United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
1. Responding to the multiple crises, has the governing body of your organization taken any decisions or adopted any new strategies to enhance effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions and to reinforce the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and poverty eradication? (200-800 words)
In response to the multiple, cascading, and intersecting crises, DESA adopted a Departmental action plan driven by action, agility and accountability to get the 2030 Agenda back on track.
Among the several action areas outlined in the action plan, DESA sought to accelerate action on the SDGs and strengthening multilateralism, by championing the SDGs as the agenda for addressing people’s current needs, enabling them to better manage the impacts of today’s crises and the ravages of climate change by supporting long term development and acting as a buffer against future global shocks. A key priority for the Department was to provide effective support to Member States through preparation of the SDG Summit, working under the guidance of the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General and in collaboration with UN system partners, the PGA, ECOSOC President and other stakeholders.
Through solid contributions to the 2023 High-level Political Forum (HLPF), DESA ensured that the Forum would lay the groundwork for the Summit, such as through production of Sustainable Development Goals Report on SDG progress estimates and taking stock of the lessons from the voluntary national reviews (VNRs) conducted since 2020. DESA also ensured to support the release of the quadrennial Global Sustainable Development Report during the SDG Summit, highlighting the voices of the Independent Group of Scientists to help decision-makers accelerate action and overcome impediments that stand in the way of progress on sustainable development.
Another key focus of DESA’s plan of action was to address poverty, inequality, and leaving no one behind in the recovery from the confluence of crises. The Department aimed at supporting countries to reverse the trend of increasing numbers of global poor and levels of inequality, by building on its solid and cutting-edge work on inequality and poverty eradication. This includes leveraging DESA’s support to the 3rd International Decade for the Eradication of Poverty and the associated system-wide plan of action to help advance efforts to address poverty and reduce inequality. Another key focus was to prioritize support to the Fourth Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing process, culminating in a global review in 2023 and support to Member States to follow-up on the Our Common Agenda proposal for the possible World Social Summit in 2025.
DESA also sought to mainstream the thinking around moving beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP) into policy and practice, which will help capture the full picture of development and growth beyond economic activities. It also planned to support the development of measures of the unique vulnerabilities of countries in special situations through a multidimensional vulnerability index (MVI). Furthermore, DESA aimed at supporting the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology to address the digital divide as a key component of inequality, including through the annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
2. In the past year, has your organization organized any intergovernmentally mandated conferences, forums or events that contributed to the achievement of the SDGs, or in the process of planning and organizing any such mandated events to be held next year?
In 2023, UN DESA supported the organization of multiple intergovernmentally mandated conferences, forums and events in support of the SDGs, and also supported the planning and preparation of the forthcoming mandated events in 2024, including the following major events:
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Event name |
ECOSOC Partnership Forum and ECOSOC Coordination Segment |
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Event Dates |
31 January 2023 & 1-2 February 2023 |
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Event Location |
UNHQ in New York |
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Relevant SDGs |
All SDGs |
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Description (max 150 words) |
In 2023, UN DESA continued to serve as the secretariat for the ECOSOC Partnership Forum and the Coordination Segment. DESA also organized a Partnership Exchange on the margins of the Partnership Forum to provide additional space for Member States and other stakeholders to share knowledge and expertise in the design and implementation of partnerships that will contribute to SDG implementation. |
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Website |
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Event Name: |
UN 2023 Water Conference |
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Event Dates: |
22-24 March 2023 |
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Event Location (City, Country): |
New York, USA |
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Relevant SDGs: |
SDG 6 and all relevant SDGs |
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Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) |
