30 May 2019: In preparation for the SDG Summit in September 2019, the UN has set up an ‘SDG Acceleration Action’ platform, where countries and other actors can register voluntary initiatives that contribute to accelerating implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The platform was announced in an information note circulated by UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, ahead of a 14 June briefing on the scope and format of Summit activities.

The September 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), also referred to as the SDG Summit, will be convened by the UNGA at the level of Heads of State and Government. It is mandated to follow up and review progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDGs. Convening from 24-25 September 2019, the Summit is part of the UNGA’s high-level week for the 74th session.

As indicated in the modalities for the Summit, voluntary actions and commitments by countries and other actors will be announced before and during the Summit, and the closing session will recapitulate the acceleration actions that have been announced in the course of the Summit.

Actions can be announced by national, local and regional governments, the UN system, other intergovernmental organizations, international and regional financial institutions, and major groups and other stakeholders, individually or in partnership. To register a voluntary action on the ‘SDG Acceleration Action for the SDG Summit’ platform, users are asked to provide:

• A description of the action, its expected impact, and deliverables;
• A list of partners;
• Resources mobilized towards the action;
• Start and completion date for the initiative; and
• The specific SDGs and targets covered by the commitment.

Actions need to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Resource-based, with Time-based deliverables). The Information Note calls specifically for actions that contribute to policy coherence and reflect interlinkages among SDGs.

The platform also allows users to report on the implementation of their commitment, according to the Information Note.

Espinosa informed Member States of a briefing on 14 June 2019 at 3 pm regarding the scope and format of the activities of the SDG Summit. Also briefing Member States during the meeting will be: the president of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN Deputy Secretary-General, and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Climate Action Summit. The meeting will include updates from the co-facilitators of preparations for the individual events convening during the high-level week. [SDG Acceleration Action Platform] [Information Note and other Summit information]