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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

1. What decisions or new strategies has the governing body of your organization taken to guide the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? Please provide a brief summary below, including the overarching vision of your governing body for the Decade of Action on the SDGs.

In November 2019, UNIDO Member States at the Eighteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference adopted the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration, in addition to acknowledging the Secretary-General’s global call for a decade of action to accelerate the implementation of measures to achieve the SDGs also affirmed that inclusive and sustainable development industrial development (ISID), as embedded in Goal 9, remains a central driver for economic growth, safeguarding the environment, job creation, income generation and social inclusion.

The Declaration supports multilaterism and international cooperation. It also emphasizes two critical importance – the first, that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the promotion of ISID are being undertaken in an era of rapid technological growth. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is affecting all spheres of development and can enable ISID by providing access to know-how, skills, education and technology. Whilst acknowledging the emergence of the frontier technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it also raised attention to their disruptive potential and the opportunities that it can bring to advance economic growth and human well-being, and in the safeguarding of the environment. Member States, through the Declaration also highlighted the important role of the private sector in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

2. At the secretariat level, what steps has your organization taken (or will it take) in the follow-up to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? Please specify actions, including but not limited to the following areas:

2.1 SDG-specific strategies, plans or work programmes;

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2018–2021 provides the strategic guidance for UNIDO to realize its mandate to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are interlinked by nature, and the MTPF 2018–2021 management objective to integrate and scale up enables the Organization to ensure that progress is made towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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

Not applicable

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

UNIDO adopted its new integrated results and performance framework (IRPF) in 2019. It uses an innovative actor-based, behavioural change model to complement the MTPF 2018-2021. This new results framework presents a comprehensive and structured set of quantitative and qualitative evidence of the Organization’s contribution to outcomes, ISID impact and the SDGs.

The approach recognizes that the contribution of UNIDO to the transformational change brought about by ISID and the SDGs can be credibly explained by the key results that trigger changes in behaviours, practices and measures adopted by key stakeholders.

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

The leave no one behind agenda is incorporated in both UNIDO's MTPF 2018-2021 with the overarching management priority to integrate and scale-up.

2.5 Action to address the interlinkages across SDG goals and targets;

UNIDO's innovative actor-based, behavioural change model that complements the MTPF 2018-2021 presents a comprehensive and structured set of quantitative and qualitative evidence of the Organization’s contribution to outcomes, ISID impact and the SDGs. The approach recognizes that the contribution of UNIDO to the transformational change brought about by ISID and the SDGs can be credibly explained by the key results that trigger changes in behaviours, practices and measures adopted by key stakeholders.

2.6 Others.

3. What normative, analytical, technical assistance or capacity building activities is your organization providing to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? Please provide a brief account of the activities you have organized or intend to undertake, including but not limited to the following areas:

3.1 Enhancing national implementation including by supporting the mainstreaming of the SDGs in development plans and policies or through national sustainable development plans/strategies;

UNIDO is also operationalizing a total of 10 Programmes for Country Partnership (PCPs) , covering both middle-income countries (MICs) and least developed countries (LDCs). The integrated approach of the PCP enabled programme effectiveness and supported the upscaling of the Organization’s development impact. To enhance contributions to the 2030 Agenda, UNIDO is also revising its country programmes (CPs), aligning its programmatic services to the SDGs. Key PCP features are being incorporated in the development and implementation of CPs. UNIDO PCPs and CPs are aligned to the priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

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

In pursuing its mandate to promote and accelerate ISID, UNIDO has developed areas of expertise and a portfolio of concrete activities that contribute to various SDGs. The Organization’s open data platform tracks the percentage of UNIDO’s technical cooperation portfolio dedicated to each SDG at any given point in time.

3.3 Supporting the strengthening of national institutions for more integrated solutions;

In addition to operationalizing the Programme for Country Partnerships (PCPs), UNIDO also implements country programmes working with Governments to strengthen national institutions for more integrated solutions.

3.4 Data and statistical capacity building;

UNIDO continues to fulfil its mandate and role in the maintenance of the global industrial statistics database. As the custodian agency for the six industry-related indicators under SDG 9, UNIDO supports the work of the Inter-agency Expert Group on SDGs to accelerate the process of reviewing the indicators.

The Organization participates in inter-agency and expert groups on SDG indicators through a sustained engagement with national statistical offices and international agencies concerning the implementation of SDG indicators. In this connection, UNIDO conducted regional workshops in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Russian Federation and Thailand. Support and capacity-building were also provided to Member States, such as Cambodia and Kuwait, in the design of their industrial development plans and strategies, aligned to the SDGs.

