H.E. Mr. Milorad Scepanovic, Director-General from the General Directorate of Multilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro
STATEMENT
by H.E. Mr. Milorad Scepanovic, Ambassador
Director-General for Multilateral Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro
High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2016:
Ensuring that No One is Left Behind
Session on National mechanisms for monitoring progress and reporting on implementation for the achievement of SDGs
New York, 14th July 2016
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Mr. President,
Distinguished panelists,
Excellences,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Being aware of the complexity of the challenges that the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development place in front of national authorities, it is timely to exchange different experiences and plans both, at UN level with regard to building integrated platform to support national processes and at national levels with regard to overcoming the present weaknesses that may threat successful implementation of the Agenda 2030 and the SDGs.
Full integration of global sustainable development goals into national policies, plans and programmes needs to be ensured, not only at the level of their preparation but primarily in the implementation process.
Mr. President,
The Government of Montenegro adopted new National Strategy on Sustainable Development of Montenegro until 2030 this July. Guided by national needs that were identified against the analysis of the lacks of national development and needs in responding to the challenges that have been introduced by the 2030 Agenda, new Strategy defines the several priority themes as to overcome unsustainable trends of national development, such as:
− Support to values, norms and behavior patterns of importance for sustainability of Montenegrin society
− Improving the status of human resources and strengthening of social cohesion
− Introducing green economy
− Protecting natural capital
− Improving governance for sustainable development
− Establish Financing for Sustainable Development by translating the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.
New Strategy is an overarching national development document that defines principles, strategic goals and measures for achieving a long-term sustainable development of the society, taking into account the current situation and international obligations, primarily the 2030 Agenda. Strategy refers not only to the economy and environment, but also to the irreplaceable human resources and invaluable social capital.
In responding to the needs of national development, Strategy integrates the requirements of the 2030 Agenda in the national context through the answers to the previously identified national needs. Namely, 167 targets out of 169 have been nationalized; 241 sustainable development indicators will be intoduced into the national reporting system; while commitments from Addis Ababa Action Agenda have been integrated for establishing the financing framework for sustainable development of Montenegro.
Mr. President,
Adequate measurement of progress, along with strengthening data production and the use of better data in policymaking and monitoring is extremely important for successful delivery on the 2030 Agenda.
The National Strategy creates innovative and comprehensive system for monitoring progress and reporting on implementation of SDGs. The complexity of the SDGs and the number of related indicators requested comprehensive analysis of the complex national institutional system in order to establish a long-term stable and functional system for monitoring the implementation of sustainable development policy. Analysis has shown that as of today, out of 241 indicators of sustainable development, 27 are fully monitored in Montenegro, while additional 35 are partially monitored. In the period from 2016 to 2024, 119 indicators of sustainable development from the UN list should be introduced into national statistical system, to ensure monitoring of 75.1% of the total number of defined indicators. A special value of reporting in the upcoming period will be added by the introduction of selected complex indicators for cumulative monitoring of the sustainability trends, given that they were specifically developed or proposed for introduction in order to improve national policies for sustainable development by 2030. In addition 36 selected indicators of relevant international organizations have been also introduced to monitor the progress on NSSD implementation.The establishment of this complex system of monitoring and reporting requires a satisfactory level of development of human resources needed to strengthen the process of data collection and processing. In addition, adjustment of the current institutional organization and work programs of official and administrative statistics producers will be needed.
The establishment of functional information system and databases should enable not only simultaneous data collection by the entities responsible for the monitoring of individual sustainable development indicators, and/or Strategy’s measures, but also their archiving and further processing with the purpose of efficient national or international reporting.
Mr. President,
For Montenegro as a pioneer country that creates the national self-standing process which links national sustainable development policy implementation with implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the role of the UN system and relevant international stakeholders is indispensable in providing support to national endeavors towards sustainable development of Montenegro until 2030.
In the process of implementing the Strategy, main challenges that might threaten effective monitoring and reporting on progress of SDGs in Montenegro are as follows: reform of sustainable development governance system, introduction of successful programme budgeting which recognizes sustainable development programmes and projects, strengthening monitoring mechanisms , establishment of the information system, harmonization of sectoral strategies with the National Sustainable Strategy.
Mr. President,
Successful implementation of the National Strategy will depend on the efficiency of securing strong and integrated support of the UN system. Thus, the 2030 Agenda represents unprecedented opportunity for UN to show its ability to adequately support countries to successfully deliver on the Agenda 2030. This will confirm UN`s credibility and increase thrust in the UN system’s capability to support national authorities to rebuild and strengthen national approaches towards SDGs. Consistency and concerted efforts with the aim to speed up creation of meaningful partnerships among UN, national authorities and other relevant international organizations, especially financial institutions, as well as the availability of the sustainable financing must be ensured. Through integrated efforts we have to also unlock the potential of private sector, civil society, academia and all other stakeholders. By doing this, we can achieve defined goals by 2030, as well as the Agenda’s vision to leave no one behind.
Thank you.
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