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Post-2015 Development Agenda: Intergovernmental Process
20 May 2015
Further views on the follow-up and review of the
Post-2015 Development Agenda
Statement by Mr Sean Batten
Director, Global Development Section
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(Check against delivery)
Co-facilitators
Thank you for this opportunity to provide some further thoughts on follow up and review
for the post 2015 development agenda.
We found your summary last evening very useful.
We agree there has been a very constructive discussion and convergence around the key
principles which should be reflected in the Outcome Document.
We also agree with the widespread support for regional level discussions for sharing
lessons, identifying key gaps and discussing solutions.
We confirm our support for an integrated system incorporating both goals and means of
implementation.
We have collectively called for a system that is efficient, builds on existing processes and
minimises burden. In this regard we look forward to the results of the mapping exercise.
On the HLPF, we think it is important the HLPF is truly high level.
It will best add value by synthesising and analysing information, not generating it.
It should not undertake in-depth thematic reviews but draw on them from within the UN
system and beyond.
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It should seek to cover the agenda by organising its work in a cyclical way, using broad
themes and reflecting its integrated nature.
In this way it will remain high level, and eight meeting days will be adequate for the
fulfilment of its mandate.
Themes for each year - set well in advance and aligned to other global thematic review
processes - could have links with multiple goals, and enable the UN system to focus more
specifically each year on lessons and challenges related to that theme, and those goals.
Setting clear themes in advance will also support the participation of a wide range of
stakeholders who are crucial to achieving the SDGs, including member states, thematic
experts, the private sector, philanthropic organisations and civil society - to learn lessons
from the successes and find solutions to the problems.
The Global Sustainable Development Report should reflect the HLPF theme, drawing on
relevant reviews and other credible evidence to support HLPF discussions.
In addition, we support a continuation of the current practise under the Millennium
Development Goals of producing an annual SDG report that aggregates information
against global indicators. We see such a report as critical, not least as a communication
tool which engages a wide range of stakeholders and builds global support for
development.
Finally- as many others have suggested - we suggest the occasion of the HLPF meeting
under the General Assembly could be an opportunity for a more comprehensive overview
of global progress against the whole agenda, helping to maintain high level political
attention on our agreed goals.
