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Current work
Providing recommendations to Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF): The CEPA working group will provide policy advice on institutional aspects related to the 2025 theme of the session of ECOSOC and the HLPF, entitled "advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind".
Background
ECOSOC annually requests the Committee to examine and make recommendations on the theme of the session of the Council and the HLPF and to contribute to the review of the implementation of SDG 16, giving particular attention to the cross-cutting nature of all SDGs. It invites the Committee to advise on approaches and practices related to the institutions, policies and arrangements to promote the implementation of the SDGs, bearing in mind that the specific contexts and situations of countries differ widely, as well as to advise on making institutions effective, accountable and inclusive.
CEPA inputs to HLPF
- CEPA input to the 2024 HLPF: New governance insights to advance the SDGs and eradicate poverty
To promote the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative governance solutions in alignment with the 2024 theme of the Economic and Social Council and the high-level political forum on sustainable development, five urgently needed transformative actions are required: anchoring the Sustainable Development Goals in the public discourse as a policy framework for the future; promoting sustainability through national budgets to increase public trust; investing in changing mindsets in the public sector; applying the principles of effective governance for sustainable development; and closing gaps in awareness of the Goals and of their importance at all levels. (CEPA 23rd session, 2023)
- CEPA input to the 2023 HLPF: Urgently transforming institutions for a greener, more inclusive and more resilient world at a time of multiple crises
A cascade of simultaneous crises is undermining the resilience of governments at all levels as well as their capacity to address the root causes of complex challenges in a holistic and context-sensitive manner. While the ability to respond quickly and effectively to crises is essential, an excessive focus on crisis management might result in relative neglect of six approaches to policymaking that are central to delivery of sustainable development: long-term thinking, risk management, use of best available knowledge, stakeholder participation, promotion of collaborative mindsets among public sector workers and leveraging of public financial management mechanisms to bridge financing gaps. (CEPA 22nd session, 2023)
- CEPA input to the 2022 HLPF: Transforming institutions and governance to build forward better towards 2030
To build forward from the COVID-19 pandemic and advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, governments should strengthen their public institutions and their social, physical, and technological infrastructure, while making their economies more resilient and agile to be better prepared to manage potential future economic, social, and environmental shocks. This calls, inter alia, for political will, a change of mindsets and the sound management of public resources. None of the institutional-building objectives to support the SDGs can be attained without ensuring that COVID-19 has been well-contained while addressing in particular the plight of the poor and other vulnerable groups, supporting the weakest countries and leaving no one behind. To these ends, Governments should effectively cooperate, including on data- and information-sharing, digitalization, widespread vaccination, testing, and access to medication, education, and training. The exchange of lessons learned from the pandemic will be crucial. (CEPA 21st session, 2022)
- CEPA input to the 2021 HLPF: Building inclusive, effective and resilient institutions for sustainable recovery from the coronavirus disease pandemic and timely implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of the Goals should not be seen as sequential or separate. The 2030 Agenda provides a roadmap to recover from the pandemic and build resilience to future shocks. Achieving sustainable development and strengthening resilience requires a long-term perspective in policymaking together with institution-building at all levels, based on effective governance for sustainable development, and a steadfast commitment to promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies. (CEPA 20th session, 2021)
- CEPA input to the 2020 HLPF: Promoting effective governance and institutional reform to accelerate the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals
Many countries might not be prepared to implement the Goals at the desired scale and speed because of a general undervaluing of the public sector in economic theories of past decades and a disregard for the contribution the sector can make to society when equipped with adequate capacity and the appropriate skills and mindsets. Combatting corruption also remains a crucial precondition of effective governance for accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (CEPA 19th session, 2020)
- CEPA input to the 2019 HLPF: Governance and public administration aspects of empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality
Building equal and inclusive societies and leaving no one behind requires addressing the deep inequalities that exist in many countries. This in turn may require institutions at all levels to play a greater role in promoting and enforcing non-discriminatory laws and policies. (CEPA 18th session, 2019)
- CEPA input to the 2018 HLPF: Challenges for institutions in the transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies
Institutions play a critical role in the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals and targets and a wide range of pragmatic ongoing improvements in national and local governance capabilities can yield important long-term results. Building on the work of the sixteenth session, the Committee agrees on a set of principles of effective governance for sustainable development that could serve as an important reference point in building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels and in support of the implementation of all Sustainable Development Goals. (CEPA 17th session, 2018)
- CEPA input to the 2017 HLPF: Challenges for institutions in eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world
Government and public institutions have the leading role to implement the SDGs and pursue policies to leave no one behind. (CEPA 16th session, 2017)
- CEPA input to the 2016 HLPF: Challenges for institutions in ensuring that no one is left behind
The SDGs give renewed urgency to addressing some intractable challenges of public administration. Among them is realizing the core principle of leaving no one behind. The principle is closely connected to efforts to promote diversity and non-discrimination, as well the rights of access to public service on general terms of equality and participation in the public affairs of one’s country. (CEPA 15th session, 2016)
What action does ECOSOC recommend?
ECOSOC recognizes that achieving sustainable development and strengthening resilience at a time of multiple crises require both a short-term and a long-term perspective in public policymaking, together with institution-building at all levels, based on effective governance for sustainable development, as well as a steadfast commitment to promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies, and encourages Governments to integrate reflections of a long-term vision of society into their planning, monitoring and reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals and into their voluntary national reviews of progress towards 2030 (ECOSOC resolution 2024/L.14, para. 4).
