International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

1. Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, has the governing body of your organization taken (or will it take) any decisions or new strategies to guide the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? If any, please provide a brief summary below, including the overarching vision of your organization.

 

ICAO is a specialized UN agency with a unique mandate to support the sustainable growth of international civil aviation transport. In close collaboration with its Member States and stakeholders at large ICAO develops policies and international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector. In assisting States to become and remain SARPs compliant and develop a sustainable civil aviation sector ICAO undertakes audits, performs studies and analyses, provides assistance and builds civil aviation capacity through a vast array of activities that are underpinned by partnerships.

Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will rely on advances and innovations in sustainable transport, including aviation. Although sustainable transport and aviation are not represented by a standalone SDG, they are both mainstreamed across the SDGs.

In 2016, ICAO's 39th General Assembly unanimously adopted Resolution A39-25 on "Aviation's Contribution towards the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". In doing so, all 192 Member States recognized the essential role of aviation in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the fundamental interlinkages between the SDGs, ICAO's Business Plan and its 5 Strategic Objectives and the No Country Left Behind (NCLB) initiative. As a result, the SDGs are now guiding the implementation of ICAO's 2017-2019 Business Plan. A reporting tool is being rolled out to capture progress on the implementation of ICAO's Business Plan as it contributes to the achievement of the SDGs by 2030.

In 2017, ICAO established the Strategic Planning, Coordination and Partnerships (SPCP) Office with the aim to better coordinate and support strategic planning, the management of efficient partnerships and facilitate fundraising for aviation across the Organization in support of the SDGs. Located within the Office of the Secretary-General, SPCP is responsible for sensitizing and promoting the interlinkages between aviation and the SDGs.

 

2.1 SDG-specific strategies, plans or work programmes

In 2016 ICAO adopted a Resource Mobilization Strategy with the purpose of consolidating and streamlining the Organization's resource mobilization efforts, to make funding more predictable, effective and efficient for States as they pursue the achievement of the SDGs and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. In doing so ICAO is committed to provide States the required technical assistance and cooperation that will enhance their civil aviation sectors to ultimately better serve the achievement of UN SDGs. In 2018 ICAO will develop an advocacy strategy to raise awareness about the central role and cross-sectoral nature of international civil aviation in the drive towards the realization of the SDGs.

 

2.2 Aligning the structure of the organization with the transformative features of the 2030 Agenda, including any challenges and lessons learned in doing so

 

In 2017, ICAO established the Strategic Planning, Coordination and Partnerships (SPCP) Office with the aim to better coordinate and support strategic planning, the management of efficient partnerships and facilitate fundraising for aviation across the Organization in support of the SDGs. Located within the Office of the Secretary-General, SPCP is responsible for sensitizing and promoting the interlinkages between aviation and the SDGs.

More specifically, SPCP - in close coordination with Bureaus/Sections - is spearheading the development and maintenance of the ICAO Business Plan, its Operating Plan, the Corporate Performance Management Framework, the Corporate Key Performance Indicators and the Risk Registry, which form the basis for resource allocation and assist the Secretary-General to monitor its accountability and performance with respect to the implementation of initiatives. The SPCP Office has also the responsibility to facilitate the development of partnerships as well as to leverage such strategic partnerships in air transport systems' enhancements for Member States and the mobilization of resources needed to implement necessary improvements.

 

2.3 Readjusting or updating results-based budgeting and management, including performance indicators:

ICAO has carefully mapped the linkages between the SDGs and the 2017-2019 Business Plan Strategic Objectives – of which there are five, namely: Safety, Air Navigation Capacity and Efficiency, Security and Facilitation, Economic Development of Air Transport and Environmental Protection. The mapping revealed that ICAO's Strategic Objectives are interwoven with 15 of the 17 SDGs and the organization is fully committed to work in close cooperation with States, the UN and stakeholders to support the achievement of the SDGs. For three of the five Strategic Objectives (Safety, Air navigation Capacity and Efficiency, Security and Facilitation) ICAO adopted Global Plans to address its leading role in implementing activities on a result-based basis, with indicators linking to specific SDGs. The Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP), Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP) include detailed guidance for States on how to comply with ICAO's SARPs. This in turn supports a sustainable aviation sector at both regional and national levels.

