June 2014: The UN Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) released six issue briefs for the second session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Each brief includes an introduction and guiding questions for moderated panel discussions that are taking place during HLPF 2.

‘From Rio+20 to post-2015: towards an integrated and universal development agenda’ describes the multiple workstreams and actors involved in formulating the post-2015 development agenda, emphasizing synergies and opportunities for bringing the different processes together. ‘The Regional Dimension in the Post-2015′ describes the outcomes of regional consultations and highlights emerging priorities for each region.

‘Multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development’ provides an overview of challenges and opportunities for partnerships and voluntary commitments as well as practical suggestions for the HLPF to promote partnerships and voluntary commitments. ‘Preparing the HLPF for post-2015: Reviewing progress and implementation’ suggests that the Forum’s monitoring and review function should be situated within the post-2015 agenda’s accountability framework, and suggests building on the experience of national voluntary reviews.

‘From silos to integrated policy making’ emphasizes integration and coordination as essential for policy coherence, but notes that “a silo mentality remains entrenched in the overall institutional arrangements at all levels,” and urges greater efforts at the inter-agency, organizational and national levels. ‘Island Voices, Global Choices: Promoting Genuine and Durable Partnerships’ describes the objectives of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and highlights the role of partnerships.

HLPF 2 is taking place at UN Headquarters in New York, US, from 30 June to 9 July 2014, under the theme, ‘Achieving the Millennium Development Goals and charting the way for an ambitious post-2015 development agenda, including the sustainable development goals (SDGs).’ [Publication: From Rio+20 to post-2015: towards an integrated and universal development agenda] [Publication: The Regional Dimension in the Post-2015] [Publication: Multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development] [Publication: Preparing the HLPF for post 2015: Reviewing progress and implementation] [Publication: From silos to integrated policy making] [Publication: Island Voices, Global Choices: Promoting Genuine and Durable Partnerships] [IISD RS Meeting Coverage]