Review of SDGs implementation: SDG 17 – Strengthening the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development | Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Background

SDG 17 seeks to strengthen global partnerships to support and achieve the ambitious targets of the 2030 Agenda, bringing together national governments, the international community, civil society, the private sector, and other actors. Despite some advances in certain areas in 2017, more needs to be done to accelerate progress. All stakeholders will have to intensify and focus their efforts on the areas where progress has been slow.

SDG 17 reflects a holistic approach to the means of implementation for the 2030 Agenda, including 19 targets that span finance, technology, capacity-building, trade and systemic issues. In addition, the means of implementation are integrated acrossthe other Goals, underlining their cross-cutting nature. The concrete policies and actions of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development provide a strong foundation to support the achievement of the SDGs.

The session will discuss the main challenges and opportunities for strengthening global partnerships and enhancing the means of implementation. Specific attention will be given to exploring the existing mechanisms and potential innovations for mobilizing resources for the SDGs – including: (i) financing at both domestic and international levels, from public and private sources; (ii) best practice and experience in scaling up technology solutions; (iii) trends in South-South cooperation for building capacitiesfor SDG implementation and investment; and (iv) overcoming challengesin the international trade and financial system. Views, suggestions and current achievements are expected to be shared by practitioners, policymakers and experts based on their most recent experiences and research.

The purpose of the session is to advance progress on SDG 17 by dedicating a focused discussion to national, regional and global trends in the key means of implementation and global partnership for sustainable development. It will also build on the inter-governmentally agreed conclusions and recommendations of the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development in 2018 (A/RES/70/1, §86) and consider the findings and ideas emerging from other related processes, including the Development Cooperation Forum (DCF); Multistakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) forthe SDGs; World Investment Forum; and UN World Data Forum.

Proposed guiding questions:

What are the main hurdles to investing in, and financing, the SDGs, using all sources: public and private, domestic and international? Which policies, approaches and institutional solutions have worked best in specific country contexts and how can they be scaled up?
What kind of partnership or collaboration is needed between the public and private sectors to achieve the goal of financing the SDGs? What should be done to achieve that?
How can the benefits of collaboration between researchers/scientists, investors, and practitioners, more effectively apply cutting-edge technology in development endeavours in a timely manner? What are the main recommendations for high-impact actions in this area?
How can capacity building interventions in technology be applied at the national level to ensure transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies?
What are some innovations in South-South cooperation that are complementing efforts by other actors to support national plans and mobilize resources for the SDGs?
Which policy actions are needed to address both long-standing concerns and near-term challenges in the international trade and financial system?
Who are the furthest behind and who is at risk of being left behind for this SDG?
How do we ensure that sufficient resources are geared at improving the lives of the furthest behind?

Chair:

H.E. Mr. Mahmadamin Mahmadaminov, Vice-President of ECOSOC

Presentations:

Ms. Yongyi Min, Sustainable Development Goal Monitoring Section, Statistics Division of UN DESA
H.E. Mr. Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations and Co-Facilitator for the outcome of the 2018 ECOSOC Financing for Development Follow-up Forum