Governments cannot achieve sustainable development on their own. If the international processes currently underway are to be successful in their aim to establish a development framework that meets today’s global needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own, then these processes need to inclusive, transparent, and based upon a diversity of perspectives and experience. Stakeholders at the national, regional and global level will be vital to the implementation and monitoring of a future development framework and therefore have a vested interest in its design.
The importance of multi-stakeholder input and buy-in to the success of a future development agenda has been recognised at the international level and a number of UN-led global consultations have been launched to seek views on a new development framework, and provide evidence and perspectives on the sustainable development challenges people face.
Stakeholders can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals process in a number of different ways. See below for a full-list of of engagement opportunities for the intergovernmental process:
Thematic Clusters
There are 23 broad thematic areas that are being considered by the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG on SDGs) and as a result the United Nations has set-up advisory groups to inform the OWG on SDGs on each of these priorities. It is the responsibility of these working groups, which are known as thematic clusters to prepare joint position papers or briefs on the debated themes for the consideration of the OWG. Major Groups and other stakeholders are able to contribute to the Thematic Clusters, in the following ways:
• Comment and provide input on joint position papers
• Submit relevant material, such as background papers or articles
To get involved and learn more about the thematic clusters, visit the Sustainable Development Knowledge Sharing Platform
Morning Meetings with the OWG on SDGs
The co-chairs of the OWG hold meetings with Major Groups and other stakeholder representatives. These meetings have been taking place early in the morning before the start of OWG session days. The morning meetings are organised around the themes which are considered by the OWG on that day. The objective of these meetings is to enable co-chairs to capture concrete proposals and recommendations from a wide range of stakeholders on global goals to be considered later that day by the OWG.
A stakeholder panel presents the results of broad and wide thematic consultations conducted around the world on specific topics followed by interaction with the floor. Panellists are selected based on thematic expertise and contributions to the thematic clusters. To get involved and learn more about the thematic clusters, visit the Sustainable Development Knowledge Sharing Platform
Intersessionals between stakeholders and the OWG on SDGs
On 22 November, the UN Secretariat has held a full-day intersessional meeting between Major Groups and other stakeholders and the OWG. The purpose of the meeting was to provide Major Groups and other stakeholders with the opportunity to interact with the members of the OWG and provide inputs into the process on SDGs. Unlike the morning meetings, participants at the intersessionals are afforded the opportunity to discuss a range of issues regarding the work of the OWG, including: means of implementation; partnerships; the role of Major Groups and other stakeholders; and thematic priorities. To learn more about the November intersessional and how to get involved in the second meeting, which will take place in early 2014 visit the Sustainable Development Knowledge Sharing Platform.
Sustainable Development Goals e-Inventory
The SDGs e-Inventory is an interactive online tool crowdsourcing proposals on global goals for the post-2015 period.
The e-Inventory provides all stakeholders with a platform to outline and disseminate their research on and recommendations for global goals. This information can then be used to inform the intergovernmental process on sustainable development goals (SDGs).
It will also help stakeholders (including governments and intergovernmental organisations) become better informed about the wide range of proposals, expectations and evidence-based arguments on SDGs and other global goals for development being proposed as part of the post-2015 development framework.
Additional consultations that feed into the post-2015 deliberations
To view a list of other post-2015 consultations, click here.