UNIDO also provides data for the global database of SDG indicators and published a biennial progress report on Statistical Indicators of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization in 2019. In addition to this, in 2019, UNIDO provided data and narratives for the Secretary- General’s Sustainable Development Goals Report 2019 and the Report of the Secretary-General on SDG Progress 2019 Special Edition, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals Progress Chart 2019.

3.5 Harnessing science, technology and innovation for the SDGs;

Cognizant of the advancements in digital technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and its continued influence on industrialization as a driver of development and shared prosperity, UNIDO provides knowledge-sharing and project development platforms to facilitate the introduction of policies and strategies to ensure that no one is left behind when digital technologies are deployed. UNIDO’s active participation in platforms such as the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit (GMIS) and Hannover Messe are examples of knowledge-sharing platforms.

3.6 Multi-stakeholder partnerships;

The strengthening of cooperation and forging of new partnerships is the fundamental approach towards achieving ISID and the 2030 Agenda for UNIDO. In addition to governments and local authorities, UNIDO cooperates with the private sector, academia, multilateral organizations, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN Environment. Examples of effective multi-stakeholder collaboration and private sector engagement can be seen through the work of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), co-hosted by UNIDO and UN Environment, the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC) and the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP).

3.7 Bolstering local action and supporting sub-national plans/strategies and implementation for the SDGs;

UNIDO is also operationalizing a total of 10 Programmes for Country Partnership (PCPs) , covering both middle-income countries (MICs) and least developed countries (LDCs). The integrated approach of the PCP enabled programme effectiveness and supported the upscaling of the Organization’s development impact. To enhance contributions to the 2030 Agenda, UNIDO is also revising its country programmes (CPs), aligning its programmatic services to the SDGs. Key PCP features are being incorporated in the development and implementation of CPs. UNIDO PCPs and CPs are aligned to the priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

3.8 Leveraging interlinkages across SDG goals and targets;

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2018–2021 provides the strategic guidance for UNIDO to realize its mandate to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are interlinked by nature, and the MTPF 2018–2021 management objective to integrate and scale up enables the Organization to ensure that progress is made towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

3.9 Supporting policies and strategies to leave no one behind;

UNIDO is also operationalizing a total of 10 Programmes for Country Partnership (PCPs) , covering both middle-income countries (MICs) and least developed countries (LDCs). The integrated approach of the PCP enabled programme effectiveness and supported the upscaling of the Organization’s development impact. To enhance contributions to the 2030 Agenda, UNIDO is also revising its country programmes (CPs), aligning its programmatic services to the SDGs. Key PCP features are being incorporated in the development and implementation of CPs. UNIDO PCPs and CPs are aligned to the priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

3.10 Supporting the mobilization of adequate and well-directed financing;

UNIDO is also operationalizing a total of 10 Programmes for Country Partnership (PCPs) , covering both middle-income countries (MICs) and least developed countries (LDCs). The integrated approach of the PCP enabled programme effectiveness and supported the upscaling of the Organization’s development impact. To enhance contributions to the 2030 Agenda, UNIDO is also revising its country programmes (CPs), aligning its programmatic services to the SDGs. Key PCP features are being incorporated in the development and implementation of CPs. UNIDO PCPs and CPs are aligned to the priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

3.11 Reducing disaster risk and building resilience;

N/A

3.12 Supporting international cooperation and enhancing the global partnership;

UNIDO is also operationalizing a total of 10 Programmes for Country Partnership (PCPs) , covering both middle-income countries (MICs) and least developed countries (LDCs). The integrated approach of the PCP enabled programme effectiveness and supported the upscaling of the Organization’s development impact. To enhance contributions to the 2030 Agenda, UNIDO is also revising its country programmes (CPs), aligning its programmatic services to the SDGs. Key PCP features are being incorporated in the development and implementation of CPs. UNIDO PCPs and CPs are aligned to the priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

3.13 Others.

4. The high-level political forum (HLPF) is the central platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. Has your organization participated in or supported the work of the HLPF? If yes, please specify your involvement in the following areas:

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

UNIDO working with the Board submitted inputs to the HLPF 2019 themed “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”. The inputs provided by the Board to the HLPF 2019 showed how the reviewed SDGs 4, 8, 10, 13, 16 and 17 were vital for the achievement of ISID, and vice versa. Some key messages included:

(a) Industrial development is a vehicle for poverty reduction through the generation of income-earning opportunities for the poor. Manufacturing jobs provide greater opportunities for skills upgrading and offer higher employment security and benefits, particularly for women and young people;

(b) Industry is a key generator of viable solutions to global development challenges, and these solutions need to be adapted, scaled up and deployed at the pace that would ensure a worldwide achievement of SDGs;

(c) Emerging digital solutions for the energy-water-food nexus enable the development of new business models in the industrial sector while helping increase resilience to the adverse effects of climate change. Digital technologies help enhance resource-efficient production and heighten environmental standards in industries.

