What governance trends emerged during the pandemic, and what are their implications for the achievement of the SDGs?
Global Governance for Sustainability relies on private sector and civil society
By 
2023-10-09T15:27:27+00:00October 9, 2023|
This article is part of the World Economic Forum’s Intelligence Map on Sustainable Development, which was co-curated by Southern Voice. Explore the map here.
In a globalized world, governance through treaties and international organizations is crucial for success. Each sovereign country may have its own laws, but international rules and norms help regulate their relations with one another. They can also foster global common goods like the natural environment, the ocean, and space, alongside global communication and international trade. The United Nations has been the at the centre of the global agenda since World War II. Its agreements, conventions, and treaties apply to human rights, climate change, and many other topics, and it can propose development policies for member states; the UN system can help build technical and financial capacity to implement these proposals. In 2015, the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was approved alongside 17 related goals, or SDGs. This approach requires accounting for different perspectives and sectoral agendas – and creates a need to shift from a governance structure of distinct agendas to a more integrated approach. One related change was the reform of the UN development system and designation of Resident Coordinators in many countries. This position, based in the UN Development Programme (UNDP), is central to promoting the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda.
The High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development is a UN subsidiary body responsible for monitoring policies and making recommendations to member states. And the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (formerly UN Development Assistance Framework), is implemented in member states through specific agreements; it is meant to enable a more comprehensive approach to the development agenda in each location, through consultation with a broad set of stakeholders (including the private sector). Specific related initiatives include the UNDP Accelerator Labs, established in more than 90 countries to incubate innovative approaches to making progress on the 2030 Agenda, and the Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund – an instrument for strategic investment in activities deemed necessary to achieve the SDGs. Like many other international agreements, the UN General Assembly resolution that approved the 2030 Agenda is not binding on countries. Its effectiveness therefore depends on the willingness of each member state to factor recommendations and decisions into local policies. As a result, the private sector and civil society can play key roles as advocates at the national level. Also playing a significant role: international cooperation instruments (technical and financial), and the transparency of mechanisms for measuring progress.