ECOSOC encourages Governments to address the complex problems underlying crises in a holistic manner, ensuring that crisis management does not hinder the continuous implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (ECOSOC resolution 2024/L.14, para. 5).
ECOSOC urges Governments to reinforce action on commitments to the 2030 Agenda and promote the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions, inter alia, by systematically incorporating assessments of the social, environmental and economic impacts of public policy in all areas of decision-making, strengthening multilevel governance strategies and actions in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals as a matter of priority, and redoubling efforts to promote awareness of the Goals within the context of national sustainable development plans across the whole of government and the whole of society (ECOSOC resolution 2024/L.14, para. 6).
ECOSOC recognizes that accelerating the delivery of the 2030 Agenda at all levels calls for more integrated solutions to achieve the vision and Goals of the 2030 Agenda as well as capable State at all levels, and encourages countries to design and implement integrated national institution-building strategies that address important capability gaps across the whole of government (ECOSOC resolution 2024/L.14, para. 7).
ECOSOC reiterates that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, and encourages Governments to accelerate efforts to build inclusive institutions at all levels through holistic, people-centred policies and interventions that empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all segments of society, reduce inequalities and address the needs of those furthest behind first (ECOSOC resolution 2024/L.14, para. 10).
ECOSOC requests the Committee at its twenty-fourth session, to be held from 7 to 11 April 2025, to examine and make recommendations on the theme of the 2025 session of the Council and the 2025 high-level political forum and to contribute to the review of the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 16, giving particular attention to the cross-cutting nature of all the Goals (ECOSOC resolution 2024/L.14, para. 22).
ECOSOC invites the Committee to continue to advise on approaches and practices related to the institutions, policies and arrangements to promote the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, bearing in mind that the specific contexts and situations of countries differ widely, as well as to advise on making institutions effective, accountable and inclusive (ECOSOC resolution 2024/L.14, para. 23).
- Expert papers on this topic (2016-present)
New governance insights to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and eradicate poverty (E/C.16/2024/2, 19 January 2024)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
Urgently transforming institutions for a greener, more inclusive and more resilient world in times of multiple crises (E/C.16/2023/2, 11 January 2023)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
Transforming institutions and governance to build forward better towards 2030 (E/C.16/2022/2, 18 January 2022)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
Building inclusive, effective and resilient institutions for sustainable recovery from the coronavirus disease pandemic and timely implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (E/C.16/2021/2, 28 January 2021)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | SpanishPromoting effective governance and institutional reform to accelerate the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (E/C.16/2020/2, 17 January 2020)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | SpanishProgress on institutional aspects of Sustainable Development Goal 16: access to information, transparency, participation and accountability (E/C.16/2019/7, 24 January 2019)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | SpanishGovernance and public administration aspects of empowering people to build equal and inclusive societies for the twenty-first century (E/C.16/2019/3, 24 January 2019)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | SpanishThe use of tax records for the achievement of the SDGs (conference room paper, 19 November 2018)
Promoting policy institutional coherence for the Sustainable Development Goals (E/C.16/2018/2, 14 February 2018)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | SpanishSuccessfully achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: what is to be done? (E/C.16/2017/2, 30 January 2017)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | SpanishInstitutional arrangements for the Sustainable Development Goals (E/C.16/2017/5, 30 January 2017)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | SpanishPoverty eradication through regional development: the case of Brazil (E/C.16/2017/7, 7 February 2017)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | SpanishInstitutionalism re-invented in sustainable development: developing institutions for implementation of the 2030 Agenda and achievement of SDGs (conference room paper, 18 April 2017) (Addendum, March 2017)
Rolling out national social protection floors (conference room paper, 4 April 2017)
Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity while leaving no one behind: implications for public administration (conference room paper, 18 April 2017) Inclusive policy formulation and integration in the implementation and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (E/C.16/2016/2, 19 January 2016)
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- Related meetings
HLPF 2023 -Side event: Strengthening the VNR reports and processes: Recommendations for a new approach (19 July 2023)
HLPF 2023 - VNR Lab: Principles of effective governance in VNRs: Enhancing policy coherence for sustainable development (18 July 2023)
HLPF 2022 -VNR Lab: Recent innovations in institutional arrangements for SDG implementation (15 July 2022)
Expert meeting: Readying institutions and policies for integrated approaches to implementation of the 2030 Agenda (Vienna, 14-16 December 2016) (Report)
Symposium: Equipping public institutions and mobilizing partnerships for implementing the 2030 Agenda and SAMOA Pathway in small island developing States (Nassau, 21-23 February 2017) (Informal communique)
Expert group meeting: Moving from commitments to results in building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels (New York, 17-18 February 2016) (Report)
- Blogs by CEPA members
2024
A pentagram of governance action to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and eradicate poverty by Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Rolf Alter, Louis Meuleman, Lamia Moubayed and Alketa Peci, Members of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration
2023
Another take! Times of tectonic shifts and global changes: The public service and the Global South by Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Member of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration
Can crisis governance drive out the capacity for complexity governance? by Louis Meuleman, Member of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration