The global 2030 Agenda is based on integrated and indivisible Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For greater benefit, countries would need to implement these Goals in an interlinked fashion. But for success of the national efforts, committed global support measures have to be delivered. Regrettably, such support from global partnership is yet to come by, even two years after the adoption of this ambitious universal agenda.
This was mentioned by Debapriya Bhattacharya, Chair of the Southern Voice on Post-MDG International Goals – a network of more than 50 think tanks from Asia, Africa and Latin America. Debapriya, also a Distinguished Fellow at Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka was speaking on last Friday 14 July in New York at a session on “Leveraging Interlinkages for Effective Delivery of SDGs,” at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). HLPF is the highest body of the United Nations member states that annually takes stock of the progress in SDG implementation.
there is no adequate instrument at the UN that can ensure accountability of the external stakeholders in the development of the lagging countries
Debapriya further said, that there is no adequate instrument at the UN that can ensure accountability of the external stakeholders in the development of the lagging countries. He suggested revision of the guidelines of the Voluntary National Review (VNR) mechanism to reflect explicitly the interlinkages between the domestic and international efforts. He lamented that the current state of global economic governance is impeding faster growth of the developing countries. These factors include international trade negotiations, illicit financial outflows, international tax measures, transfer of technology, climate financing and intellectual property rights regime.
The other speakers at the session were Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UN AIDS and Charles-Arden-Clarke, Head, Economy Division, UN Environment Programme. Irene Khan, Executive Director, International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), served as the lead discussant. Minh-Thu Pham of UN Foundation moderated the session, while Ambassador Marie Chatardova of Czech Republic and Vice President of UN Economic and Social Council was in the chair.
Debapriya was invited for the third consecutive time to address the HLPF in New York. This year’s HLPF explored the theme “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world.”
