The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides an integrated framework for action aimed at markedly improving the lives of the world’s people, protecting the Earth’s natural resources, and fostering peaceful, just and inclusive societies. Given the critical interlinkages among peace, development and human rights and the importance of an integrated system-wide response to challenges that threaten to undermine sustainable development, an analytical framework on risk and resilience was developed to provide a more proactive, risk-informed and prevention-centered approach to United Nations system efforts in support of the 2030 Agenda.
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The Shared United Nations System Framework for Action on Equality and Non-discrimination aims to establish a common understanding of the challenge of rising inequalities and pervasive discrimination and to put forward a common programme for action. The Framework specifies elements of a comprehensive and coherent package of policy and programme support at the national, regional and global levels; promotes a common, system-wide approach to the analysis and monitoring of inequalities and discrimination, and their root causes; and identifies ways to strengthen accountability measures.
This report synthesizes the main lessons learned from the MDG Reviews conducted by the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) between April 2013 and November 2015. The exercise, which brought together United Nations and World Bank Group staff, summarized the country situation, identified bottlenecks to attainment, and suggested potential solutions in 16 countries and 1 subregion. Many of the observations and proposed solutions could prove useful in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Coherent implementation of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of United Nations operational activities continued to be of highest priority to the United Nations Development Group. As called for in General Assembly resolution 67/226, the United Nations Development Group has systematically increased its focus on South-South and triangular cooperation.
The General Assembly in its resolution 67/216 encouraged the United Nations system to effectively contribute and actively participate in the third UN conference on housing and sustainable urban development (Habitat III) to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, in October 2016, as well as the preparatory process leading up to it. The conference is expected to result in the reinvigoration of the global commitment to housing and sustainable urban development and the implementation of a “New Urban Agenda.” Cities are engines
As the international community became increasingly engaged in with the formulation of a new development framework, the General Assembly in its resolution 69/17 emphasized the key role to be played by CEB in ensuring coordinated United Nations system-wide support in the preparation of and follow-up to the post-2015 development agenda, in accordance with relevant intergovernmental mandates.
With the 2015 deadline to meet the Millennium Development Goals on the horizon, CEB had decided, at its second regular session of 2012, to include a review of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals at each of its forthcoming sessions through 2015, beginning at its first regular session of 2013, with a view to helping to accelerate progress within countries that experience difficulties achieving one or more of the goals.
Throughout 2014, CEB responded to calls by the General Assembly for system-wide coordination in the follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Summit and the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries, as well as in the preparation of the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, the third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, the summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, and the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development.
Pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 2008 (LX), the present report provides an overview of the annual work of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB).
The UN system organized sixteen joint UN system side events and technical briefings at COP21. The events highlighted the UN system’s work on climate action in a range of thematic areas, including climate finance, innovations, health, food security and transport.Download PDF.
For the first time, a joint “One UN Exhibit Area” will be organized at COP20, allowing delegates to explore the UN system’s expertise and services in key thematic areas, including Sustainable Energy, Industry, Green Investment, Education, Climate Science, Human Mobility and National Policies for Climate Action.
The UN system will organize eleven joint UN system side events and technical briefings at COP20. The events will highlight the UN system’s work on climate action in a range of thematic areas, including climate finance, innovations, health, food security and transport. In addition, there will be a UN high-level event, organized by WMO.
During the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, UN Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon, as Chair of the CEB, will host a high-level event on "The UN system partnering for the people of SIDS". The event builds on the joint CEB statement to the Conference that was endorsed by the Board in May 2014.
The United Nations system Network on Rural Development and Food Security is a global partnership for tackling development challenges at the country level. Established in 1997 by the Administrative Committee on Coordination (now CEB), it brings together key actors for the achievement of the shared goals of food for all and rural poverty reduction. Comprising 20 United Nations organizations, the Network is an inter-agency mechanism for follow-up to the World Food Summit (1996) and World Food Summit: five years later (2002) and supports the International Land Coalition.
The United Nations system Standing Committee on Nutrition is a partnership among United Nations organizations, Governments and NGOs, with the mandate to strengthen worldwide efforts to fight malnutrition. The Standing Committee analyses trends and raises awareness on nutrition issues, galvanizes action at the global, regional and national levels against malnutrition and promotes cooperation among United Nations agencies and partner organizations in support of national efforts to end malnutrition.
Within the United Nations system, three Rome-based United Nations organizations — the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) — complement and reinforce each other’s activities to address the immediate and long-term challenges of fighting hunger and achieving food security. FAO provides technical expertise and policy guidance. IFAD provides loans and grants to help the rural poor to overcome poverty and gain the means to achieve food security.
