28 April 2016: The UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) discussed ways to ensure the UN system “delivers as one” on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change and other development issues, at its first regular session of 2016.The annual CEB meeting convened in Vienna, Austria, from 27-28 April 2016.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who chaired the CEB meeting, welcomed the attendance of all UN system leaders, including the heads of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and UN specialized agencies, funds and programmes. He said the coordination meeting aimed to ensure that the UN system works in unity to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and address climate change and other development issues.
CEB participants also discussed, inter alia: additional actions to support the UN system in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and the upcoming World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), including issues related to funding and peacebuilding.
Alongside the CEB meeting, members of the CEB-Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Network met to discuss a digital agenda action plan to support SDG implementation. The 26th session of the CEB-ICT Network also discussed how UN organizations can integrate cybersecurity into their risk management frameworks and training.
ICT can play a critical role in achieving the SDGs, said UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Director-General Li Yong, elaborating that the SDGs aim to use ICT “not only to connect people, but also to ensure that we all have the necessary data and tools to report on the achievement of the SDGs.” He cited examples of ICT ranging from the expansion of social media channels and networks to the production and use of big data. He further underscored the role of ICT in achieving inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID), which he described as the primary source of poverty reduction and long-term growth. [UN Press Release] [Opening Statement of UN Secretary-General Statement] [UNIDO Press Release] [UNESCO Press Release] [CEB Website] [IISD RS Story on CEB’s Previous Regular Session (November 2015)] [IISD RS Story on HLCM Session (October 2015)]