22 October 2015: The UN Inter-agency Task Team (IATT) on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) held its first meeting since being composed earlier this year as a component of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM). The Task Team is chaired by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). It is expected to meet on a monthly basis during its start-up phase.
The first meeting took place on 22 October 2015, in New York, the US.
The Team adopted a decision on its Terms of Reference (TOR), outlining the IATT’s purpose and tasks, emphasizing that the Team will “promote coordination, coherence and cooperation within the UN system on STI related matters, enhancing synergy and efficiency in particular to enhance capacity-building initiatives.” The IATT is also tasked with preparing proposals for and developing the modalities of a multi-stakeholder forum on STI for SDGs, and an online platform.
The TOR also addresses the Task Team’s composition, appointments, secretariat, work plan and resources and working methods. The IATT is open to the participation of all UN agencies, funds and programmes, and the functional commissions of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), according to UNEP. It is currently composed of 25 focal points selected by UN agencies, who are listed in an Annex.
The IATT intends to form an additional group of ten representatives of civil society, the private sector and science. At the first meeting, members discussed a list of self-nominated candidates for this group, as well as a timeline for agencies to nominate members, and for circulating a final list of self- and agency-nominated candidates to IATT for their assessment. The group is expected to be appointed by the end of November, with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announcing the members at the Paris Climate Change Conference’s Innovation Day.
An Annex to the TOR outlines linkages between the IATT and related institutions, meetings and initiatives, including: the Multi-stakeholder forum on STI for the SDGs; the High-level Political Forum on sustainable development (SD); the TFM’s online platform; the Commission on Science and Technology for Development; and the Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Another Annex details the seven current work streams of the Task Team, along with the co-leads for each one, and their tasks’ status and due date. The work streams are: 1) Establishment and management of the Interagency Task Team; 2) Group of 10 representatives of civil society, private sector and science (“Advisory Group”); 3) Collaborative, multi-stakeholder forum on STI for the SDGs; 4) Online Platform; 5) Mapping of STI initiatives, background research and reports in support of the TFM activities; 6) UN capacity building programme on technology facilitation for SDGs; and 7) Partnerships and fund raising.
Participants at the meeting also noted the importance of clarifying the IATT’s long-term objectives and concrete deliverables in relation to the SDGs, as well as developing a theory of change and logframe to guide its work. The meeting also considered a paper on the initial mapping of STI initiatives, and a draft note on a coherent approach to STI capacity-building, both of which will be circulated to members for comments and contributions.
The IATT requested the Secretariat to, inter alia, compile and circulate a calendar of UN events related to STI for SDGs to help coordinate IATT activities.
Participants also agreed on, inter alia: the establishment of an online platform to facilitate the IATT’s work; and the importance of an independent assessment of its work. [IATT Meeting Website] [Meeting Summary] [Publication: Terms of Reference for the UN Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals] [IISD RS Story on TFM Launch] [IISD RS Story on Multi-stakeholder Group] [IISD RS Story on Online Platform Options]