CEB member organizations continued to participate actively in the review and follow-up of specific recommendations emanating from oversight reports by the Joint Inspection Unit, the Board of Auditors and the Office of Internal Oversight Services. Priority attention is given to maintaining the highest levels of transparency and accountability, strict compliance with established rules and regulations and enhancing the capacity of the United Nations system for oversight and audit.
Since 2001, CEB has continued to give high priority to engendering and extending effective and coordinated support for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Its main objective has been to provide policy guidance to ensure that United Nations system support for NEPAD remains responsive to the needs of Africa. During 2004, the High-Level Committee on Programmes, on behalf of CEB, undertook an in-depth examination of the system’s support for NEPAD in the broad context of the implementation of the Millennium Declaration.
The following information on existing mechanisms to coordinate the fight against hunger has been included in the present report in response to a request by the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its forty-fourth session.
In 2004, CEB began to consider its contribution to the preparations for the 2005 comprehensive review of the implementation of the Millennium Declaration. It decided that a special report focusing on the impact of the Millennium Declaration on the workings of the system and on the quality of the support that the system is extending to Member States would serve as a useful contribution to the 2005 review.
Since 2001, the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) has built its policy agenda around the themes identified in the Secretary-General’s first report on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration (A/56/326). In that report, the Secretary-General set out a broad road map for the follow-up process and proposed two topics on which the process might focus each year, leading to a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Declaration in 2005.
We, the Executive Heads of the organizations of the United Nations system, reconfirm our support for the Doha Development Round, which has placed development at the heart of the multilateral trading system. We are resolved to work closely with the World Trade Organization to ensure the success of its forthcoming Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong, China, as a stepping stone towards the conclusion of the round in 2006.
With its cross-cutting political, economic and social impacts, the increasing international movement of people touches upon the mandates of many of the United Nations system’s specialized agencies, programmes and funds. Organizations carry out a wide variety of activities that contribute to improving the outcomes of international migration and to assist Governments in addressing international migration issues.
At its forty-fifth session, the Committee for Programme and Coordination invited CEB to continue to monitor the effective coordination of system-wide efforts against hunger and poverty and recommended that CEB include in its next annual overview report information on progress being achieved and problems being encountered by the relevant inter-agency mechanisms.
The Summit invited the Secretary-General to develop proposals for “more tightly managed entities in the field of development, humanitarian assistance and the environment” (General Assembly resolution 60/1). Accordingly, in February 2006, the Secretary-General set up the High-level Panel on United Nations System-wide Coherence in the Areas of Development, Humanitarian Assistance and the Environment to undertake a study on United Nations system-wide coherence, with the participation of the Chairs of HLCP and the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) in an ex officio capacity.
The High-level Panel on United Nations System-wide Coherence in the Areas of Development, Humanitarian Assistance and the Environment; Increasing the effectiveness and coherence of United Nations system activities at the country level.
At its fall 2005 session, immediately following the 2005 World Summit, CEB focused its discussion on the implications of, and follow-up to the 2005 World Summit Outcome. The Secretary-General stressed that the Summit Outcome should be seen as a call to action — for Member States, civil society and other stakeholders, and the United Nations system as a whole. Its implications for the United Nations system were clear: the system had been challenged to be more effective and efficient across the breadth of its agenda and to demonstrate greater coherence. The bar had been set high.
The United Nations system is unique in the range and coverage of its structures and mandates and in the diversity of the means of action that are at its disposal. These characteristics can be a unique source of strength in addressing the increasingly complex and interrelated challenges that the international community is facing.
CEB reviewed current economic and social trends in African development and the serious problems that many African countries continued to face in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and recalled its earlier decision to place African development as a regular item on its agenda.
Recognizing the importance of substantive thematic coordination in responding to the needs and priorities of partner countries, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) informed CEB that the three organizations had decided to combine their complementary capacities and comparative advantages within food security theme groups at the country level.
CEB took up the issue of international migration and development on the basis of an initial assessment of the implications for the system, as discussed by the General Assembly at the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development; CEB would seek to identify the steps needed to work towards greater policy coherence and programmatic and operational coordination in that area. In that regard, an effort by the Global Migration Group to improve the knowledge base through an inventory of available data sources in each of its member organizations was supported.
Support to African development and Climate change.
International migration and development and Food security theme groups at the country level.
CEB also addressed the outcome of the midterm review by the General Assembly of the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010. CEB highlighted the need to make every effort to accelerate the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action as a major integral part of the drive towards meeting the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.
