the September Summit. A discussion on the way forward is scheduled to take place on Friday. [IISD RS Coverage of the Fifth Meeting on Post-2015 Development Agenda Negotiations]