4.2 Contributing to policy/background briefs for the HLPF;

In addition to submitting the substantive input of the Industrial Development Board to the HLPF 2019, UNIDO has contributed to two SDG 7 policy briefs, which were developed in support of the HLPF 2019 . Specifically, UNIDO has collaborated with the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Rocky Mountain Institute and Saint Lucia on the preparation of the policy brief 13 “Achieving SDG 7 in Small Island Developing States — Mid-Term Review of the SAMOA Pathway” and with UN-OHRLLS on the preparation of the policy brief 14 “Achieving SDG 7 in Landlocked Developing Countries”.

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

N/A

4.4 Organizing side events or speaking at the HLPF;

UNIDO participated in several side events during the HLPF 2019, including: a) A high-level side event on “Partnerships for Accelerated Sustainable Energy Development and Enhanced Resilience Building to Climate Change in LLDCs” – showcased the Regional Centres for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, and the CTCN as an effective multi-stakeholder partnership platform to accelerate climate action; (b) A high-level event on “’Scaling-Up Energy Transition in Small Island Developing States – to launch the SDG 7 policy brief and explored the energy-climate nexus; and (c) A ITU event on “Harnessing Frontier Technologies for Accelerating Climate Actions and the SDGs”- discussed in which way frontier technologies are helping to address climate change, drive sustainability and environmental resilience. UNIDO discussed “Decarbonizing industries: do digital technologies have the answer?”.

4.5 Supporting the VNR process.

UNIDO also supported 10 VNRs in 2019 (Algeria, Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey). In December 2019, UNIDO hosted a workshop for representatives of national statistical offices on data and statistics for evidence-based voluntary national reviews. During the year, UNIDO also implemented technical cooperation projects on industrial statistics in Cambodia, Cuba, Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

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, UNSDG, EC-ESA Plus, regional coordination meetings, 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.

UNIDO is an active member of the CEB, UNSDG and EC-ESA Plus, contributing and engaging in its meetings, and activities. UNIDO continues to contribute to the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) and its Inter-agency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). Regarding TFM, UNIDO co-organized a side event on “Development partnerships to address binding constraints around innovation, education and the environment” with the Government of Morocco and the European Commission Joint Research Centre at the fourth STI Forum in May. Participants learned about initiatives that bridge capability gaps to enable the adoption and scaling up of STI for the SDGs. In the context of the STI inter-agency task team, UNIDO offered substantive guidance at a workshop for Latin American policymakers in Panama, and contributed to the development of the STI road maps methodology, including the selection of pilot countries for this initiative. In support of partnership building, UNIDO delivered a keynote address at the seventh European Conference on Corporate R&D and Innovation (CONCORDi).

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. If your organization has established any multi-stakeholder partnerships to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, please describe them and how their performances are being monitored and reviewed.

UNIDO is operationalizing a total of 10 Programmes for Country Partnership (PCPs), covering both middle-income countries (MICs) and least developed countries (LDCs). The integrated approach of the PCP enabled programme effectiveness and supported the upscaling of the Organization’s development impact. To enhance contributions to the 2030 Agenda, UNIDO is also revising its country programmes (CPs), aligning its programmatic services to the SDGs. Key PCP features are being incorporated in the development and implementation of CPs. UNIDO PCPs and CPs are aligned to the priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

The PCPs demonstrate strong national leadership and the effective integration of UNIDO services through the provision of technical assistance, analytical and advisory services, and convening. Collaboration with development partners solidified, which facilitated the leveraging of public and private resources, particularly towards large-scale flagship projects.

7. Has your organization organized any conferences, forums or events designed to facilitate exchange of experience, peer and mutual learning in connection with the SDGs? 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 want to organize in the coming years.

The partnership and convening role of UNIDO is demonstrated by over 363 convening events such as workshops, expert group meetings and global forums organized in 2019, and by 16 UN and 12 non-UN coordination mechanisms and networks in which UNIDO plays a prominent role. The engagement of UNIDO in the UN system is further validated by 43 joint interventions with other UN entities. Finally, UNIDO is a key convener of the private sector, with over 100 programmes or projects implemented in partnership with business entities and financial institutions.

Examples of such forums, conferences and events include side events during high-level events in New York to advocate for a variety of approaches and activities. These were held at the Commission on the Status of Women, the Youth Forum, the Financing for Development and SDG Investment Forum, the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, the Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day, the High Level Political Forum, World Cities Day and Africa Industrialization Day. Side events were also held during the General Assembly high-level week, which consisted of the Climate Action Summit, the SDG Summit, the Financing for Development High-level Conference and the SAMOA Pathway High-Level Mid-term Review Conference. These actions emphasize UNIDO’s work on sustainable cities, the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III), and the Global Manufacturing Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) and Sustainable Energy Centres in SIDS.