Over the 2006/07 period, CEB addressed a number of emerging and important programme issues with system-wide implications. Those included issues that required the development of a coordinated response from the United Nations, such as international migration and development, the midterm review of the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries, and the cross-cutting issue of employment and decent work.
A consistent focus of the work of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) over the years has been to capitalize on the unique legitimacy and combined strengths of the organizations of the United Nations system, in order to maximize the system’s responsiveness to the requirements of Member States and the international community.
The Board considered the issue of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into United Nations development policies and practices following a request from the Secretary-General for CEB to take up the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action: 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. In that context, the importance of a coherent United Nations system approach in helping countries to reduce the risk of disasters and in integrating disaster risk considerations into sustainable development strategies was stressed.
The Chief Executives Board followed up on its decision, at its fall session 2006, that United Nations system organizations would redouble their efforts to accelerate the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action in their respective fields of competence.
Employment toolkit; United Nations system action plan for the further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries during the period 2007 2010; Aid for trade; Peacebuilding; Disaster reduction; Rights of persons with disabilities; UN-Energy, UN-Water and UN-Oceans; Trade capacity-building.
CEB continued its consideration of African development and the multidisciplinary response required from the United Nations system given the interdependent nature of the development process in Africa. Board considerations focused on the need for clarity with respect to the various initiatives in the United Nations system on Africa. The Board was of the view that the approach the system was taking should be articulated clearly to Member States and to African Governments in particular.
The period 2007/08 has seen significant progress in enhancing the role and functioning of the CEB as an effective coordinating mechanism of the United Nations system. The review of the CEB that was completed during the reporting period served to consolidate the key coordination functions of operational activities at the country level, that is, the harmonization of management functions and programme coordination under an integrated structure, enabling a comprehensive approach towards United Nations system-wide coordination.
While Chief Executives Board considered a number of substantive programme issues during the reporting period, the issues of climate change and support to development in Africa featured high on the Board’s agenda. The nature and scope of those issues require that they be addressed through a coordinated and sustained effort that CEB is well positioned to provide.
The 2007/08 reporting period marked several important events that have contributed to the continuous efforts of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) to further coordination and cooperation among United Nations system organizations on a wide range of programme, management and operational issues. The increasingly vocal calls from the international community for a more effective, coherent and better performing United Nations elevated the Chief Executives Board to new prominence in intergovernmental debates.
The Board reviewed the progress made towards mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in the policies and strategies in the United Nations system. Given the growing frequency and severity of natural disasters in recent years, CEB agreed on the need to consider disaster risk reduction as a cross-cutting issue at all levels, and endorsed the following actions by entities of the United Nations system:
At its second regular session 2008, CEB endorsed the management and accountability framework for the United Nations development and resident coordinator system, including a functional firewall for the resident coordinator system. The agreement contains a vision to guide the creation of a better-managed and more efficient United Nations development system.
In its resolution 63/230, the General Assembly considered that a theme for the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty should be “Full employment and decent work for all”. CEB had, through the development of the toolkit for mainstreaming employment and decent work, already made important contributions to promoting United Nations system policy coherence in this area.
Evaluation; Regional coherence; Campaign to end violence against women and girls; Contribution of the United Nations system to the Economic and Social Council; Disaster risk reduction; Science and technology; International Public Sector Accounting Standards; Knowledge-sharing; Human resources; Procurement; Collaboration with the Joint Inspection Unit; Coordination among pillars of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination
Global financial and economic crisis; Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017); Climate change; United Nations development system working together; Working together in crisis and post-crisis countries; Security and safety of staff; Business practices
In response to General Assembly resolution 63/230 on the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017), a time-bound inter-agency cluster group was set up by the High-level Committee on Programmes in 2008. To enhance the coherence of United Nations system-wide activities in the areas of employment and decent work in the context of poverty eradication, the group prepared a plan of action, which was endorsed by the Committee in 2009.
Ten years have passed since the adoption of the Millennium Declaration and the historical commitment to cut extreme poverty by half through the implementation of eight measurable and time-bound goals. In spite of significant achievements in a number of countries, progress remains uneven, and billions of people still struggle to meet their basic needs.
During the reporting period, CEB and its three pillars have made advances in the coordination and coherence of the United Nations system on system-wide issues. The Board also devoted increasing attention to operational issues at the country level and to alignment of the work of the United Nations system at the global, regional and country levels.
System-wide coherence; Enhancing the contribution of the United Nations system to the Economic and Social Council; Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017); Science and technology; Support to staff in emergency situations; Human resources; International Public Sector Accounting Standards; Financial management; Procurement; Information and communications technology; Collaboration with the Joint Inspection Unit.
