Belgium
High-Level Political Forum 2017
Presentation Belgium's Voluntary National Review
by Alexander De Croo
Deputy Prime Mir-iister and Minister of Development Cooperation
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the context of the Agenda 2030, we all are developing countries and we
all can learn from each other. That is why it is fitting for Belgium to share
this National Voluntary Review panel with Peru and Benin.
These last years, we have worked intensively with Peru and Benin in the
context of our international development policies. And both countries
have already build up valuable experience in national reporting on globally
set development agendas. It really is my pleasure to share this stage with
them.
Presenting our National Voluntary Review here today is an
exercise that makes me proud, but also humble.
Proud, because two years ago, at the occasion of the adoption of the
Sustainable Development Goals, our Prime Minister pledged that Belgium
would spare no effort in working towards realizing the SDGs. Our
Voluntary National Review proves that we are doing precisely that.
We really wanted to be in the first group of countries presenting their
Voluntary National Review to show this commitment to the Agenda 2030.
And indeed, this vast report brings together a wealth of information on
initiatives contributing to the SDGs, both within our Belgian borders as
1
abroad. It really shows that all levels of government in Belgium are fully
engaged.
As you can imagine, bringing all initiatives together in one report has been
quite an effort. The exercise was coordinated by a political steering
committee chaired by the Prime Minister ensuring a much-needed highlevel
political push.
There was active involvement of representatives from all levels of
government in Belgium. I would like to thank all my colleagues who have
engaged in this process.
Let me share some first findings:
- The Belgian Review shows that all 17 SDGs, as well as a large
majority of their corresponding 169 targets, are currently being
addressed in one way or another.
- The findings also underscore Belgium's commitment to implement
the SDGs as a whole, taking on board key principles such as
leaving no-one behind, adopting a rights-based approach and
mainstreaming gender throughout the SDGs.
- We are focusing on all SDGs, working through overarching
strategies and initiatives to address interlinkages and to enhance
cooperation within and between the various governments.
- The Belgian Review also indicates that we have managed to
mobilize our statistical community to work on the establishment
of a Belgian SDG-indicator framework.
2
Our statistical community selected two indicators per SDG, which
they found most relevant, measurable and available, and developed
the trends for those 34 in a statistical annex to the report.
The indicators.be website lists some 70 more indicators, while the
job of internalizing the global indicators into the Belgian context is
still ongoing.
- It is also worth noting that civil society at large, made an
invaluable contribution to our Voluntary National Review. Civil
society issued a number of coordinated advisory opinions on the
draft review and they were also invited to report their own Agenda
2030 implementation initiatives. This approach concurs with the role
of civil society as both a watchdog and a partner in realizing the
Agenda 2030.
- And of course, also the different Parliaments are mainstreaming
the SDGs into their activities. The federal parliament, for instance,
was consulted on the National Review a few weeks ago.
But before diving into some of the specifics of our report, I'd like to show
you a short video clip that will offer a flavor of the initiatives covered in
our report. As you will notice, the clip focuses on the seven SDGs that
were central to last week's HLPF.
(video clip - ca. 3?
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to take this opportunity to briefly go into some specific actions
and Initiatives, particularly dear to me.
3
• First, these last two years, pushed by the SDGs, we have initiated a
far-reaching overhaul in Belgian international development
policies.
We have left behind strictly sectoral and thematically siloed
approaches.
Instead, we have tapped into the potential of enhanced resource
mobilization, for instance through innovative financing vehicles
such as impact bonds.
We are increasingly focusing on sustainable and inclusive
economic growth, on mainstreaming digital for development
and on bringing the private sector on board for further leverage.
Yet at the same time, like many other traditional donor countries,
we are still figuring out how to consistently integrate the DNA of the
SDGs into our work, from the measurement of results and our
dialogue with partner organizations and countries to our planning
and legislative processes.
While adopting a rights-based approach across the board in order
to leave no-one behind, we also want to reach the furthest
behind countries first, and that is why we committed to spend at
least half of our ODA to least developed countries and fragile states
by 2019.
• Second, Belgium also adopted a National Sustainable
Development Strategy. An umbrella document indicating how the
various authorities in Belgium should cooperate, linking their own
already updated strategies in a coherent matter.
4
This national strategy also established a common reporting
mechanism, twice per government term to parliament and civil
society - an approach that will be a key building block for our future
Voluntary National Reviews.
