National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS)
Description
The concept of National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) was proposed in 1992 in Agenda 21 (§ 8.7) where countries were called upon to integrate economic, social and environmental objectives into one strategically focused blueprint for action at the national level. The NSDS “should be developed through the widest possible participation”. And it “should be based on a thorough assessment of the current situation and initiatives”. In the Programme for the Future Implementation of Agenda 21 adopted at the 19th Special Session of the General Assembly (23-28 June 1997), member States reaffirmed the importance of NSDS and set a target of 2002 for the formulation and elaboration of NSDS that reflect the contributions and responsibilities of all interested parties.
However, by 2002, based on national reports received from governments, only about 85 countries had developed some form of national strategies and the nature and effectiveness of these strategies varied considerably from country to country. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) adopted at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), through paragraph 162 b, recommitted member States to “take immediate steps to make progress in the formulation and elaboration of national strategies for sustainable development and to begin their implementation by 2005.”
During the preparatory process for the 2002 WSSD, the International Forum on NSDS was held in Accra, Ghana in 2001, which led to the launch of the Guidance in Preparing a National Sustainable Development Strategy. It defined National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) as “a coordinated, participatory and iterative process of thoughts and actions to achieve economic, environmental and social objectives in a balanced and integrative manner”. Most importantly, NSDS is a call for an institutional change. It aims at a transition from the traditional static putting-a-plan-on-paper exercise towards the establishment of an adaptive system that can continuously improve. It should be a process which “encompasses situation analysis, formulation of policies and action plans, implementation, monitoring and regular review. It is a cyclical and interactive process of planning, participation and action in which the emphasis is on managing progress towards sustainability goals rather than producing a ‘plan’ as an end product.”
Every country needs to determine, for itself, how best to approach the preparation and implementation of its national sustainable development strategy depending upon the prevailing political, historical cultural, ecological circumstances. A "blueprint" approach for national sustainable development strategies is neither possible nor desirable. The particular label applied to a national sustainable development strategy is not important, as long as the underlying principles characterizing a national sustainable development strategy are adhered to and that economic, social and environmental objectives are balanced and integrated.
Today, when incorporating the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and its 17 SDGs into national context, although countries do not necessarily label them as “national sustainable development strategies”, all the underlying core principles are deeply embedded in the national implementation of SDGs worldwide. As seen at the Voluntary National Reviews at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, issues such as country ownership and strong political commitment, the integration of economic, social and environmental objectives across sectors, territories and generations; broad participation and effective partnerships, the development of capacity and enabling environment, as well as the mobilization of means of implementations remain at the center of policy debates at all levels.
Title | Category Sort descending | Date |
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Kyrgyzstan | Country Presentations | 9-Oct-2013 |
Ecuador | Country Presentations | 9-Oct-2013 |
Belize | Country Presentations | 9-Oct-2013 |
Zambia | Country Presentations | 9-Oct-2013 |
Senegal | Country Presentations | 9-Oct-2013 |
Zambia | Country Presentations | 9-Oct-2013 |
Rwanda | Country Presentations | 9-Oct-2013 |
Jamaica | Country Presentations | 9-Oct-2013 |
Liberia | Country Presentations | 9-Oct-2013 |
Capacity-Building for Public Official on Integrated Regional Development Planning (IDRP… | Implementing Sustainable Development Policies - Governance Mechanisms | 9-Oct-2013 |
Findings from the Rio Findings from the Rio + 20 National Preparations to support… | Implementing Sustainable Development Policies - Governance Mechanisms | 9-Oct-2013 |
Objectives and Agenda | Introduction | 9-Oct-2013 |
Engaging Stakeholders. The role of National Councils for Sustainable Development | Multistakeholder Engagement in National Sustainable Development Policy and Practice | 10-Oct-2013 |
Building accountability - CSOs, citizens and the post-2015 agenda | Multistakeholder Engagement in National Sustainable Development Policy and Practice | 10-Oct-2013 |
Matthias Bruckner | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
Morocco | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Remy Paris (OECD): Integration of National Sustainable Development Strategies and Poverty… | Presentations | 19-Aug-2006 |
Prof. Edgar Gutiérrez-Espeleta | Presentations | 18-Sep-2009 |
Papua New Guinea | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Mr. Charles Brown | Presentations | 17-Sep-2009 |
Alice Urusaro Karekezi | Presentations | 18-Nov-2009 |
Cook Islands | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
United Nations Division for Sustainable Development | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Austria | Presentations | 10-Oct-2005 |
Saudi Arabia | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Emil Salim (APFED): National Sustainable Development Strategies in Developing… | Presentations | 19-Aug-2006 |
Mr. Matthias Bruckner | Presentations | 18-Sep-2009 |
Solomon Islands | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Mr. Hopeton Peterson | Presentations | 17-Sep-2009 |
Asfaw Kumssa | Presentations | 18-Nov-2009 |
Fiji | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
United Nations Division for Sustainable Development | Presentations | 13-Dec-2004 |
Finland | Presentations | 10-Oct-2005 |
Candice Stevens (OECD): Overview of Guiding Principles, Reporting and Review Frameworks for… | Presentations | 19-Aug-2006 |
Mr. Hopeton Peterson | Presentations | 18-Sep-2009 |
Tonga | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Ms. Decima Corea | Presentations | 17-Sep-2009 |
Sandra Ruckstuhl | Presentations | 18-Nov-2009 |
The Federated States of Micronesia | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
Economic and Social Commission for West Africa (ESCWA) | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Hungary | Presentations | 10-Oct-2005 |
Mr. Mark Griffith | Presentations | 18-Sep-2009 |
Tuvalu | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
United Nations Environment Programme - Regional Office for Western Asia | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Irena Zubcevic | Presentations | 18-Nov-2009 |
Ms. Vidiah Ramkhelawan | Presentations | 17-Sep-2009 |
Nauru | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
Economic and Social Commission for West Africa (ESCWA) | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Mr. Matthias Bruckner | Presentations | 17-Sep-2009 |
Mr. Keneti Faulalo | Presentations | 18-Sep-2009 |
Vanuatu | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
United Nations Environment Programme - Regional Office for Western Asia | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Darren Swanson (IISD): Overview of Governance Structures for National Sustainable… | Presentations | 19-Aug-2006 |
Mr. Matthias Bruckner | Presentations | 17-Sep-2009 |
Niue | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
Economic and Social Commission for West Africa (ESCWA) | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Mr. Derrick Gibbs | Presentations | 17-Sep-2009 |
Mr. Sami Areikat | Presentations | 18-Nov-2009 |
Ms. Vidiah Ramkhelawan | Presentations | 18-Sep-2009 |
Ms. Mary Pat Silveira | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
Egypt | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Barry Dalal-Clayton (IIED): Overview of Monitoring and Reviewing Approaches for National… | Presentations | 19-Aug-2006 |
Ms. Amrikha D. Singh | Presentations | 18-Sep-2009 |
Palau | Presentations | 4-May-2006 |
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | Presentations | 12-Dec-2004 |
Mr. Sean Cenac | Presentations | 17-Sep-2009 |
B.C. Chikulo | Presentations | 18-Nov-2009 |
Mrs. Angela Hunte | Presentations | 18-Sep-2009 |
Overview of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts | Rio+20 Follow-up Process | 9-Oct-2013 |
Update on Open Working Group on SDGs | Rio+20 Follow-up Process | 9-Oct-2013 |
Ms. JoAnne DiSano | Statements | 4-May-2006 |
H.E. Mr. Aldo Mantovani | Statements | 4-May-2006 |
H.E. Mr. Robert G. Aisi | Statements | 4-May-2006 |
Ms. Padma Lal | Statements | 4-May-2006 |
Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform | Sustainable Development Learning and Knowledge Sharing | 10-Oct-2013 |
Mainstreaming Climate Change into National Development Strategies | Sustainable Development Policy and Practice | 10-Oct-2013 |
The National Voluntary Presentations of the Annual Ministerial Review ECOSOC | Sustainable Development Policy and Practice | 10-Oct-2013 |
National Monitoring and Reporting on the MDGs: Some Case Studies | Sustainable Development Policy and Practice | 10-Oct-2013 |
Water and Sanitation SDG process-CD implications | Sustainable Development Policy and Practice | 10-Oct-2013 |
Overview of Sustainable Development Policy and Practice | Sustainable Development Policy and Practice | 9-Oct-2013 |
Political Economy and Sustainable Development | Sustainable Development Policy and Practice | 9-Oct-2013 |
Milestones
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January 2015 2030 Agenda: NSDSIn multiple instances, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development expresses and reaffirms the commitment of Member States to achieve sustainable development for all, taking into account different levels of national development and capacities, different national realities and levels of development as well as respecting national policy space for sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, especially for developing states.
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January 2012 Future We Want (Chap. 2, 3, 4, 5)Through paragraph 43, the Future Want identifies, as a requirement for sustainable development, “the meaningful involvement and active participation of regional, national and subnational legislatures and judiciaries, and all major groups: women, children and youth, indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, local authorities, workers and trade unions, business and industry, the scientific and technological community, and farmers, as well as other stakeholders”. Member States agree to work more closely with the major groups and other stakeholders and encourage their active participation, as appropriate, in processes that contribute to decision-making, planning and implementation of policies and programmes for sustainable development at all levels. In paragraph 46. Member States express their support to national regulatory and policy frameworks that enable business and industry to advance sustainable development initiatives, taking into account the importance of corporate social responsibility.
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January 2007 Integrating Climate Change into NSDSThis Expert Group Meeting on Integrating Climate Change into National Sustainable Development Strategies was organized by the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The Group Meeting convened in order to examine effective ways of addressing climate change through national sustainable development strategies and strengthen the role of sustainable development as the most effective framework within which to tackle climate change.
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January 2002 JPOI (Para 162)With the adoption of the JPOI, Member States urged to take immediate steps towards making progress in formulating and elaborating national strategies for sustainable development and to begin their implementation by 2005.
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January 2000 Target 7 AThe integration of principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes corresponds to Millennium Development Goal Target 7 A of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.
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January 1997 GA 19th Special Session - NSDSThe 1997 Special Session of the General Assembly noted the importance of NSDS and set a target of 2002 for their formulation and elaboration.
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January 1992 Agenda 21 (Chap 8.7)Paragraph 7 of Chapter 8 of Agenda 21 calls on countries to adopt national strategies for sustainable development (NSDS) that should build upon and harmonize the various sectoral economic, social and environmental policies and plans that are operating in the country.