 

2.4 Action to enhance support to the principle of "leaving no one behind" and to integrated policy approaches:

 

By committing to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN Member States recognized that the dignity of the individual is fundamental and that the 2030 Agenda's Goals and targets should be met for all nations and people and for all segments of society. Furthermore, they endeavored to reach first those who are furthest behind. ICAO's No Country Left Behind (NCLB) Initiative has the objective to assist all States in complying with the ICAO SARPs, and the implementation of its 2017-2019 Business Plan and Strategic Objectives - which are closely intertwined with 15 of the 17 SDGs.

More specifically through the NCLB Initiative ICAO aims at:

- Advocating the benefits of aviation for States at high levels of government. One of the priorities of the NCLB is to garner the political will necessary to support aviation improvements. The ICAO World Aviation Forum (IWAF) which has been successfully convened three times, is an example of ICAO's efforts to bring together high-level participants from States, the aviation community and financial institutions, and to demonstrate how the implementation of aviation global standards and policies will enhance a safe, secure, efficient, economically viable and environmentally sound air transport system thereby contributing to achieving the UN SDGs.

- Developing tools and services that assist States in their implementation efforts. ICAO has been developing tools and services (for example, ICAO eTools1, ICAO Data+2, iSTARS3, iMPLEMENT4, Carbon Calculator, EBT5, and IFSET6 and CERT) to assist States in identifying their particular needs and deficiencies, implementing aviation-related projects and programmes, mapping solutions, developing business cases, showcasing the socio-economic benefits of aviation and the opportunities to reduce its impact on the environment, etc.

- Monitoring the global compliance of SARPs. ICAO has instituted a mandatory audit/continuous monitoring programme to monitor States' level of meeting its oversight obligations. These audit activities in both aviation safety and security area lead to not only identify significant safety/security concerns at State level but also recognize States that make significant progress in resolving their safety oversight deficiencies and improving the effective implementation (EI) of SARPs.

- Facilitating and implementing capacity-building initiatives. The NCLB initiative signals ICAO's renewed emphasis on support to States for implementation and development. ICAO is working to provide more direct assistance and capacity-building activities in order to improve effective implementation of SARPs by States. In the area of environmental protection, ICAO has produced a series of guidance documents aimed at facilitating the identification and implementation of low emissions aviation measures, in synergy with existing States' policy priorities.

- Prioritizing assistance needs and assessing risks. State oversight capabilities are always linked with the demands placed upon it by the unique characteristics of its aviation sector activity. Therefore, while prioritization is made according to the global targets established by the Global Aviation Plans, the targets and goals should be customized for each State, taking into account each State's aviation profile. ICAO then is able to co-ordinate with States through the provision of technical assistance, which is funded by the Regular Budget or voluntary contributions.

 

2.5 Others:

N/A

 

3.1 Mainstreaming the SDGs in development plans and policies or through national sustainable development plans/strategies:

N/A

 

