Letter to the co-facilitators
27th May 2016
We, as the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE), commend the effort that was put into this
draft resolution by Member States and all other development stakeholders. We appreciate the space that was
given to other development actors in this process and we would like to contribute our suggestions and feedback
for your consideration.
On the follow-up and review process, and the need for accountability
CPDE strongly affirms that leaving no-one behind should be the main focus of this year’s HLPF. We appreciate the
reference to this year’s theme to leave no-one behind. However, the draft resolution in its current form is alarming
and does not reflect this aspiration. Not only has there been a weak affirmation of the follow-up and review
process which should be designed to ensure the proper and meaningful implementation of the SDGs, there has
since been a leveling down of the resolution’s commitment in its final draft.
There is a need for a robust follow-up and review process that is reflected in the draft resolution. The draft
resolution must ensure that the 2030 Agenda and its processes holds in high regard the highest standards
of human rights, transparency, and accountability consistent with all relevant United Nations and International
Labour Organisation (ILO) normative frameworks on human rights, international labour, social, and environment
standards while also involving CSOs and Member States in all aspects of Private Sector development engagements.
On voluntary reviews
Since voluntary multi-stakeholder partnerships are expected to proliferate with the aim of supporting the
attainment of the various SDGs, there will be greater challenges in terms of fragmentation, limited transparency,
lack of accountability and weak adherence to human rights and development effectiveness. The need to stress
the highest forms of transparency and accountability alongside voluntary national reviews by States and other
development stakeholders is therefore paramount.
Participation of civil society
We welcome the recognition of the draft resolution for the contributions of civil society and other development
stakeholders. However this does not reflect the breadth and scope of civil society’s inclusion in monitoring,
evaluation, and implementation as per the 2030 agenda and resolution 67/290.
There needs to be more comprehensive language for the inclusion of civil society as development actors and
stakeholders in our own right in the draft resolution
CPDE strongly emphasises that the implementation of the 2030 agenda should even go beyond the 2030 Agenda’s
mere mentioning of civil society and other people-led organisations as simply partners in inclusive institutions.
There is a need to reinvigorate current efforts to further ensure institutionalised spaces at the national, regional,
and global levels for civil society and local communities to effectively build and synergise multi-stakeholder
partnerships.
CPDE recommends that the international community should not take a step back and instead to make use of
this opportunity to implement a renewed and comprehensive partnership for the SDGs in the implementation
process.