In accordance with General Assembly resolution 75/212, the UN Water Conference served as a moment to conduct Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development”. DESA led the organization of the 2023 Conference, which opened a new chapter in accelerating water action and integrating water management in response to climate change and the full range of sustainable development challenges. A key outcome of the Conference was the Water Action Agenda, a compendium of voluntary pledges that were announced or registered in the lead-up to and during the Conference. More than 800 commitments have been published, which reflect the collective ambition of the international community for water action in support of SDG 6 and its linkages with a broad range of other SDGs. |
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Website (if applicable) |
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Event Name: |
Financing for Sustainable Development Forum (FfD Forum) |
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Event Dates: |
17-20 April 2023 |
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Event Location (City, Country): |
New York, USA |
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Relevant SDGs: |
All SDGs |
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Description (max 150 words) |
2023 FfD Forum under the auspices of the ECOSOC provide a platform for inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue to address the current global challenges and advance policies for financing long-term sustainable development priorities, in line with its mandate laid out in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. |
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Website (if applicable) |
Financing for Development Forum 2023 | Financing for Sustainable Development Office (un.org) |
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Event Name: |
Multistakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for SDGs (STI Forum) |
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Event Dates: |
3-4 May 2023 |
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Event Location (City, Country): |
New York, USA |
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Relevant SDGs: |
All SDGs |
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Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) |
The eighth annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) was held from 3 to 4 May 2023. The Forum was convened by the President of ECOSOC Her Excellency Lachezara Stoeva who had appointed two co-chairs – H.E. Ms. Mathu Joyini, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations and H.E. Mr. Thomas Woodroffe, United Kingdom Ambassador to the UN Economic and Social Council. As per its mandate, the Forum was organized by the UN interagency task team on STI for the SDGs (IATT), convened by UN-DESA and UNCTAD, and the 10-Member Group of high-level representatives appointed by the Secretary General. In line with recent mandates and as in previous years, the STI Forum facilitated discussions on science, technology and innovation cooperation in support of the SDGs. In addition to providing the mandated inputs for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to be held from 10 to 19 July 2023, the Forum took a broader look at the contribution of STI to the achievement of all the SDGs in recognition of the September mid-term review of SDG progress. Accordingly, the theme for the STI Forum 2023 was: “Science, technology and innovation for accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”. |
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Website (if applicable) |
STI Forum | Department of Economic and Social Affairs (un.org) |
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Event Name |
ECOSOC Special Meeting on Unleashing the transformative power of SDG16: Improving governance and reducing corruption |
| Event Dates | May 2023 |
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Event Location |
New York |
| Relevant SDGs
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SDG 16 and Goals with interlinkages |
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Description (max 150 words) |
In May 2023, UN DESA supported the organization of the ECOSOC Special Meeting on Unleashing the transformative power of SDG16: Improving governance and reducing corruption. This demonstrated the need to further accelerate action to combat corruption to build peoples’ trust in governments and ensure public funds and spending are allocated in support of sustainable development. To this end, Member States expressed the need for concerted efforts to leverage the existing international and regional legal instruments, increase international collaboration, intensify national anti-corruption measures and harness digital technologies, while fully engaging the civil society, media and the private sector in these efforts. Furthermore, particular attention was paid to the need to prevent and combat illicit financial flows and strengthen international cooperation and good practices on assets return and recovery. |
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Website |
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Event Name: |
The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the auspices of ECOSOC (HLPF) |
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Event Dates: |
10-19 July 2023 |
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Event Location (City, Country): |
New York, USA |
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Relevant SDGs: |
All SDGs, with in-depth review of SDG 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17 |
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Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) |
As mandated by the General Assembly resolutions 66/288 and 67/290, the HLPF brought more than 110 Heads of State and Government, Deputy Prime Ministers, and Ministers along with other actors back to the UN Headquarters in New York to reflect on accelerating the recovery from COVID-19 and achieving the 2030 Agenda. The Forum addressed the theme “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels.” 39 Voluntary National Reviews were submitted to the HLPF, including 36 countries reporting for the second time, one for the third time and one for the first time. The European Union also prepared its first review. The Forum served as the “pre-Summit” moment to conduct mid-term review of SDG implementation and drive the momentum towards the 2023 SDG Summit in September. |
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Website (if applicable) |
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Event Name: |
The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the auspices of the General Assembly (the SDG Summit) |
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Event Dates: |
18-19 September 2023 |
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Event Location (City, Country): |
New York, USA |
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Relevant SDGs: |
All SDGs |
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Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) |
In accordance with General Assembly resolutions 67/290 and 70/299, the SDG Summit served as the central UN platform for Heads of State and Government to provide political leadership on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. The 2023 Summit adopted by consensus a negotiated political declaration as an official outcome. The declaration stresses that the achievement of the SDGs is in peril, commits to bold, ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative actions and sets out areas where action is required, including in the area of financing and reform of the international financial architecture. The declaration also commits to fully support the UN development system and looks forward to the Summit of the Future in 2024. |
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Website (if applicable) |
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Event Name |
The Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) |
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Event Dates |
27 to 30 May 2024 |
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Event Location |
St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda |
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Relevant SDGs |
All SDGs |
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Description (max 150 words) |
Under the overarching theme of “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity", the Conference will aim at assessing the ability of SIDS to achieve sustainable development, including the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. It will result in an intergovernmentally agreed, focused, forward-looking and action-oriented political outcome document. The members of the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee are: Barbados, Cabo Verde, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Italy, Latvia (Rapporteur), Maldives (Co-Chair), New Zealand (Co-Chair), Romania and Seychelles. Antigua and Barbuda (as host of the Conference) and Samoa (as Chair of AOSIS) serve as ex officio members. More information is available here. To prepare for the Conference, a regional preparatory meeting in each of the three regions of small island developing States, as well as an interregional preparatory meeting for all small island developing States were held in 2023. More information is available here. The UN Secretary-General has appointed the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Li Junhua, as the Secretary-General of the Conference responsible for guiding the intergovernmental and logistical preparations for the Conference; and the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Ms. Rabab Fatima, as Special Adviser for the Conference responsible for leading the advocacy and fundraising efforts. UN DESA together with OHRLLS will also coordinate the inter-agency preparations and contribution of the United Nations system to the Conference. |
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Website |
About SIDS4 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs (un.org) |
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Event Name: |
Summit of the Future |
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Event Dates: |
22-23 September 2024 |
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Event Location (City, Country): |
New York, USA |
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Relevant SDGs: |
All SDGs |
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Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) |
In accordance with General Assembly resolution 76/307, the Summit of the Future will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments including to the SDGs and the United Nations Charter, and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that is better positioned to positively impact people’s lives. Building on the SDG Summit in 2023, Member States will consider ways to lay the foundations for more effective global cooperation that can deal with today’s challenges as well as new threats in the future. |
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Website (if applicable) |
3. In the past year, has your organization published or planned to publish any analytical work or guidance note or toolkits to guide and support the implementation of SDGs at national, regional and global levels? Please select up to three to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs.