• Third, we are giving the notion of partnership a central place in
our Belgian efforts. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda's main lesson
was that we needed to move beyond business as usual and build
new strategic partnerships, for instance with the private sector, to
mobilize the necessary funds for this trillion-dollar agenda.
That is why Belgium has set up a Belgian SDG Charter for
International Development. More than a hundred companies and
organizations have already signed up to it, committing themselves
to work together to bring the SDGs to life.
Another example is our partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation in the fight against sleeping sickness, one of the
neglected tropical diseases referred to in SDG3.
But also in purely for-profit ventures, it is possible to mobilize
actors beyond the traditional ones while simultaneously serving
developmental and humanitarian purposes.
• In line with SDG16, Belgium is tying up its international
development efforts with defense and diplomacy. In places
where all our actors are present, such as the Sahel region, we are
connecting our external policy instruments because we all know
peace, security, strong institutions and development are mutually
dependent.
5
We are actively involved in UN peace operations, most recently by
offering the Force Commander, officers and air transport for
MINUSMA in Mali. At the same time, we are also supporting the
protection of civilians in conflict areas, in particular women and
children.
Belgium is also increasingly focusing on conflict prevention and
mediation as essential elements of contemporary conflict
management. In this regard, we organized an international
conference on mediation earlier this year.
Ranking 9th globally in terms of press freedom and having
repeatedly pledged to uphold individual fundamental rights in the
roll-out of its national counter-terror measures, Belgium is a
staunch supporter of respect for human rights and of the
fight against impunity.
And, for that matter, linking peace and security, sustainable
development and human rights protection also means building
bridges between the three pillars of the UN.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Drafting this Voluntary National Review has also been a sobering
exercise - an exercise that clearly indicates where we have to invest
more. The lessons in this regard are fourfold.
1. First, we need to do more to incorporate the SDGs and targets
into all our internal and external action frameworks.
6
Our National Review has indicated scale and size seem to matter
in that respect. It seems that bigger entities in our federal system
have been able to cope with SDG integration in a more systemic
manner.
Yet, on the other hand, local government players
municipalities, provinces and their associations - are acting as a
strong bottom-up force, instructing themselves and others on
how to make a difference.
It will now be important to ensure that these two approaches
peacefully coexist together and reinforce each other.
2. Secondly, our National Review has allowed to identify a number of
areas where further action is needed.
Our consultations with civil society have indicated additional
attention is needed, across the board, from all relevant policymakers,
for issues such as lifelong learning, water and air
quality, energy intensity and renewable energy, greenhouse
gas emissions, people at risk of poverty and the mobilization
of the necessary means of implementation.
This corresponds with findings of the OECD, the Sustainable
Development Solutions Network and the Bertelsmann Foundation.
Let me be very straightforward: we have heard these messages loud
and clear, and we will look into ways to address them.
3. Thirdly, we need to continue working on advocacy and awareness
raising.
7
If we want to SDGs to transform our world, we have to build
platform. Last week, I participated in the Global Citizen Festival in
Hamburg in the sidelines of the G20 where a crowd of 14.000
enthusiasts gathered to listen to music but also to pledge and
commit to the SDGs. We need to have more of this outreach
moments.
4. And finally, we need to further develop our mechanism for followup
and review and impact assessment.
At this stage, we are not yet able to meticulously map all gaps in
the SDG implementation, at all levels of our federal system. Yet, I
am convinced that this report will help us in doing so.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Belgium's first Voluntary National Review is a starting point, not an end. It
provides us with a statistical baseline, and with a benchmark to guide
further action.
Our first Review will also improve our collaboration with civil society, and
it will strengthen accountability towards our parliaments, civil society and
the Belgian public at large.
Of course, we are proud that the SDG Index presented last week by the
Bertelsmann Foundation and the Sustainable Development Solutions
Network has ranked Belgium 12th worldwide. This is a good result indeed,
yet a lot needs to be done.
Belgium is fully committed to the hard work that lies ahead, and we will
approach this in a true spirit of partnership.
8
It is in the same spirit of partnership, that I now would like to give the
floor to David Leyssens.
David is the Executive Officer of The Shift, the umbrella organization that
set up Belgium's SDG Charter on International Development uniting the
private sector, civil society and the public sector around the SDGs.
David speaks for the civil society and will comment upon the three
National Reviews presented here this morning.
9
Presentation Belgium's Voluntary National Review
by Alexander De Croo
Deputy Prime Mir-iister and Minister of Development Cooperation
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the context of the Agenda 2030, we all are developing countries and we
all can learn from each other. That is why it is fitting for Belgium to share
this National Voluntary Review panel with Peru and Benin.
These last years, we have worked intensively with Peru and Benin in the
context of our international development policies. And both countries
have already build up valuable experience in national reporting on globally
set development agendas. It really is my pleasure to share this stage with
them.
Presenting our National Voluntary Review here today is an
exercise that makes me proud, but also humble.
Proud, because two years ago, at the occasion of the adoption of the
Sustainable Development Goals, our Prime Minister pledged that Belgium
would spare no effort in working towards realizing the SDGs. Our
Voluntary National Review proves that we are doing precisely that.
We really wanted to be in the first group of countries presenting their
Voluntary National Review to show this commitment to the Agenda 2030.
And indeed, this vast report brings together a wealth of information on
initiatives contributing to the SDGs, both within our Belgian borders as
1
abroad. It really shows that all levels of government in Belgium are fully
engaged.
As you can imagine, bringing all initiatives together in one report has been
quite an effort. The exercise was coordinated by a political steering
committee chaired by the Prime Minister ensuring a much-needed highlevel
political push.
There was active involvement of representatives from all levels of
government in Belgium. I would like to thank all my colleagues who have
engaged in this process.
Let me share some first findings:
- The Belgian Review shows that all 17 SDGs, as well as a large
majority of their corresponding 169 targets, are currently being
addressed in one way or another.
- The findings also underscore Belgium's commitment to implement
the SDGs as a whole, taking on board key principles such as
leaving no-one behind, adopting a rights-based approach and
mainstreaming gender throughout the SDGs.
- We are focusing on all SDGs, working through overarching
strategies and initiatives to address interlinkages and to enhance
cooperation within and between the various governments.
- The Belgian Review also indicates that we have managed to
mobilize our statistical community to work on the establishment
of a Belgian SDG-indicator framework.
2
Our statistical community selected two indicators per SDG, which
they found most relevant, measurable and available, and developed
the trends for those 34 in a statistical annex to the report.
The indicators.be website lists some 70 more indicators, while the
job of internalizing the global indicators into the Belgian context is
still ongoing.
- It is also worth noting that civil society at large, made an
invaluable contribution to our Voluntary National Review. Civil
society issued a number of coordinated advisory opinions on the
draft review and they were also invited to report their own Agenda
2030 implementation initiatives. This approach concurs with the role
of civil society as both a watchdog and a partner in realizing the
Agenda 2030.
- And of course, also the different Parliaments are mainstreaming
the SDGs into their activities. The federal parliament, for instance,
was consulted on the National Review a few weeks ago.
But before diving into some of the specifics of our report, I'd like to show
you a short video clip that will offer a flavor of the initiatives covered in
our report. As you will notice, the clip focuses on the seven SDGs that
were central to last week's HLPF.
(video clip - ca. 3?
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to take this opportunity to briefly go into some specific actions
and Initiatives, particularly dear to me.
3
• First, these last two years, pushed by the SDGs, we have initiated a
far-reaching overhaul in Belgian international development
policies.
We have left behind strictly sectoral and thematically siloed
approaches.
Instead, we have tapped into the potential of enhanced resource
mobilization, for instance through innovative financing vehicles
such as impact bonds.
We are increasingly focusing on sustainable and inclusive
economic growth, on mainstreaming digital for development
and on bringing the private sector on board for further leverage.
Yet at the same time, like many other traditional donor countries,
we are still figuring out how to consistently integrate the DNA of the
SDGs into our work, from the measurement of results and our
dialogue with partner organizations and countries to our planning
and legislative processes.
While adopting a rights-based approach across the board in order
to leave no-one behind, we also want to reach the furthest
behind countries first, and that is why we committed to spend at
least half of our ODA to least developed countries and fragile states
by 2019.
• Second, Belgium also adopted a National Sustainable
Development Strategy. An umbrella document indicating how the
various authorities in Belgium should cooperate, linking their own
already updated strategies in a coherent matter.
4
This national strategy also established a common reporting
mechanism, twice per government term to parliament and civil
society - an approach that will be a key building block for our future
Voluntary National Reviews.
