With 65 per cent of SDG targets estimated to be linked to the work of local and regional governments, effective localization is a pre-condition for achieving SDGs. In recent years, the role of local governments has gained prominence and visibility at the international level, recognized by Member States in General Assembly resolutions and HLPF Political Declarations, and by the Secretary-General in his reports “Our Common Agenda” and “Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals: Towards a Rescue Plan for People and Planet 2023”. In the face of multiple global crises that have slowed, and in some cases, reversed progress on SDG implementation, localization has become more important than ever and local governments from all regions have been “rising to the occasion,” increasingly seizing upon the 2030 Agenda and working to make it a reality in their local contexts. One of the ways that local governments have been doing this is through the process of preparing sub-national reviews of their SDG implementation (voluntary local reviews) to reinforce vertical and horizontal policy coherence and complement voluntary national reviews (VNRs). At the same time, local and regional governments particularly, as detailed below, in the Africa region, face significant challenges in delivering on the 2030 Agenda. The present project will support both national and local governments in selected African countries to accelerate inclusive implementation of the 2030 Agenda through strengthening local and national government capacities for localization of the SDGs. It will do so by building on the successful implementation of the Italian funded project on Improved local and national government capacities for localizing SDGs progress through Voluntary Local Reviews (2022-2024), providing continued support for review and reporting on SDG implementation and further supporting national and local governments to address financing challenges for SDG delivery by local governments and to strengthen planning for SDG achievement.
Evidence-based Climate Action through Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation for Caribbean SIDS
Considering the escalating climate change challenges in the Caribbean region, marked by an urgent need for robust data-driven climate policies, the project is designed to enhance capacities in SIDS by delivering training in fundamental data science skills, along with providing technical assistance in making effective use of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data (for tracking vessels) and related national data (in two beneficiary countries, namely Barbados and Belize) as well as the application of Artificial Intelligence for Environment & Sustainability (ARIES), which can be used for the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) (in two countries, namely Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago). Through integration of geospatial information and new data sources, this initiative seeks to empower four SIDS in the Caribbean with the necessary capabilities to accurately monitor maritime transport and trade, fisheries and ecosystem services (including tourism), analyze related CO2 emissions and foster the development of SEEA accounts. The project will also provide analytical diagnostic studies on sources and levels of CO2 and other GHG emissions, and feed the main findings into a cross-country roadmap listing most relevant policy options and recommendations for the decarbonisation of the maritime transport sector and fisheries value chains, and for the conservation, management, and restoring of the marine ecosystems (with support from UNEP). Throughout the project CARICOM and ECLAC will provide regional coordination and guidance on policy implementation.
Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) are key drivers of economic growth and sustainable development in LDCs and SIDS. However, many of these countries face challenges in harnessing the power of STI to drive economic growth and sustainable development in part due to cost constraints, infrastructure deficiencies, geographical insularity, fragmentation and limited knowledge transfer. Addressing these gaps requires efforts at all levels to assist countries to, inter alia, i) Prioritize investments in resilience and research and development; ii) Promote regional cooperation and coordination and strengthen regional research institutions’ technical and institutional capacity through inter alia joint research initiatives, and knowledge sharing; and iii) Effectively mobilize national science and engineering capacity for mission-oriented research to solve specific national/regional problems. This project will support three Lusophone SIDS (Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe) to strengthen their capacity to develop, deploy, and expand their use of STI in the context of the SDGs and particularly for building ocean knowledge and coastal resilience. Recommendations from the project will be piloted on UNESCO designated sites and through relevant multistakeholder networks to amplify project impact at all levels. The Project’s objectives are to strengthen the capacity of government officials and other stakeholders in targeted Small Island Developing States to utilize science, technology and innovation effectively for advancing climate resilience and nature-based solutions in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. The project will be jointly implemented by UNDESA, UNECA and UNESCO.