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Resource Name |
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023: Special Edition |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
All SDGs |
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Publishing entity/entities |
United Nations |
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Target audience |
Policy makers at the national, regional and global levels |
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Description (max 150 words) |
In July 2023, UN DESA led the launch of the Special Edition of the Sustainable Development Goals Report, marking the halfway point to implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2023 report provided a powerful call to action and presented a candid assessment of the SDGs based on the latest data and estimates. While highlighting the existing gaps and urging the world to redouble its efforts, the report also emphasized the immense potential for success through strong political will and the utilization of available technologies, resources, and knowledge. The report was produced in collaboration with the entire UN statistical system, consisting of more than 50 international and regional agencies, and based on data from over 200 countries and territories. It stands as one of UN DESA's most widely accessed publications, providing valuable insights for sustainable development. |
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Language(s) |
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish |
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Website (if applicable) |
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Resource Name |
The Global Sustainable Development Report 2023 |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
All SDGs |
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Publishing entity/entities |
United Nations (prepared by an Independent Group of Scientists) |
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Target audience |
Policy makers at the national, regional and global levels |
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Description (max 150 words) |
UN DESA supported the Independent Group of Scientists appointed by the Secretary-General to draft the report, to strengthen the science-policy interface at the national and international levels. The Department organized five expert regional consultations and gathered widespread input to inform the report preparations. The GSDR 2023 highlights key transformations needed in different sectors and provides key findings from the literature, practical examples and tools for progress towards the SDGs. It provides a stylized model to help unpack and understand the transformation process over time and outline the roles of different levers in facilitating various stages of transformation through a systematic and structured approach. As history has shown, transformations are inevitable, and this report emphasizes that deliberate and desirable transformations are possible - and, indeed, necessary. |
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Language(s) |
English |
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Website (if applicable) |
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Resource Name |
World Social Report 2023: Leaving No One Behind In An Ageing World |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDG 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 17 |
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Publishing entity/entities |
UN DESA |
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Target audience |
Policy makers at the national, regional and global levels |
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Description (max 150 words) |
Casting population ageing as a success story and a major global trend, UN DESA’s flagship World Social Report 2023: Leaving No One Behind in an Ageing World offered recommendations to balance the need for fiscal sustainability of public pension systems with the goals of eradicating poverty and reducing inequality. It argued for promoting equal opportunities from birth to give every person an equal chance to grow older in good health and with economic security. As governments consider increasing the official age at retirement or proceed to do so, the report stressed that older persons should be able to continue working for as long as they desire and are able to but should not be compelled to do so. It also called for eliminating barriers to older people’s participation in the labour force and supporting learning and skills development throughout the life course. |
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Language(s) |
English |
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Website (if applicable) |
https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/2023/01/world-social-report-2023/ |
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Resource Name |
Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2023 |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDG 2, 5, 8, 9, 13 and 17 |
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Publishing entity/entities |
Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development, coordinated and edited by UN DESA |
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Target audience |
Policy makers at the national, regional and global levels |
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Description (max 150 words) |
UN DESA led the preparation of the 2023 Financing for Sustainable Development Report, in collaboration with more than 60 UN Agencies and international organizations. The report finds that SDG financing needs are growing, but development financing is not keeping pace. It calls on the international community to pursue action in three key areas. First, scale up development cooperation and SDG investment, supporting the Secretary-General’s call for an SDG Stimulus. Second, strengthen the international financial architecture by bringing different ongoing reform processes together, strengthening their effectiveness, and ensuring full alignment with the SDGs and climate action. Third, accelerate national sustainable industrial transformations, supported by integrated national financing frameworks (INFFs). If left unaddressed, a “great finance divide” will translate into a lasting sustainable development divide. |
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Language(s) |
English |
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Website (if applicable) |
https://desapublications.un.org/publications/financing-sustainable-development-report-2023 |
4. In connection with the 2023 SDG Summit, the United Nations development system announced 12 High-Impact Initiatives where transformative progress is possible despite challenging global circumstances. Please share if your organization is contributing to any of these High Impact Initiatives and how various actors are being rallied behind them to mobilize further leadership and investment to bring progress to scale.
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Digital Public Infrastructure (Scaling inclusive and open digital ecosystems for the SDGs)
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Energy Compacts (Scaling up ambition to deliver on SDG7)
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Food Systems Transformation (Transforming food systems for a sustainable world without hunger)
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FutureGov (Building public sector capabilities for the future)
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Global Accelerator (The Global Accelerator on jobs and social protection for just transitions)
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Local2030 Coalition (Pushing key transitions and achieving the SDGs by 2030)
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Nature Driving Economic Transformation (Leveraging the power of biodiversity and nature to drive equitable economic progress)
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Power of Data (Unlocking the data dividend for the SDGs)
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Spotlight Initiative (To eliminate violence against women and girls)
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The SDG Stimulus (Scaling up long-term affordable financing for the SDGs)
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Transforming4Trade (Paradigm shift to boost economic development)
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Transforming Education (Learning to build a better future for all)
UN DESA provided substantive contributions to the following four High Impact Initiatives:
1) Energy Compacts
A number of heads of state/government, ministers, and other global leaders announced their new policies and transformative initiatives through their Energy Compacts, amounting to over US$ 1.3 trillion in total finance commitments, geared towards driving action on closing energy access gaps, advancing clean cooking and decarbonizing energy systems, while also growing green economies, creating jobs, promoting gender equality and ensuring sustainable development. Member State representatives were joined by the co-chairs of UN-Energy, and leaders from international organizations, business and youth networks. UN DESA, as the secretariat of UN-Energy, is continuously supporting to mobilize additional Energy Compact commitments to grow further commitments and action by Member States and other stakeholders.
