HLPF Side Event: Integrating South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to Support Acceleration of the SDGs Implementation, 14 July 2023

• When: 14 July 2023, 1:00 – 2:30 PM (EST)
• Where: Doha Conference Room –  FF Building – 11th Floo, 304 E. 45th Street, New York
• Registration: To register for this event, please click here.
• Livestream: The event will be streamed live on Zoom and on the UNOSSC YouTube Channel.

The Co-chairs of the Group of Friends of Voluntary National Reviews (the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the UN and the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the UN) and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) are co-organizing a side event entitled “Integrating South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to Support Acceleration of the SDGs Implementation” on the sidelines of the 2023 ECOSOC High Level Political Forum (HLPF) for Sustainable Development.

The event will bring Member States, UN entities, Researchers, Policymakers and relevant stakeholders together to reflect on importance of South-South and triangular cooperation to accelerate SDGs implementation and its integration into VNRs, where relevant; and to launch a Handbook to Support Integrating South-South and Triangular Cooperation in the Voluntary National Reviews. The event will also further explore utilization of the handbook on the ground to advance the integration of South-South and triangular cooperation in VNRs, including the UNDS support to Member States.

As we approach the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it has become clear that we will need urgent and additional efforts to accelerate progress. As demonstrated during COVID-19 response and recovery, South-South and triangular cooperation can make a meaningful difference. Solutions and innovative strategies originating in the South have and are delivering lasting results around the world.

Countries are increasingly integrating South-South and triangular cooperation during the preparation and presentation of their VNRs – including through the twining approach to facilitate the sharing of experiences, good practices, lessons learned; and the mobilization of multi-stakeholder support and partnerships with the view to accelerate development impacts. The integration of South-South and triangular cooperation perspectives in the VNRs is also helping to track progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda more comprehensively and inclusively.

The 2022 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development Ministerial Declaration and the latest UNGA Resolution on South-South Cooperation highlight the importance of integrating South-South and triangular cooperation in VNRs. In response, UNOSSC in collaboration with the co-chairs of the Group of Friends of VNRs, UN entities and other stakeholders has prepared a handbook which provides step-by-step guidance, drawing from good practices, and examples, on integrating South-South and triangular cooperation into the perpetration and presentation of VNRs. The handbook complements the existing VNR guidance and tools that have been developed and used.

Tentative Agenda

1. Opening Remarks (focusing on importance of South-South and triangular cooperation to accelerate results across all SDGs and its integration into VNRs)

• Co-chairs of Group of Friends of Voluntary National Reviews
  • H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations
  • H.E. Mr. Eduardo A. De Vega, Undersecretary, Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines
• H.E. Mr. Peter Mohan Maithri Pieris, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, and President of the twenty-first session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation
• Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, Director, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation
  • Remarks and presentation of the Handbook to Support Integrating South-South and Triangular Cooperation in the Voluntary National Reviews

2. Joint Launch:

• Handbook to Support Integrating South-South and Triangular Cooperation in the Voluntary National Reviews

3. Discussions (focusing on good practices of integrating South-South and triangular cooperation in VNRs and utilization of the handbook on the ground)

• Member States
  • Mr. Edward Walugembe, Commissioner, Strategic Coordination and Implementation, Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda
  • Union of the Comoros (TBC)

• United Nations entities and partners
  • Mr. Neil Pierre, Acting Director for Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development at UN DESA
  • Mr. Oliver Paddison, Chief, Country with Special Needs Section at United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific of ESCAP

4. Open floor for discussion

5. Closing Remarks

• Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, Director, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation