6 June 2019: The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) released a summary report consolidating messages from stakeholders on the SDGs that will be reviewed during the July 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF): Goals 4, 8, 10, 13, 16 and 17. The UN also released an advance unedited version of a report on major groups and other relevant stakeholders’ positions on the theme of this year’s HLPF, ‘Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.’

DESA conducted an online consultation in January and February 2019 to promote broad and participatory engagement on the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda. This is in coherence with the Agenda’s paragraphs 89 and 85, which respectively note that the HLPF should support stakeholders’ participation in follow-up and review processes, and that stakeholders should be engaged in thematic reviews of progress on the SDGs at the HLPF. The consultation focused on SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals), which will all be reviewed at the July 2019 HLPF.

The 637 responses submitted through the consultation were compiled by the Division of Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in DESA. The messages note the absence of a clearly defined, independent and robust mechanisms to make governments accountable for their commitments to implement the SDGs. Among other observations reflected in stakeholders’ inputs, the report notes:

• A lack of capacity to collect and analyze data to monitor the SDG implementation, and a lack of ownership in the 2030 Agenda;
• Gaps in policy coherence plans for sustainable development at national and regional levels;
• A “disconnect” between decision-makers and grassroots organizers;
• A low level of federal support and incentives for local governments to establish international alliances and cooperation;
• A lack of transparency and accountability; and
• A lack of funding for SDG implementation, especially from Official Development Assistance (ODA).

On leveraging interlinkages between the Goals, the report highlights stakeholders’ suggestions to: involve communities and stakeholders in public decision-making and build coalitions; establish cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms at the national level; use integrated, multi-disciplinary, and inclusive approaches; and focus on synergies between international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction.

Also in coherence with the 2030 Agenda’s call for participation in its follow-up and review processes, an advance unedited version of a UN report compiling executive summaries of major groups and other relevant stakeholders’ position papers has been released. The report focuses on the theme of the July HLPF, ‘Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality,’ and compiles summaries from Women, Children and Youth, Non-Governmental Organisations, Local Authorities, Workers and Trade Unions, Scientific and Technological Community, Persons with disabilities, Volunteer groups, Stakeholder Group on Ageing, the Asia-Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (AP-RCEM), and Together 2030. [Publication: Stakeholders E-consultation on the SDGs under review at the 2019 HLPF] [E-Consultation Website] [Publication: Advance unedited version: Discussion papers on the theme of the high-level political forum on sustainable development, submitted by major groups and other stakeholders: Note by the Secretariat]