2) FutureGov
Through close support by UN DESA, the FutureGov led to renewed sense of purpose and urgency to strengthen and transform the public sector to accelerate sustainable development. At an event held during the SDG Action Weekend, eight champion countries of FutureGov (Ecuador, Georgia, Italy, Panama, Romania, Rwanda, Singapore and UAE), the World Bank, as well as a member of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration, joined together to highlight the essential role of the public sector in supporting populations and delivering critical public services including shelter, food, education, social protection and healthcare, as well as upholding fundamental rights, including gender equality and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, with implications across all 17 SDGs. Critical public sector capabilities for the future are needed to enable sustainable development transitions, through: (i) Future Skillsets - adapting and learning at the institutional level in the face of incomplete information and radical uncertainty; (ii) Shifting Mindsets - using systems thinking and foresight to govern effectively, making the most of data and digital solutions; and (iii) Innovation for Impact - tapping into social and policy innovation beyond digitalization.
3) SDG Stimulus
UN DESA closely supported the preparation of the Secretary-General’s SDG Stimulus, which calls for a significant increase in affordable long-term financing for sustainable development of at least $500 billion per year to accelerate efforts towards just development transitions and SDG achievement. At an event held during the SDG Action Weekend, six Ministers, from both developed and developing countries, and representatives of multilateral development banks (MDBs), the private sector and other stakeholders considered: (i) how to advance key tenets of the SDG Stimulus and reforms that Member States would adopt to take the Stimulus forward; and (ii) steps that MDBs and private investors would take to scale up the financing needed for the SDGs. In the Political Declaration adopted at the SDG Summit, Member States welcomed the Secretary-General’s efforts to address the SDG financing gap through an SDG Stimulus and promise to advance its proposals in a timely manner. At the closing of the SDG Summit, the Secretary-General announced the creation of a Leaders Group to deliver a set of clear steps to unlock the additional $500 bn before the end of 2024. UN DESA, in consultation with UNDP and UNCTAD, will continue to support the follow-up processes in this regard.
4) Power of Data
The Power of Data session presented inspiring success stories of how data could catalyze SDG progress and showcased how the initiative could scale towards 2030. Commitments made at the event include: (i) launch of cutting-edge National Data Partnerships by 15 countries ; (ii) the UK’s funding commitment of investing over USD $7.5 million to help scale up global support for national data partnerships; and (iii) Signing of a support letter for the initiative by 30 data for development and civil society organizations.
Follow-up actions will include: (i) developing an implementation plan, by working closely with National Data Partnership countries; (ii) helping countries to develop a national data partnership strategy, including national level commitments to increase domestic investments in data capacities and addressing priority problems (e.g., digital transformation, modernization and transformation of national statistical systems); (iii) aligning partner funding with national priorities and ensure coordination across donor projects and programs; and (iv) a clear framework for monitoring and reporting on progress.
5. In addition to the above, has your organization been part of any other initiatives or multi-stakeholder partnerships that enhance effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions and reinforce the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially in the areas of poverty eradication (SDG1), food systems transformation (SDG2), climate action (SDG13), governance (SDG16), partnerships (SDG17), which will go under in-depth review at the HLPF in 2024, or related to the Secretary-General’s proposals in Our Common Agenda?