3.2 Mainstreaming the SDGs in sectoral strategies, including specific SDG/target strategies:

- ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP): The ICAO's Aviation Safety Strategic Objective - which links to 11 out of 17 SDGs, the 2017-2019 ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) outlines the key activities and global targets driving collaborative international air safety improvements worldwide. To guide the harmonized development of regional and State safety planning, the GASP sets out a strategy to support the prioritization and continuous improvement of civil aviation safety, provides a framework for the development and implementation of regional, sub-regional and national plans, and promotes the uniform and consistent implementation of ICAO safety related ICAO SARPs contained in 16 out of the 19 Annexes to the Chicago Convention. - ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP): Air Navigation capacity and efficiency is closely linked to 11 out of 17 SDGs. The GANP is the strategy to achieve a global interoperable air navigation system, for all users during all phases of flight that meets agreed levels of safety, provides for optimum economic operations, is environmentally sustainable and meets national security requirements. The GANP is being evolved to serve as a worldwide reference to transform the air navigation system in an evolutionary manner so that no State or Stakeholder is left behind. More specifically, the GANP intends to present all States with a comprehensive planning tool supporting a harmonized global Air Navigation system; identify all potential performance improvements available today, detail the next generation of ground and avionics technologies that will be deployed worldwide; and provide the investment range needed for States and Industry to make strategic decisions for their individual planning purposes. - ICAO States' Action Plans on CO2 emissions reductions from international aviation: ICAO's work on the Environmental Strategic Objective contributes to 14 out of the 17 SDGs, including SDG7 on renewable energy, SDG9 on resilience and SDG13 on climate change. The ICAO States' Action Plans on CO2 emissions reductions from international aviation is a strategic document developed by States, in cooperation with their national aviation stakeholders, in order to identify international aviation CO2 emissions mitigation measures and quantify their expected impact. Given its strategic and comprehensive nature, this initiative enables States to streamline their policies in the area of climate change (SDG 13), renewable energy (SDG 7) and it is expected that in the future, climate change adaptation (SDG 9) activities could be reflected. Ultimately, the States' Action Plan initiative has triggered a number of partnerships within States, thus contributing to SDG 17. - ICAO Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Programme (NGAP) was launched to ensure that enough qualified and competent aviation professionals will be available to operate, manage and maintain the future international air transport system. This is critical as a large contingent of the current generation of aviation professionals will retire, access to affordable training and education is increasingly problematic, and aviation competes with other industry sectors for highly skilled professionals. The objective of NGAP Programme is to develop tools and provisions for States and the international civil aviation community to assist them in implementing effective strategies to attract, educate, and retain the next generation of civil aviation professionals. The NGAP Programme is supported by a consortium of partner organizations that have identified specific NGAP issues and are committed to bring forward solutions to address these. - ICAO Gender Equality Programme: aims to facilitate and coordinate targeted programmes and projects to enable and make regular reports on progress towards the SDG 5 of gender equality by 2030, especially in professional and higher levels of employment, within ICAO, and within States and the global aviation sector. The Secretary General is committed to report annually to the Council on the measures implemented and the progress being made in promoting gender equality within all levels of staff categories in the ICAO Secretariat, and on aviation gender equality statistics, to the extent that they are provided on a voluntary basis, in States and the international aviation industry. ICAO is working with Member States, aviation industry partners and professional associations, academia, and the UN to facilitate equal STEM education access to girls and boys as well as career development opportunities for women working in aviation through professional assignments at ICAO. These principles are also embedded in the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Programme. ICAO also hosts networking and advocacy events aimed at raising awareness for gender in aviation and the advancement of women within the global aviation community. - ICAO Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP) In line with ICAO's Aviation Security and Facilitation Strategic Objective - the GASeP presents an ambitious goal-based plan that commits ICAO, States and industry collectively to significantly improve aviation security by 2030, consistent with the direction provided by ICAO's Assembly and in support of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The GASeP was approved for immediate implementation and adopted as a "living document". It will remain so as ICAO continues to welcome State feedback to enable ICAO to assess any further improvements that can be made to the Plan. Moreover, to ensure the GASeP incorporates lessons learned from recent regional conferences, a global High-level Conference on Aviation Security will take place in 2018.

 

3.3 Data and statistical capacity building:

ICAO conducts workshops and seminars to facilitate States to develop robust statistical systems and data for monitoring progress towards the UN SDG Goal 9.1.2 of which ICAO is the custodial agency.

 

3.4 Science, technology and innovation for the SDGs:

The enterprise wide data management system has been developed by ICAO along with advanced analytical applications. This is available to States and it helps them to benchmark and compare progress towards the UN SDG's Goal 9.

 

3.5 Multi-stakeholder partnerships:

 

Aviation Partnerships for Sustainable Development (APSD):

- One of the crucial component of ICAO's advocacy activities is to sensitize government decision makers beyond the air transport sector to promote the benefits of mobilizing resources for and investing in sustainable aviation. - In 2016 ICAO launched the Aviation Partnerships for Sustainable Development (APSD). That same year ICAO invited UNDESA, UN-OHRLLS, the WBG, and ATAG to join the APSD Initiative. As such this partnership now includes representation from the UN system, international and regional organizations, financial institutions and the private sector. It advocates the aviation benefits for sustainable development and sensitizes high level government decision makers beyond the air transport sector to promote the benefits of mobilizing resources for and investing in sustainable aviation.