United Nations system response to the global financial and economic crisis; Supporting progress towards the Millennium Development Goals; Climate change; Security and safety of staff; Harmonization of business practices; United Nations development system working together; Working together in crisis, post-crisis and transition countries;
During 2009/10, the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) continued its ongoing efforts to align the strengths of the United Nations system in support of countries’ efforts to deal with the challenges confronting the international community. Throughout the reporting period, CEB has played a key role in ensuring a coherent approach by the United Nations system in addressing the needs of the international community and delivering as one at the global, regional and country levels.
Attention to international migration at the global, regional and national levels has been increasing since the holding in 2006 by the General Assembly of the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development.
Deeply concerned about the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on 11 March 2011 and the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, CEB considered the issue of disaster risk reduction at its spring 2011 session. The situation in Japan has given rise to calls to reassess the international emergency response framework and the nuclear safety regime as well as ways to ensure the highest possible standards to safeguard health, food supply and the environment.
The United Nations system attaches highest importance to the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 9-13 May 2011. It is deeply engaged in supporting Member States to achieve an ambitious and strong outcome with concrete global partnership deliverables and commitments that will positively affect the lives of 880 million people in 48 countries.
At its spring 2011 session, CEB acknowledged the interlocking set of economic, social and environmental crises facing the world and the need for decisive action to accelerate sustainable development efforts. It recognized that the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) was a major opportunity for the United Nations system to lend its unified and coherent support to Member States in both organizing and delivering on the sustainable development agenda.
CEB strongly welcomed the Outcome of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals at its sixty-fifth session, held in New York in September 2010. CEB agreed to examine how best to bring together the different policy strands in an integrated approach to contribute to the urgent action required over the coming years in supporting individual country efforts to reach the Goals.
Effective and coordinated action across a wide range of issue areas is essential if the United Nations system is to deliver results that address the global challenges that confront the international community. The Chief Executives Board, the apex coordination mechanism of the United Nations system under the leadership of the Secretary-General, strives to ensure that the system aligns its collective strengths to meet the mandates established by Member States.
Follow-up to the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals; Climate Change; United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development; Sustainable energy and biodiversity; Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries; Disaster risk reduction.
During 2010/11, the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) intensified its efforts to align the strengths and expertise of its member organizations to respond to the mandates of Member States in a coordinated and effective manner. The adoption by the General Assembly of its resolution 64/289 has been an important directive for the United Nations system in further strengthening the coherence of its system-wide efforts, as detailed in the present report.
The 2010 High-level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals resulted in a global action agenda for reaching the Goals by 2015, and recommitted all actors to accelerate progress towards that end. The meeting’s outcome document provided the strategic guidance for the work of the United Nations system in supporting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Reducing disaster risk is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, in March 2015, aims to protect peoples’ lives and livelihoods from disasters. In April 2016, CEB adopted a revised “UN Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience” to guide the UN system's support to implementing the Sendai Framework and the broader 2030 Agenda
Member States have stated repeatedly that sustainable development was a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities and have called upon the United Nations system to take action to ensure the effective implementation of and follow-up to the sustainable development commitments, programmes and time-bound targets. At its fall 2011 session and spring 2012 session, CEB underscored that sustainable development, with its interlinked economic, social and environmental pillars, remained a top priority for the United Nations system.
In follow-up to decisions taken by the General Assembly inviting organizations of the United Nations system to increase their efforts in strengthening coordination and coherence when providing input to a number of forthcoming intergovernmental meetings and conferences, CEB addressed the issue of joint contributions by the United Nations system organizations to the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development to be held by the General Assembly in 2013, and the extension of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development Beyond 2014.
CEB addressed the issue of mainstreaming cross-cutting issues into the work of its member organizations by developing concrete tools, instruments and processes with regard to gender mainstreaming, human rights and disaster risk reduction, in support of intergovernmental decisions calling for coordinated system-wide actions in those areas.
Supporting Member States in their efforts to advance economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability in an integrated manner has been of paramount concern for CEB and is a centrepiece of the Secretary-General’s five-year action agenda.
During the reporting period, CEB, under the leadership of the Secretary-General, has made significant progress in taking effective and coordinated action on a wide range of programme, management and operational issues in support of intergovernmental mandates to ensure that the United Nations system collaborates closely on issues of system-wide concern.
Follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals Summit and preparations for the post-2015 framework; United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks; Management and accountability system; Crisis, post-crisis and transition countries.