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
VNR global preparatory workshop and VNR Labs |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
Member States, UN entities and other stakeholders |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
All SDGs |
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Member States benefiting from it |
All Member States |
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Description (max 150 words) |
To help prepare the stage for Member States in presenting the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) at the HLPF in July 2023, UN DESA organized global preparatory workshop in March 2023 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The workshop provided opportunities for Member States to conduct peer-to-peer learning and exchange of experiences on the VNRs, including good practices, lessons learned, and issues faced by the VNR countries. It also featured “VNR Clinics”, where VNR countries provided case studies on their preparations.
The Department, in partnership with various UN and other entities, also organized 16 VNR Labs during the HLPF in July 2023. The VNR Labs served as an informal platform for experience-sharing and reflection on the VNR process, covering a range of topics related to SDG implementation. |
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Website |
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
Local governments |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
All SDGs |
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Member States benefiting from it |
Local governments of Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, the United States, Uruguay |
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Description (max 150 words) |
In 2022, UN DESA launched a demand-driven programme of work to support local governments to prepare Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) of the implementation of the SDGs. While VLRs are not mandated by the 2030 Agenda, the process of preparing them provides multiple benefits to the entities engaging in them and to SDG implementation at large. The practice of preparing VLRs is being taken up not only by capital and large cities, but also by a growing number of smaller cities, provinces, and districts, including in rural areas. Since 2018, more than 200 VLRs have been provided from all regions of the world to advance SDG localization. |
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Website |
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
Collaboration with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
African Peer Review Mechanism |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
All SDGs |
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Member States benefiting from it |
Member States of the African Union |
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Description (max 150 words) |
UN DESA, in close collaboration with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), continued to support regional and national efforts in integrating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and African Union (AU) Agenda 2063. The collaborative work strengthens the AU-UN Cooperation Framework signed by the Secretary-General in 2018, by delivering joint activities and programmes for the implementation, tracking, monitoring and reporting of the two Agendas. For example, in March 2023, UN DESA and APRM held the second joint continental workshop on VNRs and Domestication of Agenda 2063 in Durban, South Africa. The workshop provided a regional platform for peer-learning on good practices, aimed at integrating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and AU Agenda 2063. The workshop strengthened capacities of African countries to present progress on the implementation of the two agendas through the VNR process, including on effective national-to-local implementation of the SDGs through Voluntary Local Reviews. |
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Website |
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for Africa Coalition |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, and South Africa, supported by UN DESA & ECA |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
All SDGs |
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Member States benefiting from it |
All Member States |
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Description (max 150 words) |
To strengthen science, technology and innovation ecosystems in Africa to accelerate SDG implementation, UN DESA, together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), also supported the convening of the first STI in Africa Day on the margins of the 2023 STI Forum. It culminated in the launch of the STI for Africa Coalition, which presented a major step forward in mobilizing resources and support for STI globally for Africa’s development. Co-led by Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, and South Africa and supported by UN DESA and ECA, the Coalition will focus on mobilizing talent and investment in the diaspora, promoting awareness of science, technology, and innovation opportunities in Africa, and act as a vehicle to advance Africa's STI interests within the various processes taking place at the United Nations and in Africa to accelerate the attainment of the SDGs. |
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Website |
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
Partnership Accelerator Initiative |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
Member States and other stakeholders |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
All SDGs |
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Member States benefiting from it |
All Member States |
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Description (max 150 words) |
Through its Partnership Accelerator Initiative, UN DESA established regional networks of partnership champions in the Caribbean and the Pacific regions and strengthened multi-stakeholder partnerships at the national level. Additionally, the Department launched an online Partnership Learning Centre with resources on how to build and manage effective multi-stakeholder partnerships for the SDGs. Since its launch in 2019 in connection with the first SDG Summit, the Partnership Accelerator Initiative supported development and dissemination of freely available partnership guidebooks and research papers to strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships, as well as organization of virtual and in-person trainings and events. The initiative has worked with a range of partners, including 18 countries and Resident Coordinators, regional UN entities and others, totaling more than 1,000 stakeholders from various sectors. |
