Launch

Global State of the SDGs Report 2019

United Nations Foundation

Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice

3 & 4 March 2020

At the current pace, a large number of countries will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. As we start the next cycle of implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and launch the Decade of Action, the time is ripe for reflection and analysis to catalyze action moving forward.

Southern Voice’s “Global State of the SDGs Report” identifies not only the “second-generation” challenges that are stalling progress of the 2030 Agenda but also offers evidence-based policy responses to address them. It is a comprehensive review of the national, regional and global barriers to fulfilling the ‘leave no one behind’ promise that is central to the Goals. The initiative offers, through 10 outstanding reports, a series of actionable recommendations to overcome these challenges. This cutting edge research is the joint effort of 12 teams from a dozen Global South countries.

Southern Voice is a network of 51 think tanks from Africa, Asia and Latin America. With high-quality research and strategic outreach, we address the knowledge asymmetry that still pervades development debates. Southern Voice believes that local evidence and analysis is critical to the implementation of effective and context-aware interventions. 

          

Tuesday, 3 March 2020

“Key synergies among Goals: accelerating the 2030 Agenda”

Welcome remarks by Sofia Borges (Senior Vice President, UN Foundation) & Debapriya Bhattacharya (Chair, Southern Voice)

Panel Session with:

  • Jose Florito – Coordinator, Social Protection Program, CIPPEC (Argentina)
  • Chukwuka Onyekwena – Senior Research Fellow, CSEA (Nigeria)

  • Respondents:

    • Irena Zubcevic, Chief, Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development, UN DESA
    • Kate Richards, Outreach Manager  – Inclusive Data Charter, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data
  • Moderator: Kavita Desai, Advisor on Global Policy and Sustainable Development, UN Foundation

A lack of thorough understanding of the interactions between SDGs (and their targets) has prevented many countries from maximising synergies and minimising trade-offs. This has delayed progress on the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. 

  • How do we map these interactions? 
  • Can priorities that enable deeper transformations be identified? 
  • How do we institutionalise a “holistic” approach to the Goals? 
  • Why is coordination between actors critical in this regard and how do we achieve it? 

These are some of the questions which we will discuss on day one. They will be guided by relevant findings from our “State of the SDGs” Global Report 2019 and a case study focused on education in Nigeria. 

Wednesday, 4 March 2020

 “Engaging the global community: addressing the impact of global challenges”

Welcome remarks by Sofia Borges (Senior Vice President, UN Foundation) and Debapriya Bhattacharya (Chair, Southern Voice) 

Panel Session with:

  • Vaqar Ahmed – Joint Executive Director, SDPI (Pakistan)
  • Karin Fernando – Senior Researcher, CEPA (Sri Lanka)
  • Respondent: H.E. Mrs. Janine Elizabeth Coye-Felson, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Belize to the United Nations
  • Moderator: Jimena Leiva Roesch, Senior Fellow, International Peace Institute

We call global systemic issues the challenges which require global action. Examples are climate change, technological innovations, arms trade and illicit financial flows. 

  • How do global issues – and their global policy responses – impact the pace at which countries implement the SDGs at a national level? 
  • How can countries react to global trends? 
  • Which reforms of the global governance arrangement should be prioritized to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda? 

On the second day, panellists will discuss these important questions for the global community. To exemplify this, we will look at a case study from Sri Lanka and the impact of automation on its apparel sector.                 

Email secretariat@southernvoice.org  if you are interested in attending or want to learn more about the events.

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