Click here to visit the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub knowledgebase.  SDG UPDATE A compilation of items recently posted to the SDG Knowledge Hub Thursday, 21 February 2019 GUEST ARTICLES National-level Targets, Indicators and Benchmarks for Management of Natural Resources to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals The uptake of the SDGs at the global level has been a momentous process, with frenetic activity at the UN level matched by many countries that are serious about SDG monitoring. However, there is a glaring issue that seems to be bypassing most concerned, which relates to the different requirements of global versus national monitoring and to the need, at the local level, to balance the use and protection of natural resources, so that the global aspiration for sustainability can be achieved. Drones for SDGs: Fast, Low-cost Delivery of Health Care Supplies for Remote Populations in Malawi Malawi has some of the highest HIV rates in the world, with 10,000 children dying from it yearly. Maternal mortality rates are at 634 deaths per 100,000 live births, and mortality under five years old is at 0.64%. Getting people tested and delivering medicine is a challenge given that over 80% of the population live in rural areas characterized by bad terrain and poor or non-existent road networks. Floods during rainy season completely cut off road networks, making it very hard for health services to reach remote areas. POLICY BRIEFS SDG Knowledge Weekly: Food, Nutrition and Genetic Resources The 17th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) is taking place in Rome, Italy, from 18-22 February 2019. This week’s brief explores the genetic resources for food and agriculture and broader issues relating to food security and nutrition as covered by SDG 2 (zero hunger). FEATURED Infrastructure Development Likely to be “Devastating” for Wildlife, Ecological Integrity, Report Finds 20 February 2019: The Arcus Foundation and Cambridge University Press published a report that examines the interaction between conservation of apes and their habitats with infrastructure development, including ways to minimize and mitigate the impact of infrastructure expansion on biodiversity. UNDP Strategy Highlights How Gender Equality Can Drive SDG Progress 14 February 2019: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has released its third gender equality strategy, covering the years 2018-2021. The Strategy provides a road map for elevating and integrating gender equality into all aspects of UNDP’s work on poverty reduction, resilience and peace. The Strategy has the broader aim of accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ILO Trends Report Finds Progress Insufficient to Achieve SDG 8 13 February 2019: The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a report that identifies poor working conditions as the main global challenge in the world of work. The publication finds that progress in reducing unemployment around the world is not matched by improvements in the quality of work, and progress towards SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) has been slower than expected. This situation makes SDG achievement “unrealistic for many countries,” with major gaps within and across countries. Nine Coalitions to Craft Transformative Outcomes from Climate Summit 14 February 2019: Nine coalitions are being established as part of preparations for the UN 2019 Climate Summit in order to ensure “transformative outcomes,” according to a briefing for Member States. The UN Secretary-General has asked several Heads of State and Government to lead in setting up the coalitions, with support from institutional bodies and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. Swedish Dialogue Series Addresses NDC-SDG Alignment February 2019: During the first half of 2018, the Swedish embassies in Viet Nam, Cambodia, Tanzania, Zambia and Uganda convened a series of dialogue forums that focused on the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement on climate change and their alignment with the SDGs. WBCSD Details SDG-related Trends for Business in 2019 6 February 2019: The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has identified several trends related to scaling up corporate action on the SDGs, drawing attention to developments that will have important implications for business throughout the "pivotal year" of 2019. Author James Gomme suggests that business consider the themes to help them focus and prioritize their SDG-related work. NEWS 15 Countries (to Date) Preparing to Present VNRs in 2020 21 February 2019: As of 21 February 2019, 15 countries have committed to present a Voluntary National Review (VNR) during the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in 2020. Seven of the 15 will be presenting a second VNR, while eight will be presenting for the first time. Cities Address Local Solutions to Climate Change, Food Security 19 February 2019: Mayors and representatives from cities gathered for a high-level meeting to share experiences of effective local practices, innovative strategies, and lessons learned in addressing climate change, food insecurity and malnutrition, and food supply and consumption sustainability. The meeting was convened by the President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, together with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), José Graziano da Silva, and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). High-level Conference Issues Declaration on Oceans and Climate Change 19 February 2019: A high-level conference has issued a declaration on the ocean and climate change as part of the strategy developed by the Ocean Pathway process, which aims to include oceans on the formal agenda of the climate negotiations. Participants discussed the impact of climate change on marine biodiversity, the role of offshore energy production and the need to reduce ship emissions. G-77 Calls for Accelerated Action on Inequality 12 February 2018: The Group of 77 (G-77) held a high-level interactive dialogue on ‘Inclusive development and inequality within and among countries.’ G-77 Chair Mohammad Shtayyeh (Palestine) said that addressing climate and environmental challenges and building people’s resilience must be integral components of a policy agenda that aims to achieve more inclusive and more sustainable economies and societies. UNDP Outlines Potential of Funding Compact 12 February 2019: UN Development Programme (UNDP) experts authored a blog post linking the UN Secretary-General’s proposal for a Funding Compact to the "future of multilateralism." They write that the Compact aims to "unlock the full potential" of the UN development system, noting that it focuses on improving the quality and quantity of budgetary resources for UN development operations, aiming to achieve a budget of USD32 billion. UNEP Shares Findings on Coral Reef Management Ahead of UNEA-4 8 February 2019: In advance of the fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report that analyzes instruments and mechanisms related to coral reefs management. The report provides recommendations for possible policy pathways and suggested actions. UNCDF Explores Blended Finance for LDCs, Proposes Action Agenda 15 January 2019: The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has published a report that explores how to implement and adapt blended finance approaches in the least developed countries (LDCs) in order to maximize effectiveness in crowding in private capital, while minimizing risks. The publication proposes an Action Agenda to guide decision-makers in approaches to blended finance. UBS Launches Efforts to Make Sustainability Understandable January 2019: UBS Global Wealth Management argues that the SDGs will not be reached until more people are aware of them, sustainability in general is easier to understand, and more solutions are available to the public for making a contribution. UBS' vision for building the "core requirements needed to actually achieve the SDGs" is outlined in a white paper launched during the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting. UBS also announced a pilot programme to facilitate steps recommended in the white paper. Consultations to Begin on Summit-level HLPF 13 February 2019: UN Member States will hold informal consultations to prepare for a summit-level meeting of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) convening in September 2019. Ruben Armando Escalante Hasbun, Permanent Representative of El Salvador, will lead the preparatory consultations. Governments Planning UN’s 75th Anniversary Commemoration 13 February 2019: UNGA President Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces has appointed the Permanent Representatives of Iceland and Singapore to lead intergovernmental consultations on an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN, in 2020. Espinosa suggested that the commemoration provides an opportunity to “reiterate our collective attachment to the Organization and multilateralism.” Global Ranking to Measure Contribution of Universities to SDGs 14 February 2019: Times Higher Education (THE), a data provider on higher education, is developing a global university ranking to measure institutions’ success in delivering the SDGs. The first edition of the ranking is expected to be launched at the company's Innovation and Impact Summit convening in Daejeon, South Korea, from 2-4 April 2019. UNECE Issues Guidance on Measuring Migration 14 February 2019: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has published a guide on using data from different sources to better understand migration flows and characteristics. The publication has been issued in advance of migration policy discussions in New York, including a high-level UN General Assembly (UNGA) debate in February, and the July session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), which is expected to review migration-related targets in the 2030 Agenda. ECOSOC Changes Annual Theme to Align with HLPF 2019 14 February 2019: The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) formally changed the theme of its 2019 session to ‘Empowering people and ensuring inclusivity and equality,’ in order to align it with the theme of the July 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Scientists from Five Countries Collaborate on Interdisciplinary SDG Research 14 February 2019: The Towards a Sustainable Earth (TaSE) research programme will support scientists from five countries on projects seeking to better understand the relationship between humans and their environment, to support achievement of the SDGs. The land-river interface, delta environments, and river basins as SDG "living laboratories" are among the focal areas of the selected research projects. Intergovernmental, Technical Preparations Underway for BAPA+40 13 February 2019: Ahead of the second High-level UN Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40), which will take place in March, the co-facilitators of the informal intergovernmental negotiations on the outcome document circulated a second revised draft, while a regional technical workshop took place in Bangkok, Thailand. Informal consultations on the draft outcome resume on 19 February 2019. UN-supported Initiative Aims to Strengthen Climate-resilient Food Security, Reduce Poverty in Zambia 8 February 2019: A UN Development Programme (UNDP)-supported initiative has been launched to help the Government of Zambia strengthen climate-resilient food security and poverty reduction measures for smallholder farmers, contributing to the achievement of the SDGs, in particular SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth). WHO Report Highlights Knowledge Gaps in Climate and Health Research February 2019: The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report that brings together all the health-related information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15), and