Sixty per cent of the world’s poor live in sub-Saharan Africa and are overwhelmingly concentrated in the rural agricultural sector. Because their livelihoods are inextricably linked to natural resources, environmental hazards and climate stresses disproportionally expose them to greater risks of deprivation, asset depletion, indebtedness, and further poverty. This project aims at supporting the design and implementation of legislation, policies or other measures, that promote the growth of climate resilient agricultural cooperatives in rural communities and the uptake of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices. Agricultural cooperatives can play an important role in building resilience against disruptive climate-induced weather events, pooling risks, and teaching ecologically friendly and safe agricultural techniques that can increase crop yields and advance conservation and carbon sequestration, as well as the use of bioenergy to reduce emission of polluting gases. Increasing women’s participation in cooperatives holds significant potential to foster women’s empowerment, participation and access to resources. Women’s and men’s abilities to respond, adapt and recover from climate shocks differ, as do their CSA needs and priorities. This project will include gender-responsive CSA approaches, as the latter have the potential to encourage gender equality and transformation for climate resilience. Indeed, when given adequate information, training and resources, women have been found to be as likely or even more likely than men to implement CSA practices. When women are empowered to some degree in their households, they are more likely to adopt CSA practices. CSA in turn can contribute to gender equality by addressing the following gender-equal dimensions: (i) involvement in decision-making; (ii) access to resources and agroclimatic information; (iii) reduced workload/drudgery; and (iv) collective action for agency. Pathways to gender-responsive CSA development that this project will take include supporting women farmers to form agricultural cooperatives (to strengthen their capacity to participate in and move upward in sustainable value chains) and building women’s capacity in CSA practices and technologies.
This project aims to strengthen the capacity of Mauritius, Seychelles, Guinea-Bissau and Jamaica to formulate and implement integrated and coherent national planning and policy that promote social inclusion, macroeconomic stability, effective governance, protection of the environment and mobilizes stakeholders. Based on integrated planning methodologies and the principles of blue and green economy, the focus will be to support the development of economies that are resilient, diversified and have strengthened productive capacities. Environmental vulnerabilities and resilience building, including sustainable forest management, will receive special attention. The project will deliver a program of support that builds on DESA’s existing capacity development activities in integrated recovery planning, economic and environmental modelling, governance and institutional arrangements for policymaking, coordination and implementation, forests and climate financing and SIDS specific support. It will include analysis, training, advice, and stakeholder involvement activities to strengthen national capacities and processes for planning, including establishment of appropriate governance arrangements for formulation and implementation of integrated national development planning and responses to crises, such as those posed by the war in Ukraine and the COVID pandemic. Project impact would be evidenced by the incorporation and use of DESA tools, methods and approaches into national development plans, pandemic recovery strategies and other policies and strategies for the achievement of the SDGs.
While innovation in the public sector is often overlooked due to its gradual and understated nature, it holds immense potential as a catalyst to accelerate the implementation of SDGs. However, it is necessary to broaden our understanding of innovation beyond just technological advancements and to view it as a new approach to policymaking, business processes, partnership and service delivery for enhancing effectiveness and efficiency in public sectors. Innovation does not happen in a vacuum. It requires a cultural shift within the organization and leadership, as well as the institutional setting, including promoting an enabling environment, cultivating creative mindsets, fostering strategic partnerships, taking calculated risks, and accepting failures. The project aims to build and complement the efforts of the governments in four target countries by encouraging the prioritization of innovation practices and fostering innovation experimentation in the public sector. Countries with innovation strategies or dedicated innovation entities within the government exhibit a stronger commitment to finding creative solutions to address today’s challenges and preparing for future uncertainty. While having an innovation strategy or creating an innovation unit is not an end in itself, it can provide a clearer roadmap for achieving the SDGs and position governments at all levels to better utilize their limited resources to promote inclusive development and create a resilient society . The project intends to enhance the institutional capacities of government officials in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam to outline a vision for public sector innovation in line with their existing national development plan or SDG implementation plan. The project will be implemented by the Division of Public Institutions and Digital Government of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DPIDG/UN DESA), in close consultation with the UN Resident Coordinator System and the UN Country Teams as applicable.