- To advocate action towards achieving the 2030 Agenda with civil aviation as its enabler, the APSD partners have been actively engaging in an array of events in 2017 which target the achievement of the UN SDGs. In 2018, SDGs 6, 7, 11, 12 and 15 featuring, among others "city", "energy" and "ecosystems", will be the topics of the thematic review at the July UN High-Level Political Forum. In addition, Member States will be presenting voluntary national reviews, which might touch upon above-mentioned SDGs and also cover transport and aviation related issues.

- Throughout 2018, the APSD will showcase contributions of sustainable civil aviation towards these SDGs. Its members will jointly illustrate from their distinct perspectives how civil aviation is shaping the sustainable mobility agenda, impacting urban development, supporting regional socio-economic prosperity and contributing towards an environmentally responsible transportation. This will happen through a series of events that are planned to be embedded in selected 2018 high-level conferences. A kick-off APSD event took place in January during the "2018 Transforming Transportation Conference" which was organized by the World Bank and EMBARQ, the sustainable mobility initiative of the World Resources Institute (WRI) Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.

Sustainable Mobility for All (SuM4All) in support of the SDGs:

- At the 2016 Climate Action Summit - the World Bank Group president called for action to bring greater coherence and accelerate efforts to unify and transform the transport sector. He proposed to develop, with interested transport stakeholders, a new and strategic global initiative that will support the implementation of the SDGs and transform the sector. This announcement was greeted by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ba Ki-moon. This Call for Action led to the creation of the Sustainable Mobility for All (SuM4All) Initiative that aimed to create a neutral platform where transport stakeholders could discuss cross-cutting issues, across all modes of transportation.

- Pursuing its efforts to advocate sustainable aviation in support of the SDGs, ICAO joined forces in 2017 with other transport stakeholders, active in the SuM4All Initiative to assess the state of global transport across all modes, the result of which was published in the first ever Global Mobility Report (GMR). The GMR is built around three components: (i) four global objectives that define "sustainable mobility "; (ii) quantitative and qualitative targets for those objectives, drawn from international agreements; and (iii) indicators to track country-level progress towards those objectives. It covers all modes of transport, including road, air, waterborne and rail. The GMR will inform a global roadmap of actions towards sustainable mobility to be developed in 2018.

- In January 2018, the initiative was formally established during the 4th Transport Consortium Meeting in Washington DC, with a charter, a workplan and an interim governance arrangement. ICAO is member of both the consortium and interim steering committee. The SuM4All includes over 50 leading organizations and agencies, representing UN agencies (including ICAO), private sector, development banks, foundations, donors, inter-governmental organizations, and international associations agreed to work together under one umbrella, with a commitment to support an equitable, efficient, safe and green mobility.

- The SuM4All is a stellar platform to advocate the benefits of aviation as an enabler of socio-economic advances allowing cross-fertilization between economies and strengthening connectivity among people.

 

3.6 Sub-national plans/strategies and implementation for the SDGs:

N/A

 

3.7 Leveraging interlinkages across SDG goals and targets:

Although transport and aviation don't have a stand-alone SDG, they are mainstreamed throughout the SDGs and facilitate the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda in a substantial way. ICAO is a UN specialized agency with an unique mission. Within the UN system ICAO is the sole agency with a mandate to achieve international civil aviation that is safe, secure, sustainable and environment-friendly. ICAO has identified the linkages between its 5 Strategic Objectives and 15 out of 17 UN SDGs. For examples on how aviation interlinks with the SDGs please click below link: https://www.icao.int/about-icao/aviation-development/Pages/SDG.aspx

 

4.1 Supporting the intergovernmental body of your organization in contributing to the thematic review of the HLPF:

In 2017, ICAO participated in the HLPF General Debate and made a statement on how ICAO is assisting its Member States to enhance air transport systems in support of the SDGs. A call for action was also made to States to prioritize aviation in their national development plans and include the sector when presenting national reviews in this forum. During the 2017 Partnership Exchange Special Session ICAO advocated air transport as the cornerstone and catalyst for global connectivity, economic growth and social development. ICAO raised awareness among development actors about the fact that this mode of transportation is vital to bring humanitarian aid and respond to crises and public health emergencies, especially in Countries in Special Situations. ICAO also provided a status report of the APSD (Aviation Partnerships for Sustainable Development), which it launched in partnership with UNDESA, UN-OHRLLS, WBG, and ATAG.