In Geneva, in 2019, UNIDO participated in the following major conferences and intergovernmental meetings: the Belt and Road Davos Forum, the Aid for Trade Global Review, the e-commerce week, the World Summit on the Information Society, the International Labour Conference, the World Cotton Day, the World Free and Special Economic Zones Summit and the Global Refugee Forum. Several side events and panel discussions were organized as well, notably at the Aid for Trade Global Review, which had a special focus on industrialization. Similarly in Brussels, UNIDO participated in major international policy dialogues, including the “EU Industry Days”, the first “UNIDO-Africa Union International Quality Infrastructure Forum”, the “European Development Days”, the “EU Sustainable Energy Week”, and the “Global Science, Technology and Innovation Conference”. UNIDO also partnered with private sector organizations at the “European Business Summit” in Brussels and “Les Rencontres d’Affaires Francophones” in Paris.

UNIDO also organizes the biennial World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum to provide a unique platform in the Middle East and North Africa to connect local, regional and global investors with young entrepreneurs and start-ups. The goal is to forge joint investments between entrepreneurs and to exchange knowledge, share innovative best practices on entrepreneurship and innovation, leverage domestic and foreign direct investments, and establish new partnerships. At the 2019 meeting held in Manama, 40 per cent of the participants were female, an encouraging sign of efforts being made by UNIDO to support women to become entrepreneurs and achieve more equal gender balance in this field.

UNIDO operationalized its collaboration with the UN Global Compact in areas of mutual interest, including by co-organizing the “Private Sector Forum” in September, which gathered more than 350 high-level participants, including CEOs and Heads of State and Government, to make commitments towards the global sustainability agenda. UNIDO also co-signed the UN Global Compact campaign “Business Ambition for 1.5 °C Our Only Future”, calling for businesses to set targets limiting the global temperature rise.

UNIDO is also actively engaged in the Belt and Road Initiative to leverage the potential of South-South cooperation for industrial development. The UNIDO flagship event “BRIDGE for Cities 4.0” in September 2019 focused on connecting cities through the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

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.

UNIDO Annual Reports are obtainable on the Organization’s website at https://www.unido.org/resources-publications-flagship- publications/annual-report All evaluation reports are also uploaded on the UNIDO website at https://www.unido.org/resources/evaluation

9. In your view, what should strategic directions look like for the UN system in support of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs in the Decade of Action? What key elements should they include and what major challenges should they address?

As per the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) 2019 and the SDG Summit, the four major concerns are rising inequality, climate change, biodiversity loss and the increasing amount of waste from human activity that is overwhelming processing capacities. Based on the evidence from the SDG and inclusive and sustainable industrial development perspective:

• Industrialization in LDCs is proceeding too slowly to meet the targets of the 2030 Agenda

• Industry would still need to undertake significant reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 65 to 90 per cent by 2050 compared to the 2010 baseline.

• Micro, small and medium (SMEs) enterprises account for 70 per cent of employment worldwide (ILO, 2019 ). SMEs also have the propensity to drive innovation and are central to efforts to ensure that growth is more inclusive (OECD, 2018 ). SMEs also create nine out of ten new jobs worldwide (IFC, 2017). In addition to the need to lower informality, according to the IFC (2017 ), 65 million enterprises or 40 per cent of formal micro, small and medium businesses in developing countries have an unmet financing need of $5.2 trillion every year.

UNIDO’s 2020 Industrial Development Report (IDR) shows that advanced digital production technology applied to manufacturing offers huge potential to advance economic growth and human well-being, while safeguarding the environment. Many countries, in particular LDCs and low-income countries, have yet to leverage the new technologies for their industrial base.

To address climate change, a major and long-term transformation of industrial systems will be essential to enable countries to take new industrial development pathways to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development. This includes scaling up innovative clean technologies and the robust integration of renewable energy sources into the existing energy infrastructure. An enabling environment for investment in the development, transfer and dissemination of climate technologies will need to be fostered.

Introduction and integration of circular practices into production processes is imperative. Industries will need to help make a major transformation from linear to circular economies to cope with resource scarcity and an overwhelming production of waste. Material efficiencies offer huge potentials for GHG emission reductions in the industrial sector. Systemic, institutional and individual capacity needs to be built to enable a shift towards sustainable production and consumption patterns.

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

The United Nations Development System Reform is to drive bold changes for the system to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. The System needs to continue to drive to bridge the gaps to strengthen the SDG interlinkages, and to integrate and scale-up the efforts of the UN entities collectively.

ECESA Plus Member
Year of submission: 2020