United Nations Sustainable Development Group

Last updated
United Nations Sustainable Development Group
AbbreviationUNSDG
Formation1997;26 years ago (1997)
TypeUnited Nations group
Legal statusActive
Headquarters New York, United States
Head
Chair
Amina J. Mohammed
Website www.unsdg.un.org
A coloured voting box.svg   Politicsportal

The United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), previously the United Nations Development Group (UNDG), is a consortium of 36 United Nations funds, programmes, specialized agencies, departments and offices that play a role in development. It was created by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in order to improve the effectiveness of United Nations development activities at the country level.

Contents

Its strategic priorities are to respond to the Triennial comprehensive policy review (TCPR) – which became in 2008 the Quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR) – and global development priorities, as well as to ensure the UN development system becomes more internally focused and coherent. The UNSDG strategic priorities give direction to UNSDG members' efforts at the global, regional and country level to facilitate a step change in the quality and impact of UN support at the country level. [1] The UNSDG (at the time the UNDG) was one of the main UN actors involved in the development of the Post-2015 Development Agenda which lead to the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals. [2] The UNDG was renamed as the UNSDG around January 2018. [3]

History

By 1997, there were calls within the United Nations to draw all UN agencies working on development issues together; for the many UN Development Programmes, Funds, and Specialised Agencies were encroaching upon each other's activities. [4] [5] This was especially so with the Delivering as One initiative. [6] An initial proposal was to merge UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the UNFPA into the UNDP. Finally, then Secretary-General Kofi Annan worked to form the UNDG and won praise from then UNDP Administrator James Speth.[ citation needed ]

In May 2018 the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) was reorganized into the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) in order to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. [7]

Members

The following are all members of the UNSDG, as of January 2022: [8]

The following organizations have membership confirmation pending at the UNSDG, as of March 2019: [8]

Leadership and organization

Structure

The UNSDG is one of the three pillars of the UN system Chief Executives Board (CEB), which furthers coordination and cooperation on a wide range of substantive and management issues facing UN system organizations. The CEB brings the executive heads of UN organizations together on a regular basis under the chairmanship of the Secretary-General. Within the CEB structure, the High-Level Committee on Management works on system-wide administrative and management issues, the High-Level Committee on Programmes considers global policy issues, while the United Nations Development Group deals with operational activities for development with a focus on country-level work.

The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) chairs the UNSDG. The UNSDG Chair reports to the Secretary-General and the CEB on progress in implementing the group’s work plan, and on the management of the Resident Coordinator System. [9]

Leadership

The United Nations Economic and Social Council and the United Nations General Assembly provide oversight and mandates for the UNSDG. [10] [11] The UNSDG is overseen by the Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee) of the General Assembly. The UNSDG has provided reports such as the Comprehensive statistical analysis of the financing of operational activities for development of the UN system for 2006 and the Comprehensive statistical analysis of the financing of operational activities for development of the UN system for 2007 to the General Assembly.

The UNSDG's chairperson is the UNDP's Administrator. Since its inception, the following have been the Chair of the UNSDG:

UNSDG Advisory Group

Under Kemal Derviş' leadership, an "Advisory Group", which provides the UNSDG Chair with advice and guidance on managing the operational dimensions of the UNSDG and the Resident Coordinator System, was established. [10] [12] In 2009, the non-rotational members of the advisory group were: the FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, WHO and UNIDO. The rotational members (for a period of one year, as of 2016) are: UNCTAD (representing UNEP, UN Habitat and UNODC) and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Africa (representing all five Regional Commissions). [13]

