6 January 2016: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced the appointment of a ten-member group to support the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) for the period 2016-2017. The group will participate in preparing the meetings of the multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and support the development and operationalization of the TFM online platform, among other tasks. The UN Secretariat also issued the Group’s terms of reference.

The 10-Member Group was called for by the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which state that: as part of the TFM, the UN inter-agency task team (IATT) on science, technology and innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “will draw on existing resources and will work with 10 representatives from civil society, the private sector and the scientific community to prepare the meetings of the multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the SDGs.”

The IATT, which is chaired by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), considered over 250 nominations for members of the group, identified through an open call to civil society and the private sector. It then proposed a shortlist of names for consideration by the UN Secretary-General.

The 10-Member Group, as announced on 6 January 2016, is composed of: Peter Bakker, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD); Elmer William Jr Colglazier, Center for Science Diplomacy, American Association for the Advancement of Science; Mirna Cunningham, Center for Autonomy and Development of Indigenous Peoples (CADPI); Elenita Daño, Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration (ETC Group); Xiaolan Fu, Technology and Management Centre for Development, Oxford University; Heide Hackmann, International Council for Science (ICSU); Hayat Sindi, Institute for Imagination and Ingenuity (i2institute); Romain Murenzi, The World Academy of Sciences; Nebojsa Nakicenovic, International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA); and Paulo Ernani Gadelha Vieira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz).

According to its terms of reference (ToR), the ten-member group shall be appointed by the UN Secretary-General for periods of two years. The Group should provide ideas, guidance and recommendations to the IATT and support the development and operations of the TFM. It should: participate in the preparation of the meetings of the multi-stakeholder forum on STI for the SDGs; support the development and the operationalization of the TFM online platform; assist, upon request by the co-facilitators of the multi-stakeholder forum, in the preparation of the summary of the forum, and in this context provide recommendations and advice on STI issues for the SDGs; and provide briefings and other inputs to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on sustainable development, or other relevant UN fora, as requested.

On composition, the ToR notes that the Group shall reflect geographic balance and ensure a mix of disciplinary expertise capturing STI aspects across the full range of the SDGs. Members shall serve in their personal capacity.

On initial working methods, the ToR states that the Group will meet at least once or twice each year but the frequency of meetings can be adjusted as needed. In addition, the Group shall agree by consensus on two co-chairs for a period of one year at a time, and the appointment of co-chairs can be changed by consensus at any time. The Group’s meetings shall be closed, “unless decided otherwise,” and communications should take place through a secure website, the ToR notes. [Members of Group to Support the TFM] [Terms of Reference] [IISD RS Story on Nominations for Group]