 

4.2 Contributing to policy/background briefs for the HLPF:

N/A

 

4.3 Helping organize SDG-specific events in the preparatory process:

N/A

 

4.4 Organizing side evens or speaking at the HLPF:

ICAO hosted an Aviation Partnerships for Sustainable Development (APSD) side event during the 2017 HLPF. The APSD is an ICAO-spearheaded partnership together with UNDESA, UN-OHRLLS, the WBG, and ATAG. During the side event, ICAO and partners jointly presented a high-level briefing on aviation contributions to sustainable development in countries in special situations and promoted the benefits of mobilizing resources for and investing in sustainable aviation. The side event gathered almost 40 participants representing States, including Mali, New Zealand, Niger, Palau, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Sudan and Zambia, the UN system, international organizations, and the private sector.

 

4.5 Supporting VNR process:

In close collaboration with UNDESA, ICAO aims to support the VNR preparatory phase in 2018. ICAO prepared a SDGs-oriented national planning guidebook for its 7 regional offices to assist regional officers in sensitizing the Member States that will participate in the 2018 VNR to reflect aviation in their national review statements on progress towards the SDGs. The guidebook will be disseminated to regional offices and webinars will be organized to illustrate the strategic approach.

 

5. How has your organization cooperated with other UN system organizations to achieve coherence and synergies in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? In this regard, has your organization launched or intend to launch any joint programmes or projects in collaboration with other UN entities? Are there any results or lessons you would like to highlight that might help improve the design and impact of such efforts? Has your organization participated in any of the following coordination systemwide mechanisms or any other relevant platform - CEB, UNDG, EC-ESA Plus, RCMs, UN-Energy, UN-Water, UN-Ocean, IAEG, IATT?  Please specify which and indicate any suggestions you may have about improving collaborations within and across these mechanisms/platforms:

 

- Aviation Partnerships for Sustainable Development (APSD): In line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and ICAO's "No Country Left Behind" Initiative, ICAO spearheaded the APSD in 2016 to raise awareness about aviation's contribution to sustainable development. In 2017 UNDESA, UN-OHRLLS, WBG and ATAG joined the initiative and jointly with ICAO sensitized high level government officials about the importance to include aviation into national development plans, advocated its enabling role in support of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and promoted the benefits of mobilizing resources for and investing in sustainable aviation. Specific APSD events were organized during the:

- 2017 Spring Meeting of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Transport (GPST): An APSD side event was organized and proved to be effective to raise awareness about aviation benefits and to prioritize the sector in global development frameworks that in turn allocate resources.

- 2017 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF): The APSD organized a High-Level Briefing on Aviation Contributions to Sustainable Development in Countries in Special Situations (see para 4 above).

- ATAG Summit during which the APSD Workshop provided participants with a clear understanding of the inter- linkages between the different UN frameworks (e.g. the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Vienna Programme of Action and the Samoa Pathway) and how these benefit sustainable aviation in SIDS and LLDCs. In addition, State representatives had the opportunity to talk with industries and donors about the status of air transport in their respective countries.

- Sustainable Mobility for All (Sum4All) Initiative was established in January 2017 with the aim to create a neutral platform where transport stakeholders could discuss cross-cutting issues, across all modes of transportation. The SuM4All partners are committed to speak with one global voice and act collectively to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) and transform the transport sector. To date, the Sum4All Initiative includes 48 transport agencies and organizations representing a range of stakeholders that includes UN agencies, private sector, development banks, foundations, donors, inter-governmental organizations, and international associations. ICAO has a seat on the SuM4All Steering Committee which as the governance body sets out the vision and direction of Initiative. On 19 October 2017, the Sustainable Mobility for All (SuM4All) Initiative launched its Global Mobility Report (GMR) which shapes a commonly agreed vision for sustainable mobility, supported by a global tracking framework and a global program of actions. ICAO has been successful in having all its inputs incorporated into the 4 SuM4All Streams of work and indicators (Safety, Universal Access Efficiency and Green Mobility). The GMR was featured in more than 40 prime outlets and reached more than 3 million people.