This project aims to enhance the capacity of Malawi, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to utilize non-traditional data and integrated data sources for evidence-informed policy formulation in response to national and global crises. It underscores the critical importance of informed policymaking, aiming to bridge the gap between data developers and users while fostering effective coordination among stakeholders. By equipping these countries with tools and knowledge, the objective is to mitigate the impacts of food, fuel, and finance crises and contribute towards the achievement of the SDGs. The cost-of-living crisis, characterized by rising food prices, increasing energy costs, and tightening financial conditions, disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and perpetuates poverty cycles, impacting approximately 1.6 billion people.The project will support the three countries in building national statistical capacities, leveraging innovative sources, methods, and tools. It will draw upon experiences such as the Data for Now Initiative, guidance materials from the Inter-Secretariat Working Group on Household Surveys, and ongoing work on citizen-generated data and fast economic indicators under the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science in Official Statistics. The project will also build on DESA’s experience in supporting countries in evidence-informed policy making.The project seeks to strengthen national statistical and data eco-systems and foster collaboration among different stakeholders. The project also aims to enhance data usage for crisis response policies by effectively utilizing data produced from nontraditional data sources and integration across data sources. The expected progress includes increasing the capacity of Malawi, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to produce and effectively utilize non-traditional data effectively for evidence-informed policy formulation. In this context, capacity-building programs for government officials and policymakers to enhance their data analysis skills and use of innovative data sources will be undertaken. This will help to enhance the use of innovative approaches, integration of data sources, in-depth analysis, and fostering stakeholder coordination and collaboration. The project will generate valuable insights through pilot and case studies, empowering these countries to develop and use evidence to make informed decisions and formulate policies for sustainable development.
The 75th session of the UN General Assembly recognized that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was one of the most significant global challenges in the United Nations' history and noted with deep concern its impact on people the society, and the economy. Thus, at the same session, the General Assembly endorsed a comprehensive and coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic (A/RES/74/306) that calls, i.e. for the development of new interoperable data tools and the strengthening of platforms to inform mitigation and response actions and continuously monitor the impact of the pandemic, mainly to assist people in vulnerable situations and the poorest and most vulnerable countries, to build a more equitable, inclusive, sustainable and resilient future. The Resolution further encourages building resilient, inclusive and integrated data and statistical systems, under the leadership of national statistical offices (NSOs), that can respond to the increased and urgent data demands in times of disaster and ensure a path towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. The Project will explicitly address the call of the 75th session of the General Assembly to leverage SDG mechanisms and instruments, including statistics and data, to inform the COVID-19 response and recovery policy. It will also respond to the request addressed by NSOs in both surveys conducted by the WB and UNSD, jointly with the 5 UN Regional Commissions, to consolidate the institutional and organizational frameworks supporting efficient and effective governance and coordination mechanisms of NSS (NSS) and enhance the technical capacity to continue operating effectively and take advantage of the fast-evolving data ecosystem and digital infrastructure. The proposed Project will build on the successes and lessons learned from the Development Account 10th tranche on Statistics and Data (hereafter DA10 Statistics and Data), including the draft final evaluation findings regarding governance, coordination, and implementation modalities. The Project will bring together eight implementing entities of the Secretariat, capitalizing on their technical expertise and comparative advantages, with a common objective to help developing countries face the data challenges of the short- and longer-term development agenda. The specific data needs will also inform COVID-19 response and recovery policy at local, national, regional, and global levels. The Project is expected to improve the resilience and flexibility of NSS to collect, process and communicate data and statistics to inform COVID-19 response and recovery policy at local, national, regional, and global levels. Thus, the Project will address i) the infrastructure underlying the production of official statistics, such as the institutional environment in which NSS operate, quality standards, and the use of new technologies and innovative data sources such as Big Data and geospatial information, supported by agile and resilient statistical production architecture and IT infrastructure; and ii) specific data gaps that will require conceptual and methodological development and leveraging the leadership of the implementing entities in specific sectoral/thematic areas. The Project aims to leverage other initiatives to strengthen statistical capacities to have a higher multiplier effect and work in close partnership with the United Nations system, including the UN resident coordinator system, and other relevant multilateral and bilateral partners. The Project will target more specifically NSS and national geospatial agencies of least developed countries (LDCs), small island developing states (SIDS) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) as well as operate at inter-regional, regional, and sub-regional levels, where relevant.
Integrated national financing frameworks (INFFs) can help countries design and deliver financing solutions that can support the achievement of national sustainable development objectives, and a sustainable recovery. Since INFFs were first introduced as part of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, interest in them has grown steadily. The international community has responded by developing tools and providing funding for national reform efforts. In the last two years, the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development (IATF), led by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), has published a series of guidance materials to support INFF implementation. Governments in over 80 countries are working with UN Country Teams, UNDP and other UN system agencies to implement INFFs. The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout have further heightened interest in INFFs, with several countries adopting them in support of recovery plans. With a view to complementing the implementation support provided by partners, UNDESA is proposing a targeted support program for sustainable development and SDG Financing in 4 Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as part of the DESA-led Financing for SIDS (FINS Initiative). DESA’s work is complementary to UNDP country support, providing high caliber integrated experts who work in country, as well as tailored mentoring support and training at the regional and global level. This in-depth support both addresses the special needs of SIDS and will serve as a basis for refining and developing global analytical work. The SIDS work will thus be levered to support implementation of INFFs across a wide group of countries. INFFs can help SIDS develop effective and comprehensive frameworks for financing sustainable development and the SDGs at the country level, by considering all types of finance (i.e., public, private, domestic, and international) in a risk-informed manner. Initially, three African SIDS (Guinea Bissau, Mauritius, and Seychelles) expressed interest in receiving support on financing for sustainable development under the DESAled FINS initiative. To obtain support under the project, the government entity in charge of overseeing and coordinating the design of the financing strategy and its alignment with the country’s national development priorities (most usually the Ministry of Finance), in coordination with other relevant core Ministries as appropriate, must send a formal request for support to UNDESA through the UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UNRCOs). As of August 2022, Mauritius and Seychelles have sent formal requests of support for the development of an integrated national financing strategy to UNDESA. This was the product of substantive exchanges with country officials that were facilitated by the UNRCO, UN country teams (UNCTs) and benefitted from engagement with other development partners such as UNDP. Country selection for the project is a continuing process and conversations are well underway with other SIDS with similar levels of interest and political backing for INFF operationalization, such as the Dominican Republic and Vanuatu.
The 2020-2022 World Social Protection Report noted that globally, only 46.9% of the population was effectively covered by at least one social protection benefit, and in Africa and Asia and the Pacific, this is even lower, at 17.4% and 44.1%, respectively. Evidence suggests that countries with better social protection policies and programmes are better at curbing the effects of the Triple Crisis, with overall positive effects on health, education, labour market outcomes, income inequality, and social cohesion. Hence, it is imperative to build countries’ capacity to build robust, sustainable, gender-sensitive and crisis-responsive social protection policies and programmes. This project will support six selected countries in the regions of Africa and Asia and the Pacific to strengthen their social protection systems and programmes’ capacities to identify, reach out and expand to those left behind and build robust, sustainable, inclusive and crisis responsive policies and programmes by training policy makers on the use of already existing digital platforms that can provide useful guidance on monitoring SDG progress and acceleration by identifying those groups left furthest behind, understanding the factors and circumstances behind the Triple Crisis that affects them and help building the national capacities to accelerate participant countries development plans. Furthermore, the project will help developing local capacities to use the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) as an analytical tool to identify the most vulnerable people, show aspects in which they are deprived and, consequently, target resources and design policies more effectively. This work is expected to enhance capacities of target countries to develop integrated social protection policies and strategies that enhance the delivery of social protection services and increase resilience to future crises in the six selected countries in the regions of Africa and Asia and the Pacific, which would be demonstrated by the enhanced capacity of selected countries to design and implement public policies and programmes towards universal social protection, with a focus on identifying and incorporating into the policies and programmes the most affected people and people in vulnerable situations who are disproportionately impacted by the Triple Crisis