UN Member States have agreed on a process for considering the proposals in ‘Our Common Agenda,’ a report of the UN Secretary-General regarding how the UN can rise to current and future challenges. Adopted in the UN General Assembly, the final text was tabled by 126 governments; an additional 40 governments joined as sponsors on 15 November.

The Our Common Agenda report was prepared following a request by Heads of State and Government in their September 2020 declaration on the commemoration of the UN’s 75th anniversary. The report contains 90 proposals and recommendations, many of which require consideration by UN Member States. 

Member States will begin “intergovernmental consideration” of the proposals and their means of implementation.

The resolution adopted by consensus on 15 November (A/76/L.8/Rev.1, formally issued as A/RES/76/6) reflects adjustments to an earlier draft resolution (A/76/L.8), tabled by a smaller group of eight Member States – Denmark, Fiji, Georgia, Mexico, Qatar, Rwanda, Singapore, and Sweden. The original version called for the UNGA President to initiate an intergovernmental consultation process on the report’s recommendations and ways to take them forward, and for the UN Secretary-General to “initiate follow-up action.”

In the final draft resolution, the most substantive change from the initial draft is in operative paragraph 2, regarding the Assembly’s request to the UN Secretary-General. While the draft version asked him to initiate follow-up action to accelerate implementation of agreed frameworks (e.g. the 2030 Agenda, SDGs, and Paris Agreement) “including through” consultations with Member States, the UN system, and other partners, the final text asks him to “inform Member States” and engage in such consultations on his proposals for follow-up action.

The final text no longer asks him to act “within existing mandates.”

The final text also:

• Welcomes the Secretary-General’s “rich and substantive” report as a basis for further consideration by Member States; and
• Calls upon the President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to “initiate, under his overall guidance, a process of follow-up to enable all Member States to begin inclusive intergovernmental consideration of the various proposals, options, and potential means of implementation and on ways to take them forward, in collaboration with all relevant partners through broad and inclusive consultations.”

The revised draft is supported by the eight countries that proposed the initial text, along with 118 others. 

During the plenary meeting on 15 November, Pakistan expressed hope that the intergovernmental process will be organized in ways that enable States to closely consider and decide on each of the report’s proposals. Cuba said the follow‑up process must be led in a balanced, inclusive fashion, with all Member States’ views considered. Belarus said the intergovernmental negotiations must be “transparent, unhurried,” and follow UNGA practices.  [Revised draft resolution] [Adopted resolution A/RES/76/6] [UN meeting summary] [SDG Knowledge Hub story on 3 November draft resolution] [Addendum with additional sponsors of revised draft /76/L.8/Rev.1/Add.1]