Strengthening United Nations system support for sustainable development; Accelerating the mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues into the work of United Nations system organizations; Strengthening United Nations coordination for sustainable development challenges ahead.
Pursuant to resolution 2008 (LX) of the Economic and Social Council, the present report provides an annual overview of the work of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) for the period covering the Board’s fall 2011 session and spring 2012 session, held in October 2011 and April 2012, respectively.
Since the holding of the first high-level dialogue on international migration and development by the General Assembly in 2006, attention to the issue of international migration and development has grown.
In paragraph 27 of its resolution 64/236 on the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the General Assembly called upon the United Nations system, under the leadership of the Secretary-General, to ensure inter-agency coherence and participation in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and its preparatory process.
Agencies across the United Nations system support Member States in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and CEB has worked to ensure a coordinated United Nations system approach in the follow-up to the Millennium Summit since 2000.
Responding to calls by the General Assembly for system-wide coordination in the preparation and follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits, CEB through its subsidiary machinery, consistently develops joint contributions as inputs to those meetings and systematically promotes collaboration and coherence in follow-up actions by the United Nations system.
In 2012, CEB, under the leadership of the Secretary-General, has made further progress in taking effective and coordinated action on a wide range of programmatic, management and operational issues in support of intergovernmental mandates to ensure that the United Nations system collaborates closely and effectively on issues of system-wide concern.
Quadrennial comprehensive policy review of United Nations operational activities for development; Strengthening coordination at the country level.
In response to General Assembly resolution 67/226 on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of United Nations operational activities for development of the United Nations system, the United Nations Development Group placed the highest priority on ensuring coherent implementation of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review across the system with a firm focus on high-impact areas.
The interconnected nature of modern society accelerates commerce, opens vast opportunities for development and connects individuals across the globe on an unprecedented scale. However, the same technologies that Governments, private-sector enterprises and a growing proportion of the world’s population depend upon every day also bring risks for security and privacy.
The World Programme of Action for Youth, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995, provides the policy framework and practical guidelines for national action and international support to improve the well-being of young people around the world.
Acknowledging the important and complex interrelationship between international migration and development, and the need to deal with the challenges and opportunities that migration presents to countries of origin, transit and destination, the General Assembly, in its resolution 67/219, decided to hold a High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development on 3 and 4 October 2013.
The outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012, entitled “The future we want” (General Assembly resolution 66/288, annex) reaffirmed the importance of respect for human rights for sustainable development, peace and security and the rule of law.
There are 38 countries in the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean and the South China Sea that belong to the distinct group of small island developing States. The need to review and enhance the effectiveness, coherence and coordination of United Nations system support for small island developing States has been recognized by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council in various resolutions.
The least developed countries, representing the poorest group of developing countries, face unique economic, social and environmental vulnerabilities. The commitment of CEB to least developed countries and to the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 (Istanbul Programme of Action) followed from the Board’s endorsement of a statement of support to the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held from 9 to 13 May 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey.
In 2013, Member States affirmed not only their commitment to intensify efforts to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals but also their determination to craft a strong post-2015 development agenda that would build on the foundations laid by the Millennium Development Goals.
The Millennium Development Goals galvanized an unprecedented global effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest. Yet, despite substantial gains, many countries are struggling to meet one or more of the goals by the target date of 2015. With the Millennium Development Goal deadline rapidly approaching, CEB decided at its second regular session of 2012 to include a review of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals at each of its forthcoming sessions through 2015.
Throughout 2013, CEB responded to calls by the General Assembly for system-wide coordination in the preparation and follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Summit, post-2015 development agenda, Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries, and the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States. In support of those conferences and summits, CEB developed joint contributions and enhanced United Nations system-wide coherence in the implementation of conference outcomes.
Pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 2008 (LX), the present report provides an overview of the annual work of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB).
The least developed countries, representing the poorest group of developing countries, face unique economic, social and environmental vulnerabilities. The commitment of CEB to least developed countries and to the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 (Istanbul Programme of Action) followed from the Board’s endorsement of a statement of support to the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held from 9 to 13 May 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey.
In response to General Assembly resolution 67/226 on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of United Nations operational activities for development of the United Nations system, the United Nations Development Group placed the highest priority on ensuring coherent implementation of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review across the system with a firm focus on high-impact areas.
The interconnected nature of modern society accelerates commerce, opens vast opportunities for development and connects individuals across the globe on an unprecedented scale. However, the same technologies that Governments, private-sector enterprises and a growing proportion of the world’s population depend upon every day also bring risks for security and privacy.
