Roundtable Discussion on
Implementation of Post-2015 International Development Agenda:
National Level Implications of Implementation of SDGs (Beyond Data Issues)
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
In view of the implementation experience of the MDGs, a number of value added changes have been made while designing the proposed SDGs. For example, Means of Implementation (MoI) are being added in the new development framework. However, the conceptual adequacy and operational practicality of these in the national context have not been discussed as yet. However, there are a number of challenges – beyond the data issues – in this regard. For example, how the issues of “universality” would be applied in practice across countries has not received the deserved level of attention in the discussion till now. Thus, how the issues related to implementation of the SDGs will play out at the national level is yet to gather momentum.
While the discourse on MoI should address national and global level concerns, ranging from resource mobilization to governance and institutional issues to monitoring, countries themselves will need to critically examine the implementation challenges of SDGs at the national level. Admittedly, issues related to data availability, accessibility and usability have received certain level of attention thanks to the introduction of the concept of “Data Revolution”.
In this context, the roundtable will try to explore, among others, the following issues.
- How can the national priorities of developing countries be reflected in the universal framework of SDGs?
- How will the universal framework of SDGs with national provisions be integrated (mainstreamed) in the ongoing national processes including national development plans and policies? What institutional framework will be needed at the national level?
- What will this mean for the horizontal (between the government and other stakeholders) and vertical (within the government) interfaces?
- How will the resource gap be met and what prospects are there for new sources of finance? How will financial and non-financial resources interface in the process of implementing SDGs at the national levels?
- What will be the role of regional bodies including the regional development banks?
- Will the accountability mechanism of the SDG put new pressure on the limited government capacities regarding reporting requirements?
- How will the multiple stakeholders (e.g. private sector, academia, civil society, international development partners) play a role during the implementation phase?