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Website |
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
2023 SDG Global Business Forum |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
UNDESA, United Nations Global Compact, International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
All SDGs |
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Member States benefiting from it |
All Member States |
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Description (max 150 words) |
Building on collaborative relationships with major private sector umbrella organizations, UN DESA continued to bring business voices and impacts closer to sustainable development debates at the global level, building a global community of sustainability leaders from the business sector and beyond to co-create solutions to accelerate SDG implementation. For example, UN DESA, in collaboration with the UN Global Compact, International Organisation of Employers and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, organized the 2023 SDG Global Business Forum in July 2023. This brought together a global multi-stakeholder community of movers and shakers, problem solvers and innovators on the margins of 2023 HLPF to review trends, discuss priorities, build alliances and co-create high-impact business solutions to turbocharge the SDGs in the remaining seven years before 2030. In collaboration with Resident Coordinators, UN Global Compact Local Networks, and Employer Federations, the Forum also featured an hour-long virtual session highlighting local impact stories from around the world. |
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Website |
https://hlpf.un.org/2023/programme/2023-sdg-global-business-forum |
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
Global SDG Indicators Data Platform |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
Member States and other stakeholders |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
All SDGs |
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Member States benefiting from it |
All Member States |
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Description (max 150 words) |
UN DESA ensured universal access to up-to-date data critical for monitoring SDG progress. Through the improved Global SDG Indicators Data Platform, the Department developed a new interface that allows users to easily search, download and share data. The entirely new ‘SDG Analytics’ tool allows the interactive analysis of data availability, including for disaggregated data. The SDG Analytics tool also enables users to review global and regional trends for individual indicators and compare trends for countries and areas and for different indicators. The platform also provides access to the SDG Country Profiles which—with a single click—provide trends for individual countries across the SDGs. Most importantly, access to the metadata is dramatically improved. SDG indicators metadata are made available in machine-readable format using Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange. |
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Website |
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
SDG Pavilion |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
Member States and other stakeholders |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
All SDGs, in particular SDG 13 |
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Member States benefiting from it |
All Member States |
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Description (max 150 words) |
To foster stronger connections between the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, UN DESA hosted its fifth SDG Pavilion during COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Bringing together practitioners from international organizations, Member States and diverse stakeholders, the SDG Pavilion featured a record 130-plus events organized by almost 140 partners from more than 90 countries. The events included in-person and online participation on Facebook, where dynamic fireside chats with experts were streamed live. The Pavilion's inauguration was attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN DESA Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, underscoring the fact that the climate agenda and the 2030 Agenda share the same interlinked goals. Through this platform, UN DESA shared its expertise in critical areas such as energy, forests, the ocean, transport, water and small island developing States (SIDS). |
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Website |
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
DESA-UNFCCC partnership |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
UNFCCC and other stakeholders |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
All SDGs, in particular SDG 13 |
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Member States benefiting from it |
All Member States |
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Description (max 150 words) |
UN DESA and UNFCCC have jointly supported the preparation of the First Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergies, launched in September 2023. The report, prepared by a diverse group of 14 experts, aims to provide empirical evidence and forward-looking recommendations to accelerate synergistic climate and SDG action while transitioning toward more just and equitable societies. UN DESA and UNFCCC also organized the Fourth Global Conference on Synergizing the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement in July 2023 as a special event during the HLPF, aiming to mainstream the climate agenda within the review and follow-up processes of the SDGs. The event convened high-level representatives from Member States and international organizations, along with experts and practitioners from across the globe. In total, more than 400 in-person and nearly 4,000 virtual participants from 140 countries participated at the event. |