President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Philemon Yang convened the first informal interactive dialogue on the implementation of the Pact for the Future. Held under the theme ‘Means of Implementation,’ the meeting was the first in a series of three dialogues intended to serve as a platform for Member States to exchange views, best practices, and ideas to advance efforts to implement the Pact and lay the groundwork for its review in 2028.

In his opening address, Yang emphasized implementation of the Pact for the Future as a “major priority,” stressing the need for: closing the resource gap; trade policies that would grant developing countries flexibility; and strengthened international cooperation. He said governments must lead with concrete, action-oriented strategies, while the private sector must invest in innovation and sustainability. The UNGA President identified the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), and the Second World Summit on Social Development as “key moments to accelerate our efforts.”

In his remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reported on the UN’s efforts since the Pact was adopted and outlined the work ahead. He highlighted the establishment of a principal-level steering committee that oversees six working groups focused on actions and reforms in the areas of SDG acceleration, peace and security, international financial architecture, digital technologies, UN governance, and youth. He also noted the creation of task teams focusing on future generations and on the need to go beyond gross domestic product (GDP).

Guterres called attention to the March launch of the UN80 initiative – a strategic effort aimed at improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of the UN’s operations, including in the context of supporting and accelerating the implementation of the Pact for the Future.

In a letter dated 24 April 2025, the UNGA President circulated an informal summary of the dialogue. “The insights and perspectives shared during the dialogue provide actionable pathways to operationalizing the commitments contained in the Pact,” the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations, “in a manner that reflects “differing national contexts and realities,” the letter notes.

Among the key elements highlighted during the dialogue, the letter identifies the need to strengthen national leadership and ownership of the Pact, to help advance the development of national implementation roadmaps with clear objectives, timelines, institutional responsibilities, and indicators.

According to the letter, participants also emphasized:

• Inclusive and localized planning in implementing the Pact;
• Leveraging existing institutional mechanisms such as SDG frameworks for implementation and monitoring;
• Translating the Pact’s commitments into national policy frameworks to institutionalize implementation and ensure accountability;
• The role of regional and thematic centers of excellence in facilitating knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and training; and
• Robust and inclusive monitoring frameworks, strengthened national data systems, and shared responsibility at all levels for transparent and results-driven implementation of the Pact.

The perspectives shared during the dialogue, the letter notes, help ensure that the Pact serves as “a catalyst for long-term systemic change rather than… a short-term commitment.” Welcoming the ongoing exchange of experiences, the UNGA President encouraged Member States to draw inspiration from the good practices highlighted during the dialogue to pursue implementation pathways that align with their national priorities.

The dialogue took place at UN Headquarters in New York, US, on 26 March 2025. The dialogue on monitoring and evaluation will convene in May. The dialogue on looking ahead to 2028 will be held in July, after the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) concludes. [Recording of Informal Interactive Dialogue 1: The Pact for the Future – Means of Implementation] [UNGA 79 President’s Efforts on Summit of the Future and Beyond] [UN News Story]