- ICAO Cooperation with the United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): On SDG 13 (Climate Change), in accordance with ICAO Assembly Resolution A39-2 on climate change, ICAO "exercises continuous leadership on environmental issues relating to international aviation, including greenhouse gas emissions". The Resolution also requests ICAO to "continue to cooperate with organizations involved in policy-making in this field, notably with the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC". ICAO maintains a close relationship with the UNFCCC, by regularly providing information and perspectives on issues related to international aviation and on those matters considered by the various UNFCCC deliberative bodies that may have an impact on the aviation sector. This is particularly relevant following the Paris Agreement reached during the UNFCCC 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21), held in Paris in December 2015, and ICAO is now driving the actions needed from international aviation to help complement the ambitious objectives set out in the Paris Agreement.

- ICAO Environmental Partnerships on Capacity Building and Assistance to States: The ICAO partnership with the European Union launched in 2013 enabled all 14 selected States in Africa and the Caribbean to develop and submit to ICAO their action plans to reduce aviation CO2 emissions, and install a tailor-made Aviation Environmental System (AES) that supports robust monitoring, verification and reporting of environmental data. The ICAO-EU project is also facilitating the implementation of CO2 mitigation measures, such as operational improvements, use of renewable energy for aircraft at airport gates, and feasibility studies on the use of sustainable aviation fuels. Under the project, and in cooperation with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), dedicated training material, consisting of an e-learning course and e-books on State Action Plans and mitigation measures, has been developed. The ICAO partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environmental Facility (GEF) also allowed for the installation of solar panels at the airport gate at an international airport in Jamaica, creating the opportunity for other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to replicate this project and multiply the associated environmental benefits. Moreover, as part of this project, guidance materials on financing, renewable energy, sustainable aviation fuels and regulatory and organizational measures have been developed, and made available on the project website. Pursuant to ICAO Assembly Resolution A39-3 on the historic agreement of Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), a series of preparatory activities for the implementation of CORSIA were undertaken, including a partnership between ICAO and the Government of Germany to undertake a pilot project for the small-scale implementation of the CORSIA Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) System, to ensure its feasibility and practicality, in cooperation with seven selected ICAO Member States and their airlines.

 

6. How has your organization engaged with stakeholder groups, both in supporting implementation at the country, regional and global levels, and within your own organization? If yes, please provide main highlights, including any lessons learned:

 

- Safety: ICAO leads and participates in numerous partnerships to assist States in addressing safety challenges, with priority given to sharing information on assistance activities, expertise, technology and resources and coordinating targeted capacity building projects that facilitate the implementation of the SDGs. Through these partnerships, the aviation community ultimately achieves its intended objectives of enhancing aviation safety at both regional and global level. Major ICAO assistance activities with partners are the regional aviation safety groups (RASGs), cooperative development of operational safety and continuing airworthiness programmes (COSCAPs) and reginal safety oversight organizations (RSOOs), the Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa (AFI Plan), and the ICAO Aviation Safety Implementation Assistance Partnership (ASIAP). The international coordination provided by ICAO through multi-stakeholder partnerships ensures policy coherence for sustainable development.

- Economic Development of Air Transport: ICAO as a custodial agency for Goal 9 target 9.1.2 works closely with the UN and agencies (UNCTAD, UPU, UNEP) as well as OECD and others in generating and disseminating data and analysis to support Member States to monitor progress towards the UN SDGs.

- Environmental Protection: As part of the broader United Nations family, ICAO maintains a close relationship with other UN bodies and international organizations dealing with international aviation and environment, such as the UNFCCC, IPCC, WHO, WMO, IMO, UNDP, GEF, IRENA, SE4All, UN Environment, and UNWTO. ICAO works with industry groups to help guide policymaking, provide support to its Member States, and coordinate actions across the environment agenda. These groups include ATAG, ACI, CANSO, IATA, ICCAIA, TIACA, IBAC and IFALPA. ICSA provides technical expertise and brings an NGO perspective to developing policies and strategies to reduce emissions and noise from the aviation sector.