• Third, we are giving the notion of partnership a central place in
our Belgian efforts. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda's main lesson
was that we needed to move beyond business as usual and build
new strategic partnerships, for instance with the private sector, to
mobilize the necessary funds for this trillion-dollar agenda.
That is why Belgium has set up a Belgian SDG Charter for
International Development. More than a hundred companies and
organizations have already signed up to it, committing themselves
to work together to bring the SDGs to life.
Another example is our partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation in the fight against sleeping sickness, one of the
neglected tropical diseases referred to in SDG3.
But also in purely for-profit ventures, it is possible to mobilize
actors beyond the traditional ones while simultaneously serving
developmental and humanitarian purposes.
• In line with SDG16, Belgium is tying up its international
development efforts with defense and diplomacy. In places
where all our actors are present, such as the Sahel region, we are
connecting our external policy instruments because we all know
peace, security, strong institutions and development are mutually
dependent.
5
We are actively involved in UN peace operations, most recently by
offering the Force Commander, officers and air transport for
MINUSMA in Mali. At the same time, we are also supporting the
protection of civilians in conflict areas, in particular women and
children.
Belgium is also increasingly focusing on conflict prevention and
mediation as essential elements of contemporary conflict
management. In this regard, we organized an international
conference on mediation earlier this year.
Ranking 9th globally in terms of press freedom and having
repeatedly pledged to uphold individual fundamental rights in the
roll-out of its national counter-terror measures, Belgium is a
staunch supporter of respect for human rights and of the
fight against impunity.
And, for that matter, linking peace and security, sustainable
development and human rights protection also means building
bridges between the three pillars of the UN.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Drafting this Voluntary National Review has also been a sobering
exercise - an exercise that clearly indicates where we have to invest
more. The lessons in this regard are fourfold.
1. First, we need to do more to incorporate the SDGs and targets
into all our internal and external action frameworks.
6
Our National Review has indicated scale and size seem to matter
in that respect. It seems that bigger entities in our federal system
have been able to cope with SDG integration in a more systemic
manner.
Yet, on the other hand, local government players
municipalities, provinces and their associations - are acting as a
strong bottom-up force, instructing themselves and others on
how to make a difference.
It will now be important to ensure that these two approaches
peacefully coexist together and reinforce each other.
2. Secondly, our National Review has allowed to identify a number of
areas where further action is needed.
Our consultations with civil society have indicated additional
attention is needed, across the board, from all relevant policymakers,
for issues such as lifelong learning, water and air
quality, energy intensity and renewable energy, greenhouse
gas emissions, people at risk of poverty and the mobilization
of the necessary means of implementation.
This corresponds with findings of the OECD, the Sustainable
Development Solutions Network and the Bertelsmann Foundation.
Let me be very straightforward: we have heard these messages loud
and clear, and we will look into ways to address them.
3. Thirdly, we need to continue working on advocacy and awareness
raising.
7
If we want to SDGs to transform our world, we have to build
platform. Last week, I participated in the Global Citizen Festival in
Hamburg in the sidelines of the G20 where a crowd of 14.000
enthusiasts gathered to listen to music but also to pledge and
commit to the SDGs. We need to have more of this outreach
moments.
4. And finally, we need to further develop our mechanism for followup
and review and impact assessment.
At this stage, we are not yet able to meticulously map all gaps in
the SDG implementation, at all levels of our federal system. Yet, I
am convinced that this report will help us in doing so.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Belgium's first Voluntary National Review is a starting point, not an end. It
provides us with a statistical baseline, and with a benchmark to guide
further action.
Our first Review will also improve our collaboration with civil society, and
it will strengthen accountability towards our parliaments, civil society and
the Belgian public at large.
Of course, we are proud that the SDG Index presented last week by the
Bertelsmann Foundation and the Sustainable Development Solutions
Network has ranked Belgium 12th worldwide. This is a good result indeed,
yet a lot needs to be done.
Belgium is fully committed to the hard work that lies ahead, and we will
approach this in a true spirit of partnership.
8
It is in the same spirit of partnership, that I now would like to give the
floor to David Leyssens.
David is the Executive Officer of The Shift, the umbrella organization that
set up Belgium's SDG Charter on International Development uniting the
private sector, civil society and the public sector around the SDGs.
David speaks for the civil society and will comment upon the three
National Reviews presented here this morning.
9
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