The World Programme of Action for Youth, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995, provides the policy framework and practical guidelines for national action and international support to improve the well-being of young people around the world.
Acknowledging the important and complex interrelationship between international migration and development, and the need to deal with the challenges and opportunities that migration presents to countries of origin, transit and destination, the General Assembly, in its resolution 67/219, decided to hold a High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development on 3 and 4 October 2013.
The outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012, entitled “The future we want” (General Assembly resolution 66/288, annex) reaffirmed the importance of respect for human rights for sustainable development, peace and security and the rule of law.
There are 38 countries in the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean and the South China Sea that belong to the distinct group of small island developing States. The need to review and enhance the effectiveness, coherence and coordination of United Nations system support for small island developing States has been recognized by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council in various resolutions.
In 2013, Member States affirmed not only their commitment to intensify efforts to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals but also their determination to craft a strong post-2015 development agenda that would build on the foundations laid by the Millennium Development Goals.
The Millennium Development Goals galvanized an unprecedented global effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest. Yet, despite substantial gains, many countries are struggling to meet one or more of the goals by the target date of 2015. With the Millennium Development Goal deadline rapidly approaching, CEB decided at its second regular session of 2012 to include a review of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals at each of its forthcoming sessions through 2015.
Throughout 2013, CEB responded to calls by the General Assembly for system-wide coordination in the preparation and follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Summit, post-2015 development agenda, Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries, and the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States. In support of those conferences and summits, CEB developed joint contributions and enhanced United Nations system-wide coherence in the implementation of conference outcomes.
Pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 2008 (LX), the present report provides an overview of the annual work of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB).
With rapid urbanization, economic crises and other transformations in recent years that cause changes in lifestyles and diets in many parts of the world, FAO is particularly challenged to help policymakers and practitioners find new ways of assuring food security and agricultural stability and growth. Since 2006, the Organization has engaged in a range of different activities, including those described in this section.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Chair of the United Nations Chief Executives Board, hosted the high-level side event on addressing climate change as a means for countries to reach their development goals.
This High-level event, co-hosted by the UN Secretary-General, as Chair of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) and the State of Qatar, showcased people-centered sustainable solutions to the challenge of climate change.
This high-level event brought together UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN system leaders to make the case for innovative solutions for climate action. The event showcased how governments, the private sector, NGOs, and local communities - with the support of the UN - can partner to scale up and implement proven solutions to climate challenges that lead to economic and social progress and protect the environment.
This publication draws attention to the impressive array of programmes and initiatives in the area of migration and development by UN entities, IOM and their partners, often carried out in collaboration with governments and civil society. The impetus behind the book – the call of the CEB in 2012 to UN organizations and their partners for a Recommendations and Outcomes document on migration to support the preparations for the 2013 HLD – provided a timely opportunity to both take stock of and strengthen the cooperation and coordination among key entities dealing with migration.
The importance of the 2013 HLD for the Special Session of the General Assembly on the ICPD beyond 2014 and the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda, was recently underscored in the resolution “New Trends in Migration: Demographic Aspects,” adopted by the Fourty-sixth Session of the Commission on Population and Development.30 The resolution makes provision for a broad range of elements related to migration and development and calls upon the GMG and other stakeholders, within their respective mandates, to strengthen their collaboration and cooperation in the area of international migrat
The larger group of UN organizations and other partners mandated by the CEB in 2012 to prepare the Recommendations and Outcomes paper on migration for the HLD reflects the ever-widening interconnectedness between migration and other fields of public policy – a crucial fact for the post-2015 development agenda discourse.
The State-led GFMD29 has, from the outset, offered a focus and reference point for the actions of the GMG, mostly by engaging individual GMG members in thematic preparatory and follow-up work on its round tables and/or promoting partnerships on policy- and process-related issues through its Civil Society Days, Common Space panels and Platform for Partnerships. The GFMD has also challenged the capacity of the GMG to respond to migration and development issues as a group.
The GMG has achieved a measure of interdisciplinary collaboration in recent years that could not have been foreseen, or been possible, a decade ago. It has led to a more open, constructive and congenial climate for inter-agency debate and exchange on migration and development, and has encouraged the adoption of more coherent, comprehensive and better-coordinated approaches to international migration among States and their non-State partners.15
The year 1994 was a defining moment in the recent history of multilateral cooperation on migration.6 The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo produced the first comprehensive agenda and call for global action to deal with international migration.
The 2013 High-level Dialogue offers a timely opportunity to take stock of the mandates and work of the United Nations and its partners in the migration (and development) field since the first HLD. It also marks an important occasion to discuss how migration may be integrated into the post-2015 United Nations development agenda.
