Remarks
By
H.E. Achraf Ibrahim
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt
At
IGN on the Post 2015 Development Agenda
Follow up and Review Session
May 18th-22nd, 2015
18 May 2015 Check against delivery
Distinguished Co-facilitators,
I would like to associate my remarks with the statement made by the distinguished Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, the statement made by the distinguished Permanent Representative of Nigeria on behalf of the African Group, the statement made by the distinguished Permanent Representative of Tunisia on behalf of the Arab Group, and the statement made by the distinguished representative of Norway on behalf of the group of 7.
Co-facilitators,
My delegation believes in the need for a robust, efficient, transparent, voluntary follow up and review process for the Post 2015 Development Agenda, a process which we believe that the High Level Political Forum “HLPF” is the appropriate venue for this exercise based on the outcome document of Rio+ 20 and the modalities of the HLPF as stated in GA resolution 67/290.
Having said that, we believe that the Intergovernmental negotiations on Post 2015 Development Agenda should consider and decide on the authority deficit currently facing the HLPF and its ability to exercise its functions, we should clearly address the HLPF’s working methods including its need to receive and issue reports, take decisions and have a separate secretariat. We also hope that the program of the HLPF meetings in June 2015 should ensure that the views of all member states are heard and expressed with regards to this issue.
Furthermore, we would like to reiterate our position on what has been discussed during the joint session of Post 2015 Development Agenda and FfD, specifically with regards to the relationship between both process, our view on is that while both process are separate and independent, there are elements of convergence between both process, and we support the proposal for the establishment of a separate and independent intergovernmental arrangements for follow up and review of the FfD process. The outcome of this independent FfD follow up and review mechanism should then feed into the HLPF thematic debates, and we propose that this model to be replicated with all other follow up and review mechanisms created to follow up on outcomes of the major United Nations processes, taking into consideration that the Sendai Conference on DRR has adopted a separate follow up and review mechanism not so long ago.
Co-facilitators,
We thank you for your effort in framing the discussion on the issue of follow up and review as submitted in your discussion paper, which we appreciate the details provided in it, but caution that much of these details included in the paper could be deemed prescriptive and/or intrusive on the national level. Therefore we propose that its structure should concentrate at the global level, then the regional and national levels to capitalize on the guidance provided at the global level.
Co-facilitators
Allow me to provide the following remarks on the content of the document:
1. The efficient, robust, inclusive, voluntary and transparent follow up and review mechanism will be essential for the successful implementation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, with the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development as the key forum for such mechanism. The principles of follow up and review at the global level will serve as guidance for follow up and review at the national and regional levels, while ensuring the adequate policy space and respect for national and regional priorities and legislations.
2. The IGN on the Post 2015 Development Agenda should conclude the principles of the follow up and review at the global level taking into consideration the following:
a. The review will be voluntary, state-led, involving ministerial and other relevant high-level participants, and that is should expand to include the activities of the UN system and stakeholders with regards to the SDGs, and should equal focus to commitments both at the national and international levels.
b. It should focus on the assessment of progress, achievements and challenges faced by developed and developing countries.
c. The review should be conducted in a constructive spirit. This means that it should be based on long term orientation and incentives such as access to best practices, policy advice, sharing of experiences, necessary means of implementation, taking into account capacity-building, financing and technology transfer needs , facilitating the sharing of best practices and technology and other support to be provided by a wide range of actors in order to identify possible solutions, to foster positive mutual learning and cooperation.
d. The follow up and review mechanism should encompass all the 17 SDGs and 169 targets in a balanced and integrated manner, including Goal 17 and MoI-specific targets at the international level.
e. Its approach should be differentiated, which means that it will focus on universal goals, in particular the SDGs, applicable to all countries, while taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities.
2. At the regional level, adequate policy space should be provided for the regional organizations, to allow them in cooperation with their membership, to discuss how to further enhance and develop existing regional follow up and review mechanisms for the implementation of the Post 2015 Development Agenda; guided by the globally agreed upon principles for follow up and review. We need to provide the adequate space for the regional organizations to work with their memberships on addressing how the existing mechanism are adequately serving the objective of follow up the implementation of the Agenda, while avoiding duplication of efforts.
3. At the national level, Member States will take steps to elaborate national strategies/plans, for implementing the post-2015 development agenda with the participation of all relevant stakeholders as appropriate, and begin their implementation. The national review reports should include assessment of progress, achievements and challenges identified in the national implementation of the post-2015 development agenda, including its means of implementation. The reporting should be participatory and include the contributions of national stakeholders in line with national laws and regulations. The submission of these reports should be done by all states on a regular basis by taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development. Data and information from existing reporting mechanisms should be used where possible, bearing in mind the need for national capacity building in regard to improved data collection.