Development Coordination Office

The UN Development Operations Coordination Office (DOCO) is a key component within the UNSDG, promoting social and economic progress by providing support. It was a key part of UNSDG's formation in 1997, uniting the UN system and improving the quality of its development assistance. Coordination leads to more strategic UN support for national plans and priorities, makes operations more efficient, reduces transaction costs for governments, and ultimately helps people attain the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development objectives. At present it is the Secretariat and technical and advisory support unit of the UNSDG. It brings together the UN development system to promote change and innovation to deliver together on sustainable development. DOCO works under the leadership of the UNSDG Chair and guidance of the UNSDG. The team provides field evidence to inform policy, facilitates the achievement of shared results, and promotes excellence in UN leadership and coordination. The core objective is a relevant and impactful UN contribution to development. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Population Fund</span> United Nations organization

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), formerly the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, is a UN agency aimed at improving reproductive and maternal health worldwide. Its work includes developing national healthcare strategies and protocols, increasing access to birth control, and leading campaigns against child marriage, gender-based violence, obstetric fistula, and female genital mutilation.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development. The UNDP emphasizes developing local capacity towards long-term self-sufficiency and prosperity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations System</span> Group of legally and financially autonomous organizations that are associated with the UN

The United Nations System consists of the United Nations' six principal bodies, the Specialized Agencies and related organizations. The UN System includes subsidiary bodies such as the separately administered funds and programmes, research and training institutes, and other subsidiary entities. Some of these organizations predate the founding of the United Nations in 1945 and were inherited after the dissolution of the League of Nations.

UN-Energy is an interagency mechanism within the system of the United Nations related to energy. It was created after the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, and its purpose is to create a coherent approach towards a sustainable energy system especially in developing countries to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Office for Project Services</span> Operational arm of the United Nations

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is a United Nations agency dedicated to implementing infrastructure and procurement projects for the United Nations System, international financial institutions, governments and other partners around the world. The organization's global headquarters is located at the UN City campus in Copenhagen, Denmark. UNOPS is in charge of disbursing more than $3 billion worth of development projects and contracts for its partners every year. Its activities have ranged from managing the construction of schools in Afghanistan, to building shelters in Haiti, to procuring ambulances to support the Ebola response in Liberia. More recently, UNOPS was a key partner to more than 80 countries and territories in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Achim Steiner</span> German politician and public servant

Achim Steiner is a Brazilian-born environmentalist who currently serves as the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and vice-chair of United Nations Sustainable Development Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs</span> Government organization in New York, United States

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs is part of the United Nations Secretariat and is responsible for the follow-up to major United Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as services to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Second and Third Committees of the United Nations General Assembly. UN DESA assists countries around the world in agenda-setting and decision-making with the goal of meeting their economic, social and environmental challenges. It supports international cooperation to promote sustainable development for all, having as a foundation the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015. In providing a broad range of analytical products, policy advice, and technical assistance, UN DESA effectively translates global commitments in the economic, social and environmental spheres into national policies and actions and continues to play a key role in monitoring progress towards internationally agreed-upon development goals. It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebeca Grynspan</span> Costa Rican economist

Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis is a Costa Rican economist who has been serving as Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) since 13 September 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Stelzer (diplomat)</span>

Thomas Stelzer is an Austrian diplomat, who served as the Dean and Executive Secretary of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) until July 2023, when he was suspended by the IACA board on suspicion of corruption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Beagle</span> New Zealand diplomat

Jan Margaret Beagle is a diplomat from New Zealand who has been serving as the Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) since 2020. From 2017 until 2019, she was the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Management, appointed to this position by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on 1 June 2017. She then served as Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Systemwide Implementation of Chief Executive Board decisions.

The social protection floor (SPF) is the first level of protection in a national social protection system. It is a basic set of social rights derived from human right treaties, including access to essential services and social transfers, in cash or in kind, to guarantee economic security, food security, adequate nutrition and access to essential services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hendra</span> Retired United Nations development leader

John Hendra recently established his own consulting practice after retiring from a dynamic 32 year United Nations career as a development leader in both Headquarters and the field. Hendra recently served as a member of the High-Level Group to review the governance of The Commonwealth and is currently serving on: the Advisory Council to Canada's Development Finance Institution ; on the board of Women Deliver Canada; and as an Associate Researcher with the German Development Institute (GDI).

The Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA) is composed of international and supranational organisations, whose mandate includes the provision of statistics. The CCSA promotes inter-agency coordination and cooperation on statistical programmes and consistency in statistical practices and development. As a forum of committed members, the CCSA fosters good practices in the statistical activities of international and supranational organisations, in accordance with the principles governing international statistical activities. The members of the CCSA contribute actively to the development of a coordinated global statistical system producing and disseminating high-quality statistics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post-2015 Development Agenda</span>

The Post-2015 Development Agenda was a process from 2012 to 2015 led by the United Nations to define the future global development framework that would succeed the Millennium Development Goals. The new framework, starting from 2016 is called Sustainable Development Goals.

Thomas Gass is a Swiss diplomat who currently serves as Ambassador of Switzerland to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

The Quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR) of the operational system of the United Nations is a process and a United Nations General Assembly resolution by which the 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly review the coherence effectiveness and funding of the 27 UN development programmes, funds, and specialised agencies of the UN operational system for development. This review was conducted on a triennial basis until 2007. Since 2008 it has been conducted on a quadrennial basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations System Staff College</span> Teaching institute of the United Nations

The United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) is a UN organization that serves the personnel of the United Nations and its affiliates via interagency learning and training.

The United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) is a platform for the different United Nations (UN) evaluation offices to discuss evaluation issues and to share evaluation knowledge. It suggests norms and standards for all evaluation offices in the UN and delivers thematic reports concerning monitoring and evaluation. It has 45 members and 3 observers listed below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict</span>

The Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (OSRSG-SVC) is an office of the United Nations Secretariat tasked with serving the United Nations' spokesperson and political advocate on conflict-related sexual violence, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (SRSG-SVC). The Special Representative holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and chairs the UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict. The mandate of the SRSG-SVC was established by Security Council Resolution 1888, introduced by Hillary Clinton, and the first Special Representative, Margot Wallström, took office in 2010. The current Special Representative is Pramila Patten of Mauritius, who was appointed by United Nations Secretary General António Guterres in April 2017. The work of the SRSG-SVC is supported by the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law/Sexual Violence in Conflict, co-led by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPO), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), also established under Security Council Resolution 1888.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kazakhstan and the United Nations</span>

The Republic of Kazakhstan became a member of the United Nations on March 2, 1992. Kazakhstan was elected to serve on the UN Security Council for the 2017–2018 term. UN Secretary-General António Guterres in remarks to the UNSC recognized Kazakhstan's work to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction and global non-proliferation efforts.

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-03-18. Retrieved 2016-02-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-10-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ Lebada, Anna Marie (11 January 2018). "UN Secretary-General Releases Development System Strategy". IISD. New York. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  4. ↑ Stokke, O., 2009, The UN and Development: From Aid to Cooperation, Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, p.403-404
  5. ↑ Klingebiel, S., 1998, Effectiveness And Reform of The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), German Development Institute Book Series No. 13, London: Frank Cass
  6. ↑ "UNDG » Delivering as One". Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  7. ↑ Kilpatrick, Kate (2018). Switching Gears for 2030: Results of Development Coordination in 2017 (PDF) (Report). United Nations Development Operations Coordination Office. p. 2. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  8. 1 2 "UNSDG Members". United Nations Sustainable Development Group. UNSDG. January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "Governance Structures". Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016. Governance Structures
  10. 1 2 "UNDG » Governance Structures". Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  11. ↑ https://undg.org/home/about-undg/mandates/ Archived 2016-03-28 at the Wayback Machine UNDG Mandates (TCPR/QCPR)]
  12. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 14, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ↑ "UNDG Advisory Group Membership". Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016. UNDG Chair and Advisory Group
  14. ↑ "UNDG » Development Operations Coordination Office (DOCO)". United Nations Development Group. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.