To prepare their proposed recommendations and outcomes on migration for the 2013 HLD, as requested by the CEB, the relevant international entities were asked to complete a questionnaire covering the following areas:
International migration - the movement of people across international border – has important implications for growth and development. More than 215 million people, half of them women, live and work outside their countries of birth. Migration is a key enables for equitable, inclusive and sustainable social and economic development to the benefit of countries of origin and destination, as well as the human development of migrants and their families.
Redesigning business models with an emphasis on right-sourcing, common services, and new technologies. New technologies open entirely new horizons to re-shape the operational models of UN organizations: cloud computing; meeting and conference services; compilation and availability of system-wide data and information, etc.
Achieving the MDGs, particularly the goal of halving poverty by 2015, requires that poverty reduction programmes give more attention to urban areas. According to UN estimates, virtually all population growth expected in the world during 2000-2015 will be concentrated in urban areas, and the urban population will rise from 2.8 billion in 2000 to 3.8 billion in 2015. The global population is expected to increase at an annual rate of less than 1 percent per annum, or 0.84 percent over the next fifteen years.
The slow progress made by some countries and regions in poverty eradication and sustainable development underscores the need for the UN system to give renewed emphasis to enhancing policy coherence and operational coordination in support of accelerated economic development. Under the auspice of CEB/HLCP, work is underway on a UNIDO initiative to elaborate an MDG-based common agenda for collaborative work among organizations of the UN system working in the field of economic development.
In preparation for the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Mauritius (10-14 January 2005), the United Nations compiled a list of multi-stakeholder initiatives and partnerships, including various UN system organizations, that support the sustainable development of SIDS.
Following the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Brussels (May 2001), CEB expressed the system’s commitment to make an effective, concerted contribution to the implementation and monitoring of the Conference’s outcome.
The United Nations System Network on Rural Development and Food Security, promoted by FAO, IFAD and WFP, combines the exchange of best practices among network members with country-level theme groups.
The Financing for Development Office of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs works in full and extensive collaboration with the major stakeholders to prepare analytical reports on the follow-up process to the International Conference on Financing for Development...
At the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001, Trade Ministers adopted a Ministerial Declaration setting out a broad work programme for the WTO for the coming years. Known as the Doha Development Agenda,...
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) builds on the achievements of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction and facilitates disaster reduction efforts worldwide.
In its 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation (March 2004), the Standing Committee on Nutrition (SCN) makes the case that reducing malnutrition is central to achieving the MDGs, citing evidence that links nutrition to a range of other development outcomes.
The three Rome-based United Nations organizations, FAO, WFP and IFAD, are working with a common vision and complementary mandates to end hunger and poverty.
In response to the request from the General Assembly (A/RES/55/2412) to “elaborate a coherent and coordinated international strategy on employment,” ILO developed the Global Employment Agenda.
The Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the 1995 World Summit for Social Development emphasized the eradication of poverty as an ethical, social, political and economic imperative.
Monitoring progress towards the MDGs at the global level requires the collaboration of international agencies and close consultation with national experts and statisticians.
The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) is one of four Executive Committees established by the Secretary-General in the main areas of UN work, with the others focusing on peace and security, humanitarian affairs and economic and social affairs.
The Monterrey Consensus established a sustained intergovernmental follow-up process in both the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. In addition to considering different financing issues on the annual agenda of its Second Committee, the Assembly, every two years, now hosts a two-day High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development.
In the Millennium Declaration, Heads of State and Government reaffirmed their faith in the United Nations and its Charter as indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. Recognizing their collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level, they stressed that certain fundamental values are essential to international relations in the twenty-first century.
Work is underway within the framework of CEB to forge new directions and establish new channels for exchanging ideas and knowledge within the UN system. Underpinning these efforts is a UN System Information and Communication Technology Strategic Framework developed by the ICT Network of CEB. Building on past evaluations of ICT opportunities in the system, this Strategic Framework represents a collaborative initiative geared towards the improvement of communication channels and the development of common ICT infrastructure elements across organizations of the UN system.
Achim Steiner became UNDP Administrator on 19 June 2017 and will serve for a term of four years. The United Nations General Assembly confirmed his nomination on 19 April 2017, following his nomination by Secretary-General António Guterres.
As UNDP Administrator, Mr. Steiner also chairs the UN Development Group, which unites the 32 UN funds, programmes, specialized agencies and other bodies that work to support sustainable development.
Mr. LI Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), has had an extensive career as a senior economic and financial policy-maker. As Vice-Minister of Finance of the People’s Republic of China and member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank for a decade, Mr. LI was involved in setting and harmonizing fiscal, monetary and industrial policies, and in supporting sound economic growth in China.
Houlin Zhao was elected ITU Secretary-General at the 19TH Plenipotentiary Conference in Busan, Korea, in October 2014. He took up his post on 1 January, 2015.
Born in 1950 in Jiangsu, China, Mr Zhao graduated from Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and holds an MSc in Telematics from the University of Essex in the UK.
Enormous progress has been made towards reaching the MDGs. After 2015, efforts to achieve a world of prosperity, equity, freedom, dignity and peace for all the world’s people will continue unabated.
The 2010 MDG Summit concluded with the adoption of a global action plan, "Keeping the Promise: United to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals " and the announcement of a number of initiatives against poverty, hunger and disease.
Governments, foundations, businesses and civil society groups rallied around the call to action to slash poverty, hunger and disease by 2015, by announcing new commitments to meet the Millennium Development Goals, at a high-level event at UN Headquarters on 25 September 2008.
At the Millennium Summit of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Member States of the United Nations (147 of them represented by their Head of State or Government), in a historic decision on 8 September 2000, adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration.
The 2010 MDG Summit concluded with the adoption of a global action plan -- Keeping the Promise: United to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals -- and the announcement of a number of initiatives against poverty, hunger and disease. The Secretary-General and CEB members welcomed the Outcome of the 2010 High-level Plenary Meeting on the MDGs.
The UN System supports countries to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework on the social dimensions of climate change, advocate a multidimensional approach to climate change policies and develop climate-related measures to ensure better living conditions.
The United Nations system works to strengthen national institutions and human capacity to better analyze the impacts of climate change, develop courses of action for greater resilience and implement relevant adaptation and mitigation activities.
A follow-up Summit to take stock of the progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Declaration was held from 14-16 September 2005 bringing together more than 170 Heads of State and Government.
Financial Statistics is a collection of annual data from CEB member organizations on their revenue and expenditures. Using this data, revenues broken down by assessed and voluntary contributions can be shown. Also, expenditures at the country, regional and global levels and broken down by expenditure categories: development assistance, humanitarian assistance, technical cooperation, peacekeeping and normative activities.
The United Nations system has an important supportive role to play for the achievement of the MDGs. Since 2000, CEB has worked to ensure a coordinated UN system approach to the Millennium Summit and its follow-up. The Millennium Declaration itself has served to intensify CEB’s focus on strategic issues for the UN system as a whole.
The aim of this initiative is to advocate for and advise on the provision of a social protection floor and public resource spending in ways that will both kick-start growth and support more inclusive and sustainable social and economic development.
The event entitled "United Nations System: Together for the Future We Want" was held on Friday, 22 June 2012, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The Secretary‐General was joined by nearly 20 leaders of the UN system highlighting their joint efforts in support of all countries and their peoples in making sustainable development a reality.
The Food Security Initiative builds on the work of the Secretary-General’s High-level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis, established by CEB in April 2008, and, specifically upon the Comprehensive Framework for Action.
The UN System brings together its funding and operational capacities in a coherent and concrete implementation approach to support the implementation of an ambitious and effective framework of action,
Sustainable development is a key priority guiding the work of the United Nations. The organizations of the UN system are firmly committed to advance economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability in an integrated manner through greater coherence and coordination of action. Together, they have made significant contributions to the Rio+20 conference.
With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, world leaders agreed on a vision and an ambitious plan of action for change: freeing the world of poverty and hunger, protecting the planet from degradation; ensuring that that all people can live prosperous and fulfilling live in dignity and equality, and fostering peaceful, just and inclusive societies free of fear and violence. Universal in scope and application and integrated and indivisible in nature, the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has the potential to be truly transformative. Its implementation calls for coordinated actions across the peace and security, human rights, humanitarian affairs and sustainable development spectrum and requires a deeper collective engagement by all stakeholders – governments, parliaments, the scientific and academic community, civil society, the private sector, the international community and the United Nations system.
The High-Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) fosters coherence, cooperation and coordination on policy and programme dimensions of strategic issues for the UN system.
Press Releases and communiques issued by the United Nations System Chief Executives Board (CEB) for Coordination
Statements and Joint Statements of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board (CEB) for Coordination
The Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) and its three high level committees advance coordination and cooperation on a range of programmatic, management and operational issues facing UN system organizations. CEB agenda is developed in response to inter-governmental mandates, emerging issues and challenges faced by the UN system, in preparation and follow-up to international conferences and at the request of member states.