March 2016: A policy brief from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) explains how its experience in providing evidence-based analysis and integrated and coordinated policy support, technical cooperation and multi-stakeholder dialogues could contribute to the implementation and monitoring the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA).

The policy brief, titled ‘Interdependencies between Countries and Policy Areas: The Role of UNCTAD in the Follow-Up and Monitoring Process of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,’ describes the role UNCTAD could play in a follow-up and monitoring system that promotes a cross-cutting understanding of the interlinkages across the various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets. It highlights that two of the five areas of “critical” importance to the 2030 Agenda directly relate to UNCTAD’s work programme. These two areas are: partnerships, with SDG 17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development) and the means of implementation targets; and prosperity, with SDG 8 (Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all), SDG 9 (Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation) and SDG 10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries).

The brief notes that UNCTAD can employ the concept of interdependence to contribute to maximizing policy coherence and synergies at all levels in attaining the Agenda’s economic, social and environmental SDGs through: a global assessment; an assessment of the impact of the international environment on national implementation in all countries; and an assessment of policy trade-offs and synergies at the national level, focusing on those countries that face serious capacity and resource constraints in assessment and implementation.

The UNCTAD brief underscores the importance of an enabling international environment that could take the form of supportive global trends, international policy frameworks, multilateral rules and effective partnerships. It outlines seven channels where this enabling international environment may be reflected, namely: trade; investment; finance; technology; regulatory; fiscal; and institutional.

The brief also underlines that related assessments of trade-offs and synergies between the SDGs require a normative basis against which national policy frameworks can be evaluated and which would allow checking the collective consistency of policies with shared objectives. The authors explain that such an assessment would aim at identifying corrective action that is appropriate in a country’s specific circumstances and stage of development, and would need to be complemented by peer review processes and debate as to what action should be taken, including in light of other countries’ earlier experiences.

The policy brief further notes that UNCTAD can enhance its impact by repurposing its expertise for the integrated treatment of trade and development, and interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development to match the requirements of the 2030 Agenda. [Publication: Interdependencies between Countries and Policy Areas: The Role of UNCTAD in the Follow-Up and Monitoring Process of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development] [UNCTAD Policy Briefs]