highlights knowledge gaps in climate change and health research. Dutch Investors Assess SDG Incorporation in Pension Funds December 2018: A limited number of large Dutch pension funds have been able to incorporate the SDGs into their investment policies, according to a survey undertaken by the Dutch Association of Investors in Sustainable Development (VBDO). The survey looked at the 42 largest pension schemes, and notes difficulties faced by smaller funds in particular. Also in the Netherlands, the UN Global Compact Network Netherlands has published its first report on progress made on the SDGs by Dutch companies. ESCAP’s SDG Help Desk Aims to Build Capacity for Implementation 13 February 2019: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Youth, introduced its ‘SDG Help Desk’ in a webinar. The SDG Help Desk features a knowledge hub, data portals, topics related to technical assistance, a community of practice and toolboxes. NAP Global Network Focusing on NAP Process at Country Level, Meeting Paris Agreement Goals 12 February 2019: The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network has issued publications outlining the role of the NAP process in advancing adaptation goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change, supporting national monitoring and evaluation for climate change adaptation in Colombia and Uganda, and assessing the role of integrated vulnerability assessments in the NAP process in the Pacific. Governments, Regions, UN Agencies Preparing to Review Action for LLDCs 12 February 2019: The UN's programme of action for landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) will be reviewed at the end of 2019, and preparatory initiatives and events are underway at the national, regional and global levels. Senior government officials and experts from LLDCs, transit developing countries and development partners met in Bangkok, Thailand, for the first of three regional meetings scheduled in the lead-up to the midterm review on the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA). FAO Report Analyzes Options for SDG Indicator on Fisheries’ Contribution to GDP 8 February 2019: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has released a technical paper that aims to support improved understanding and measurement of aquaculture and fisheries’ contribution to gross domestic product (GDP). SDG 14 (life below water) includes an indicator that intends to measure the value of sustainable fisheries. IOC-UNESCO, EC Launch MSPglobal, Contribute to SDG 14 7 February 2019: The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO) and the European Commission (EC) launched MSPglobal, a maritime spatial planning project. The three-year project aims to develop international guidelines on maritime spatial planning and support regulation of activities in coastal and marine waters as a contribution to achieving ocean governance goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. IMF Estimates Spending Needed to Make Progress on SDG Implementation 31 January 2019: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated the additional amount that governments need to spend in order to make "meaningful progress" on the SDGs. The study's authors recommend that countries increase tax collection as the first step, while acknowledging that, for low-income countries, this will not be sufficient to fill the financing gap. Initiative Seeks to Unlock Privately Processed Data, Scale up Collaboration 22 January 2019: The World Economic Forum (WEF), the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Thematic Research Network on Data and Statistics (TReNDS) and others have launched an initiative to break down barriers to public-private data collaboration. The Contracts for Data Collaboration (C4DC) initiative aims to address the inefficiencies of developing contractual agreements for such collaboration, and thus unlock privately processed data needed to address challenges. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » 57th Session of the Commission for Social Development 11-21 February 2019 | New York City, US 4th Session of the African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology 18-21 February 2019 | Cairo, Al Qahirah, Egypt AfricaSan5 18-22 February 2019 | Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa CGRFA 17 18-22 February 2019 | Rome, Lazio, Italy FSM5 18-22 February 2019 | Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa 2nd Latin American Symposium on Climate Change Adaptation 20-21 February 2019 | Lima, Peru Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction Annual Assembly 2019 20-21 February 2019 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada International Conference on Climate Change 2019 21-22 February 2019 | Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia World Resources Forum 2019 24-27 February 2019 | Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium Global Reporting Initiative Reporters' Summit: North America 2019 25 February 2019 | US 25th Session of the ISA Council (Part I) 25 February - 1 March 2019 | Kingston, Saint Andrew, Jamaica Sustainable Infrastructure for the Sustainable Development Goals 26 February 2019 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland TEEB for Agriculture and Food International Symposium 26-27 February 2019 | Nairobi, Kenya 22nd Meeting of the GCF Board 26-28 February 2019 | Incheon, Republic of Korea 35th Meeting of the LDC Expert Group 26 February - 2 March 2019 | Kiribati High-level Debate on International Migration and Development 27 February 2019 | New York City, US Funding for the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub has been provided by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) The IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub is a knowledgebase tracking implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Click here for further information on the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub .