Major Group: Business and Industry
From inspiration to action – multi stakeholder engagement for implementation.
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased to be part of this important session and I am here to present the International Fertilizer Association (IFA).
IFA is the only global association representing all actors along the fertilizer supply chain, as well as NGOs and research organizations. Over 50 % of our members are based in developing countries.
IFA promotes the efficient and responsible production, distribution and use of plant nutrients, which play a vital role in achieving global food security and sustainable agricultural development.
Multi-stakeholder engagement is a fundamental part of how we work as an industry.
As an industry association we have an important role in helping our members to forge partnerships with other stakeholders. Successful business depends on partnerships and partnerships are the key to implementing the SDGs.
In the fertilizer industry, we have already good examples of successful multi-stakeholder partnerships, with a particular focus on generating soil and plant health and on promoting and implementing best fertilizer management practices worldwide based on the 4Rs (using the right nutrient source, at the right rate, at the right time, in the right place), and the integrated use of organic and mineral fertilizers.
As part of this engagement, we have enjoyed a strong relationship with the FAO, including a longstanding cooperation on fertilizer statistics. IFA also sat on the FAO Steering Committee for the International Year of Soils last year, and IFA is an active member of the Global Soils Partnership.
The Global Soils Partnership brings together international agencies such as FAO, governments, business, academia and civil society to address deficiencies in education, investment and policies.
IFA is part of the Steering Committee of the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management, hosted by UNDEP and which gathers 34 partners from the public and private sector.
And we have a strong cooperation with World Farm Organization.
Many of our business members have projects for sustainable agriculture that feed directly into Goal 2:
o A large Norwegian company is involved in the Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania
o A German member has partnered with IRRAD ( Institute of Rural Research & Development) to spread knowledge on fertilizer use to Indian Villages.
o We have members involved in the “Growth for Uganda“ - just to name a few examples.
However,
But while businesses – and not only ours - are central to building transformative multi-stakeholder partnerships given their expertise and significant resources, business have also been keen to be involved in the indicator process at the global level.
Business has worked with UN and other agencies to ensure the business perspective is taken into account in formulating the indicators;
Indicators, to be successful, have to take into account economic, trade and business realities.
With a few exceptions, business is reasonably happy with the global indicators that have emerged from the process.
The focus is now moving to the development of national indicators. For the private sector, these will be even more important as they could directly impact on their businesses.
There is no one model for business involvement in developing national indicators as this depends on how governments interact with business in general.
It would appear that in most European countries governments are establishing multi-stakeholder groups to involve business, civil society and local government in developing national indicators. For example, the UK Stakeholders for Sustainable Development (UKSSD) is an open platform that supports public, private and voluntary organisations working towards the SDGs. Other countries, such as Finland and Germany, have a similar commitment for stakeholder engagement.
In other countries, however, the process is not all transparent and business does not know with whom to engage.
It is also most likely to be a more difficult process in many developing countries, were a lack of capacity in government and business will make the development of national indicators in this process more problematic. There will be a need for assistance, both from other governments and from international business and civil society organisations.
It would be useful if an international forum could be established to share best practice.
And on this suggestion, I thank you for your attention.
Yvonne
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased to be part of this important session and I am here to present the International Fertilizer Association (IFA).
IFA is the only global association representing all actors along the fertilizer supply chain, as well as NGOs and research organizations. Over 50 % of our members are based in developing countries.
IFA promotes the efficient and responsible production, distribution and use of plant nutrients, which play a vital role in achieving global food security and sustainable agricultural development.
Multi-stakeholder engagement is a fundamental part of how we work as an industry.
As an industry association we have an important role in helping our members to forge partnerships with other stakeholders. Successful business depends on partnerships and partnerships are the key to implementing the SDGs.
In the fertilizer industry, we have already good examples of successful multi-stakeholder partnerships, with a particular focus on generating soil and plant health and on promoting and implementing best fertilizer management practices worldwide based on the 4Rs (using the right nutrient source, at the right rate, at the right time, in the right place), and the integrated use of organic and mineral fertilizers.
As part of this engagement, we have enjoyed a strong relationship with the FAO, including a longstanding cooperation on fertilizer statistics. IFA also sat on the FAO Steering Committee for the International Year of Soils last year, and IFA is an active member of the Global Soils Partnership.
The Global Soils Partnership brings together international agencies such as FAO, governments, business, academia and civil society to address deficiencies in education, investment and policies.
IFA is part of the Steering Committee of the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management, hosted by UNDEP and which gathers 34 partners from the public and private sector.
And we have a strong cooperation with World Farm Organization.
Many of our business members have projects for sustainable agriculture that feed directly into Goal 2:
o A large Norwegian company is involved in the Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania
o A German member has partnered with IRRAD ( Institute of Rural Research & Development) to spread knowledge on fertilizer use to Indian Villages.
o We have members involved in the “Growth for Uganda“ - just to name a few examples.
However,
But while businesses – and not only ours - are central to building transformative multi-stakeholder partnerships given their expertise and significant resources, business have also been keen to be involved in the indicator process at the global level.
Business has worked with UN and other agencies to ensure the business perspective is taken into account in formulating the indicators;
Indicators, to be successful, have to take into account economic, trade and business realities.
With a few exceptions, business is reasonably happy with the global indicators that have emerged from the process.
The focus is now moving to the development of national indicators. For the private sector, these will be even more important as they could directly impact on their businesses.
There is no one model for business involvement in developing national indicators as this depends on how governments interact with business in general.
It would appear that in most European countries governments are establishing multi-stakeholder groups to involve business, civil society and local government in developing national indicators. For example, the UK Stakeholders for Sustainable Development (UKSSD) is an open platform that supports public, private and voluntary organisations working towards the SDGs. Other countries, such as Finland and Germany, have a similar commitment for stakeholder engagement.
In other countries, however, the process is not all transparent and business does not know with whom to engage.
It is also most likely to be a more difficult process in many developing countries, were a lack of capacity in government and business will make the development of national indicators in this process more problematic. There will be a need for assistance, both from other governments and from international business and civil society organisations.
It would be useful if an international forum could be established to share best practice.
And on this suggestion, I thank you for your attention.
Yvonne