8 July 2015: The co-facilitators of the intergovernmental negotiation process on the post-2015 development agenda have issued the “final draft” of the outcome document of the UN Summit in September 2015, which is expected to adopt the development agenda. David Donoghue (Ireland) and Macharia Kamau (Kenya) write that this version of the text builds on, and responds to, input from Member States and other stakeholders provided at the 22-25 June negotiation session. They also indicate that they look forward to its finalization at the final negotiation session, on 20-31 July 2015.
The draft is titled ‘Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Global Action,’ and contains: a preamble; an introduction; a section on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets; a section on means of implementation (MOI) and the Global Partnership; and a section on follow-up and review.
The preamble reads that “We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want to heal and secure our planet for present and future generations.” It includes intentions with regard to five “areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet”: people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership.
The introduction includes a pledge that “nobody will be left behind.” It elaborates: Our vision; Our shared principles; Our world today; The new Agenda; Implementation; Follow-up and review; and A call for action to change our world.
The section on the SDGs begins with four paragraphs describing the goals and targets, and their linkages with, and respect for, other processes.
The MOI section would “welcome and endorse fully” the outcome of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD 3). It includes a bracketed statement that “The post-2015 development agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals, can be met within the framework of a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development, supported by the concrete policies and actions as outlined in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.” It also includes a bracketed statement launching a Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM). The section then contains the MOI targets from the SDGs.
The section on follow-up and review contains several introductory paragraphs, including six principles which would guide follow-up and review processes, followed by sub-sections on national, regional and global level follow-up and review.
Annex 1 contains one “remaining proposal for target revision,” regarding reference in target 14.c to the States parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The co-facilitators note that the other 19 proposed technical revisions to the SDG have been incorporated into the final text, along with a “slight change” to the proposed revision previously circulated for target 8.7, which addresses forced labor, slavery, human trafficking, child labor and child soldiers.
A second annex will contain the outcome document of the FfD 3, the co-facilitators note. Annex 3 contains the 18-paragraph introduction to the report of the Open Working Group (OWG) on SDGs. [Publication: Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Global Action: Final draft of the outcome document for the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda] [Website for July Session of Intergovernmental Negotiations] [IISD RS Coverage of July Session] [IISD RS Story on June Session]