- Security and Facilitation: ICAO implements a Universal Security Audit Programme using a continuous monitoring approach that includes all 192 Member States. Under this Programme, ICAO monitors various indicators and conducts appropriate audit activities in order to promote global aviation security worldwide. Participation in two Counter-Terrorism Implementation and Capacity Building (CTITF) Working Groups: Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and Border Management and Law Enforcement (BMLE). Cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) for implementing technical assistance projects nationally and regionally. Memorandum of understanding including action plans is the best way to engage with stakeholder groups (IOM, INTERPOL, UNODC, etc.).

 

7. Has your organization organized any conferences, forums or events designed to facilitate exchange of experience, peer and mutual learning? If yes, please provide a brief summary below and include lessons learned and gaps identified based on the outcomes of these events. Please also include any events you plan to organize in the coming years.

 

- The ICAO World Aviation Forum (IWAF) is organized yearly to explore the benefits of the aviation sector to the social, economic development and prosperity of Member States and to discuss, identify needs, and facilitate the funding and financing required to accelerate the implementation of international civil aviation global standards and policies, as well as global plans for aviation, in support of the ICAO No Country Left Behind (NCLB) initiative and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its participants include high-level government officials responsible for aviation, transport and infrastructure, finance, economy, and tourism; and key industry and financial partners.

The participants of each IWAF agreed on the need to establish strong, long-term partnerships with the industry and financial institutions and on the importance of incorporating the aviation sector into the integrated transport system and of prioritizing aviation in development plans; actions that are supported by the ICAO's No Country Left Behind initiative which ultimately contribute to achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

- The 2016 IWAF focused on the special needs and structural characteristics of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as well as Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). These States were recognized in the coordination, prioritization, facilitation and implementation of assistance programmes through the ICAO Aviation Partnerships for Sustainable Development. During the IWAF particular attention was placed on the work of the United Nations Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport, highlighting the need, inter alia, to: a) integrate all sustainable transport planning efforts with a balanced development of transport modes; b) create supportive institutional, legal and regulatory frameworks at the national level; and c) foster an informed, engaged public as a crucial partner in advancing a sustainable transport solution.

- The 2017 IWAF in 2017 adopted the new Declaration and Framework for a Plan of Action for Development of Aviation Infrastructure in Africa within the framework of the Lomé Plan of Action on Tourism (2017 - 2019) of the African Union. It called on the actions by African States, African Regional Economic Communities as well as international assistance partners etc. in support of the development of quality aviation infrastructure in Africa in line with the African Union's Agenda 2063. The commitment herewith made by African States and Regional Economic Communities was, inter alia, to ensure the inclusion of better-defined aviation projects in the Program for Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA). The participants also agreed to continue to work together to showcase the benefits of aviation and obtain related buy-ins from relevant stakeholders in achieving the objective of expanding and modernizing aviation infrastructure. The participants remained concerned on the limited volume of international public finance and assistance for development (for example, official development assistance and South-South cooperation), which is currently available for aviation infrastructure projects despite aviation's cross-cutting nature and multiple links to other economic sectors. International public finance and assistance can be used to unlock additional finance through blended or pooled financing and risk mitigation for infrastructure. In addition, it can catalyse additional resource mobilization from other sources, public and private.

- The 2018 IWAF will take place in September in Brazil.

ICAO also organized other seminars and events in the area of :

- Environmental Protection: In the spring and summer of 2017, ICAO organized a series of regional seminars to support its Member States with the development of their Action Plans on CO2 emissions reduction activities from international aviation and to increase States' awareness on the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. Dissemination workshops are planned in 2018, as part of the ICAO-UNDP-GEF assistance project to support SIDS and developing States implement low emissions aviation measures.

- Security and Facilitation: ICAO held its first annual Global Aviation Security Symposium (AVSEC2017) in September 2017 at the ICAO Headquarters in Montréal, Canada, which was attended by 497 participants from 87 Members States and 42 International organizations and industry associations. The three-day Symposium served as a platform to promote the work of ICAO, its Member States and stakeholders in the area of aviation security. This Symposium strategically enhanced international cooperation and collaboration to address the threat posed by terrorists targeting civil aviation by reinforcing, strengthening and promoting the international framework of aviation security. The Second annual Global Aviation Security Symposium (AVSEC2018) will be held in November 2018.

Two ICAO TRIP Workshops on Border Control Management (BCM) in the Caribbean Regions were organized as well. This created a working environment for States representative to directly engage with international experts on issues and best practices related to BCM. The main gap identified relates to the need for further information on the national public key infrastructure (PKI). In terms of lessons learned, having all the participants and experts at one venue enables strengthening the dialogue and working relationships.

In order to continue to raise awareness of stakeholders on the holistic traveller identification management concept, four ICAO Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP) events have been organized in 2017, namely three regional seminars and the Thirteenth TRIP Symposium and Exhibition which was held at ICAO Headquarters. These events are conducted with the active participation of other international organizations involved in the TRIP implementation, experts from the ICAO Working Groups and from the industry. These events are arranged to coincide back-to-back with workshops. They offer the opportunity to promote best practices for managing secure passport issuance and border control systems. The regional seminars also served to highlight the relevance of the ICAO TRIP Strategy in the context of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the shared efforts to confront international movements of terrorists, cross border crime and other threats to civil society and international aviation.

Both seminars aimed to disseminate information to States on the ICAO TRIP Strategy, identifying the current challenges and assisting them to implement the related-provisions. As was done in previous years, the plan for the coming years is to organize one symposium and two regional seminars per year. The role of the ICAO TRIP Symposium and Seminars in providing a global/regional forum for the exchange of information on all aspects of the ICAO TRIP Strategy is recognized as the best way to raise awareness on the holistic traveller identification management concept.

- Safety: ICAO hosted a global air navigation industry symposium and a safety and air navigation implementation symposium aiming to bring experts form States and industry to align projects and views regarding current and future technologies and how they can help to improve the aviation system and improve national economies. The exposure of experts from States to new concepts and emerging technologies helps the definition of national priorities and the effective use of restricted budgets. During the event, more than 600 participants had the opportunity to see and debate on the current and future aviation activities that will shape the future of aviation to better support the development of economies and increase safety, efficiency and resilience of air transportation. The implementation of the mentioned technologies and concepts were addressed and guidance was provided to support cost effective implementation of operational improvements.

- Gender: ICAO will host the first ever Gender and aviation global summit in South Africa in August 2018. This will be an opportunity to take stock, share experiences, distil lessons learned and have States and stakeholders agree on a call to action to narrow the gender divide in the aviation sector. The outcomes of the Summit will directly support SDG5 as well as efforts to achieve of the Sustainable Development Agenda.

 

8. Is there any other information you would like to share, including annual reports of your organization and any impact assessment or evaluation reports? If yes, please use the space below and attach the document(s). Please also use this space to provide any other information, comments or remarks you deem necessary:

 

Through Evaluation and Audit Office (EAO) which directly reports to the Secretary General, ICAO develops systematic evaluations on the implementation of ICAO Global Plans on a regular basis. The Global Plans aim at enhancing the linkage between ICAO Strategic Objectives, triennial Business Plan and the achievement of the UN SDGs related to aviation at both international and national levels.

The ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan is located with the link: https://www.icao.int/publications/pages/publication.aspx?docnum=10004

Global Air Navigation Plan is located with the link: https://www.icao.int/airnavigation/Pages/GANP-Resources.aspx

Annual report: https://www.icao.int/about-icao/Pages/annual-reports.aspx

 

9. In your view, what should a strategic plan for the UN system in support of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs look like? What key elements should it include and major challenges address in such a road map?

The UN Strategic Plan should build on lessons learned from the SDGs Strategic Plan of the Office of the President of the General Assembly. The UN Strategic Plan could include a mission and vision statement; an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities in implementation across the UN, focused yearly actions in support of the SDGs, funding streams and measurements on progress on the SDGs.

 

10. Please indicate one or two endeavor or initiatives you suggest that the UN system organizations could undertake together to support the implementation of the SDGs between now and 2030:

 

The UN might develop a mapping that identifies how each Programme, Fund and Specialized Agency's Strategic Plan/Business Plan is contributing to the 2030 Agenda and SDGs - this will illustrate the synergies and opportunity for joint work and could be a powerful advocacy tool on how the UN system is bringing change.