Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS)
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.
OHRLLS supports and advocates for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These three groups represent, in total, 91 members states with a combined population of 1.1 billion people. They face several specific challenges and vulnerabilities, all of which are addressed in their respective programmes of action.
The high number of LDC, LLDC and SIDS-specific references in the Agenda 2030 Agenda also reflects the vast development challenges of as well as commitments in favour of these countries. The most vulnerable countries therefore stand to lose the most if the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and their specific programmes of action does not meet the level of expectations raised in these global frameworks.
In recognition of the complementarities between the 2030 Agenda and the programmes of action for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, the strategic framework of OHRLLS' 2018-2019 budget—as approved by the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) and by the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly—contains an additional element under the office's mandate. This additional element relates to "(e) Building effective linkages between the follow-up and review arrangements of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the three programmes of action."
This language builds on a series of UNGA resolutions/declarations, including A/RES/71/238. A/CONF.228/L.1 which provide explicit guidance on implementation of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs.
All the work carried out by the office aims to contribute to the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs.
2.1 SDG-specific strategies, plans or work programmes
The office has prepared an action plan to strengthen the complementarities between its programmes of action and the 2030 Agenda. The action plan provides an analysis of the commonalities and complementarities between the programmes of actions and SDGs and set the parameters of how to enhance synergies between the programmes of action and the SDGs in OHRLLS' work. Overall, the action plan offers a roadmap to enhance synergies between the 2030 Agenda and the programmes of action in every step of the office's planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting cycle. The Office has also integrated the 2030 Agenda in its 2018-19 biennium programme budget and included activities into annual work plans. The reports of the Secretary General on the implementation of the VPoA are also dedicated to review the implementation of the POAs and the 2030 Agenda.
3.5 Multi-stakeholder partnerships:
The office has also strengthened partnerships with stakeholders, including the UN system, the World Bank, OECD, WTO, regional banks and organisations, academia, civil society and the private sector. The office's dialogue with the World Bank at all levels—both the governing body of the Bank and its secretariat—is a perfect illustration of the more institutionalised collaboration with all major stakeholders. Such institutionalised relations resulted into a tripartite collaboration between OHRLLS, the World Bank and member states during the discussions on the recent replenishment of the largest multilateral concessional window—IDA 18. It is important to note that there is now very strong alignment of the priorities of IDA with the SDGs and the substantial increase of resource allocations to the most vulnerable countries.
Further, OHRLLS has increased its engagement with the private sector in support of the implementation of the programmes of action and the 2030 Agenda. One such examples include the SIDS Global Business Network and the SIDS private sector forum, all of which foster private sector development and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) models for SIDS.
The office has also promoted enhanced south-south and triangular cooperation in support of the development agenda of the three groups and the 2030 Agenda. It supported the organisation of a High-Level Round Table on South-South Cooperation on 26 September 2015, which was co-chaired by former Secretary-General Ban and the President of China. In this meeting, emerging economies from the South echoed their strong support to other developing countries and three groups of countries in realizing their development potentials.
3.8 Others:
OHRLLS has facilitated peer-learning and exchange of best practices through a series of regional and global meetings focusing on key accelerators of sustainable development, including sustainable energy, productivity capacity, agriculture and structural transformation, structural transformation and graduation, public private partnerships, transit and transport, and broadband connectivity, to name a few. These meetings have been attended by national focal points and experts from concerned sectoral ministries as well representatives from other international and regional organizations, the private sector, civil society, academia.
The office has also extended enhanced and structured support to LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS with regard to their participation and voice in global processes pertaining to the 2030 Agenda. Such support has materialized at least through three channels. First, OHRLLS has generated a growing number of knowledge products, covering a wide range of SDGS-related issues including sustainable energy, broadband connectivity and transport of transit and development finance. Such analytical work has paid focused attention to the priorities, opportunities and challenges of LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS in the context of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Second, OHLLS has provided on-demand and evidence-based backstopping support to the three groups during global inter-governmental negotiations on the 2030 Agenda. In particular, the office has organized and substantively serviced ambassadorial and expert-level meetings of the three groups meeting. Third, the office has used its convening power to lend voice to the concerns and needs of three groups at the global stage. OHRLLS has promoted the interests of LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS in major global and regional conferences, which it has organised, participated in or contributed to. For example, OHRLLS in collaboration with the Government of Viet Nam organised a High-Level Meeting for the Euro-Asia Region on Improving Cooperation on Transit, Trade Facilitation and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in March 2017.
4.1 Supporting the intergovernmental body of your organization in contributing to the thematic review of the HLPF:
OHRLLS is supporting the high-level political forum (HLPF) through five of its work streams. First, upon the requests from the LDC, LLDC and SIDS groups, the office organises and substantively service expert-level meetings during which groups' positions on the outcome of the HLPF are formulated.
4.2 Contributing to policy/background briefs for the HLPF:
Second, the office contributes to policy/background briefs that the UN-system prepares for the HLPF.
4.3 Helping organize SDG-specific events in the preparatory process:
Third, it helps other entities within the UN prepare events dedicated to LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.
4.4 Organizing side evens or speaking at the HLPF:
Fourth, OHRLLS, in collaboration with other stakeholders, organises side events at the HLPF.
4.5 Supporting VNR process:
Fifth, the office attends the voluntary national reviews of countries under its purview and encourage a growing number of LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS to volunteer for these reviews.
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:
OHRLLS has promoted a coordinated and integrated UN support to implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the programmes of action of 3 groups of countries, including through the three distinct Inter-Agency Consultative Groups for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, which the office is a convener of or a co-convener of. These consultative groups provide platforms for cooperation and coordination among the United Nations system and other international organizations in support of the implementation of both the 2030 Agenda and the programme of action. These groups have also been used to mount UN-system responses to address specific issues related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, including on the Technology Bank, the full operationalization of which is one the targets the SDGs (Target 17. 8).
The office is also member of UNDG, EC-ESA Plus, UN-Ocean and ATT.
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:
As a UN entity with no field-presence, OHRLLS has relied on three channels to support the implementation at the country level. The first channel is the network of national focal points, particularly for LDCs, which the office is supporting. These networks facilitate information and experience sharing, the monitoring of the implementation the programmes of actions and the 2030 Agenda and increased participation of the representatives from the most vulnerable countries to HLFP. The office is exploring the possibility of institutionalising the network of national focal points for both SIDS and LLDCs—just as it did for the LDCs. With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, a significant aspect of the work of national focal points relates to support the localisation of the SDGs. The second channel is through UNCT. OHRLLS is currently working with UNDP to help countries harmonize reporting on globally agreed goals, including SDGs, and programmes of action for vulnerable countries so as to ease the transaction cost of complying to multiple reporting processes. The third channel is through its inter-agency coordination work mentioned above, which engage all entities of the UN system.
At the regional level, the office has been working with regional commissions in the context of regular regional reviews of the implementation of the programmes of actions. OHRLLS has seized this opportunity to reflect the synergies between the implementation of these programmes of actions and that of the 2030 Agenda.
At the global level, OHRLLS has, as mentioned before, supported the effective participation of the three groups of countries in intergovernmental processes related to the follow-up and review of the 2030 agenda, including to the high-level political forum, through the articulation of their needs, concerns and interests, and through making the case that these three groups of countries deserve special consideration and treatment in order to overcome their vulnerabilities.
It is also worth noting that the office is entrusted, in the context of the SAMOA Pathway, with the mandate of enhancing the coherence of the issues of SIDS in the United Nations processes, including at the national, regional and global levels.
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.
OHRLLS organised regional or global meetings on key accelerators of sustainable development, including sustainable energy, productivity capacity, agriculture and structural transformation, structural transformation and graduation, public private partnerships, transit and transport, and broadband connectivity, to name a few. These meetings were attended by national focal points and experts from concerned sectoral ministries as well representatives from other international and regional organisations, the private sector, civil society, academia. The office will continue to hold similar events, focusing on other critical areas related to the SDGs. These meetings provide a unique opportunity for: i) sharing experiences and best practices on mainstreaming global and regional frameworks into national development processes, ii) networking, and iii) better understanding of existing means of implementation, including viable financing and business models.
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:
Three documents are worth sharing:
• The 2016 and 2017 editions of the State of Least Developed Countries
• Promoting Investment for Energy Access in Least Developed Countries
• Regional studies on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the Landlocked Developing Countries
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?
A strategic plan for the UN system in support of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs should define principles and steps through which the system will support awareness raising, implementation, monitoring, follow up and review of these global agendas. It should also underline how the UN system will realign its policy advice and technical and operational activities in support of the achievement by countries of aspirations set in the 2030 Agenda.
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:
Staying true to the principle of "leaving no one behind" requires that the most vulnerable countries—which are the farthest behind and have the least capacities to implement the SDGs—be given due attention. The UN analytical, technical and operational activities should prioritise these countries. Clear monitoring of the progress made by vulnerable countries on the SDGs should be done and appropriate actions made to address the challenges. Mutual accountability and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs rest on effective, inclusive and credible monitoring, follow-up and review mechanisms at all levels. UN system organisations should support putting these mechanisms in place and ensure that they operate effectively.