14 March 2013: The co-facilitators for the process of establishing the UN intergovernmental committee on sustainable development financing have asked the Chairs of the Regional Groups of UN Member States to submit nominations for the Committee by 31 March 2013.

Byrganym Aitimova, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan, and Geir O. Pedersen, Permanent Representative of Norway, the co-facilitators, circulated a letter noting that: extensive consultations have been carried out with all regional groups during the last few weeks; the consultations have called for a “broad range of expertise in the Committee” and the nomination of one expert per seat; and according to the consultations, the Committee’s work areas of expertise outlined in paragraphs 252 to 268 of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) Outcome Document are particularly relevant. An Annex to the letter provides an indicative list of examples of possible experts to help identify relevant candidates.

Noting that resources are available to cover the travel expenses of 30 experts, the letter invites the following number of nominated experts for each regional group: seven for the African Group; seven for the Asia-Pacific Group; five for the Eastern European Group; six for the Latin American and Caribbean Countries; and five for the Western European and Other states Group. The co-facilitators intend to prepare a short UN General Assembly (UNGA) decision listing the 30 experts and their nominating countries.

The Intergovernmental Committee on Sustainable Development Financing (ICSDF) was mandated by Rio+20. It is to be comprised of 30 experts nominated by regional groups with equitable geographical representation, and must conclude its work by 2014 for consideration by the UNGA. [Letter of Co-facilitators] [IISD RS Story on Co-facilitators’ Appointment] [DSD Webpage on Consultations for Committee]