(Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/26812228965)

The HLPF side event was held by the International Civil Society Centre (ICSC), featuring speakers who are working towards the goal of “leaving no one behind” in Agenda 2030. Such an ambition demands higher engagement and better connection among all actors, platforms, as well as citizens for the participatory progress towards implementing SDGs. Mr. Robert Skinner said, “We wish to leave no one behind, but we’re falling behind on that.” Since its creation, the United Nations Office for Partnerships has aimed to create partnerships that reach across the UN system, agencies, private and public sectors to scale up the level of implementation while making an impact on the local level. It is thus crucial for all participants, especially the experts and NGO partners present at the meeting, to reach out to the UN and local authorities.

His remark was aptly followed by the presentations of the regional experts, who worked closely with the local population in addressing SDGs. Among one of the gravest challenges is any form of language or illiteracy barriers. In Vietnam, more than half of the vulnerable population, such as ethnic minority groups or people in poverty, do not use the major language or are simply illiterate, excluding them from the social inclusion process. Women and persons of disabilities are likewise invisible in public discourse. Ms. Annie Namala and her organization from India also discovered that the causes and traits behind the social exclusion of certain people also vary while the recent government data sets yet to address them as large and generic castes. Lastly, the collection of information regarding the socially excluded takes time whilst prompt actions are highly demanded. In response, Mr. Stefan Jungcurt introduced the community-driven database implemented in Canada, which allows bottom-up data collection and multi-themed analysis that could be extremely useful in measuring SDGs. Ms. Yongyi Min called for effective partnerships with the governments for recognizing the legitimacy of data and reacting on those analyses.

Meeting: Towards a more accountable, inclusive, and participatory SDG implementation that leaves no one behind

Date/Location: Tuesday, July 9^th, 2019; 13:15-14:45; 2^nd floor, 777 UN Plaza, UN Church Cemter, New York, NY

Speakers:

Mr. Wolfgang Jamann, Executive Director, International Civil Society Centre

Mr. Robert Skinner, Execuive Director, United Nations Office for Partnerships

Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao, Country Director, ActionAid Vietnam

Ms. Annie Namala, Co-Chair, Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA)

Mr. Oluseyi Babatunde Oyebisi, Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs

Mr. Stefan Jungcurt, Lead SDG Knowledge, International Institute for Sustainable Development

Ms. Yongyi Min, Chief, SDG Monitoring, United Nations Statistics Division

Mr. Mandeep Tiwana, Chief Programmes Officer, Civicus

Ms. Rose Oluoch, Project Manager, SDGs Kenya Forum

Ms. Besinati Phiri Mpepo, Technical Director, Social Accountability, World Vision International

Ms. Birgitte Feiring, Director, Human Rights and Development and Business, Danish Institute for Human Rights

Written By: WIT Representative Yung-Hsuan Wu