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.
Please note: only publishing dates after March 2013 may be considered reliable.
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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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.