12 February 2015: A briefing by the UN Department of Public Information Non-Governmental Organizations branch (DPI-NGO) to civil society groups offered UN system and stakeholder insights on the post-2015 development agenda negotiations. The briefing, ‘Transitioning from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),’ focused on the UN transition, in partnership with civil society, from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to a post-2015 development agenda.

The briefing took place on 12 February 2015 at UN Headquarters in New York, in advance of the second round of intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 agenda. Civil society participants heard from a number of leaders across the UN system engaged in discussions on the post-2015 agenda.

In a keynote address, Amina Mohammed, UN Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning, highlighted MDG successes while also stressing that the investments made were not as strong as what was required for success everywhere. A lesson learned on accountability from the MDGs, she said, is that “everyone needs to be involved” in an integrated manner, including civil society and business. She highlighted the role of civil society experts in communicating the agenda and engaging more people.

Mitchell Toomey, Millennium Campaign, said that the world learned from the creation of the MDGs and has conducted the most inclusive process ever to engage NGOs, civil society and the grassroots level in the post-2015 agenda process. He credited a broad coalition of civil society for ensuring the breadth and ambition of the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Florencia Soto, DPI Strategic Communications Division, said the role of DPI is to make the post-2015 agenda more accessible. “Our job is to explain why we can achieve progress this year,” she stressed, saying that DPI will communicate the effects that the post-2015 issues can have on people’s lives across the world. She announced the launch of a new website, un.org/action2015, where the public can become familiar with these issues and read about relevant topics.

Jeffrey Huffines, CIVICUS, presented a Conference Declaration and Resource Document prepared by a coalition of civil society groups, which defines their inputs to the post-2015 negotiations. He stressed the role of NGO partnerships in raising awareness on these issues.

Thomas Gass, UN Assistant Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, discussed post-2015 challenges and opportunities, including the potential for a paradigm shift in the ways that development happens around the world. He stressed the importance of a universal agenda, a strong accountability framework and communicating the agenda to people on the ground.

Civil society groups then engaged with the speakers in a question and answer session, asking questions on the number of goals, involving younger generations and consultations on the implementation phase of the agenda. [IISD RS Sources] [Briefing Programme] [DPI-NGO Website]