July 15, 2015
A perspective from the ground. SDG Fund shares experiences in HLPF

New York, 2 July 2015

 UNDP’s Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG-Fund) hosted a Side Event titled “A perspective from the ground: the SDG Fund’s integrated approach towards sustainable development” which took place during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (26 June – 8 July 2015, New York) under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. As the forum debated the theme “Strengthening integration, implementation and review of the post-2015 development agenda”, the SDG Fund took the opportunity to share knowledge and examples of its ongoing joint programmes in 22 countries to illustrate ways in which we can adapt to the changing development landscape.

A presentation showcased how the Fund intends to contribute towards the post-2015 development agenda by focusing on the three main pillars:  1) achieving a number of SDG policy goals (namely; inclusive economic growth for poverty eradication, food security and nutrition, water and sanitation, gender equality, women’s empowerment as well as public-private partnerships and sustainability) 2) the efficiency and multi-sectorial approach of each agency involved in implementing the joint programmes 3) and the national ownership which is achieved through matching funds and the participation of national counterparts.

Director of the SDG Fund, Paloma Duran, started the session by offering opening remarks, and explaining the rationale behind the side event within the context of the HLPF. With a vast experience of implementing approximately 150 joint programmes around the world, the SDG Fund provides a concrete example of how development partners can work towards achieving the SDGs. The rationale of the joint programme initiative is to enhance the development impact of technical assistance by combining the inputs from various U.N. entities, each contributing according to its specific expertise and bringing their respective national partners on board, generating a sense of national ownership.  

Gulden Turkoz-Cosslett, Deputy Director of UNDP’s Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy, started the panel discussion by explaining how the SDG Fund brings together businesses, civil society, academia, national governments and UN agencies with the aim to join forces and tackle the needs and vulnerabilities of each country involved. Significant potential exists for mutually beneficial cooperation on important global and regional development issues. Turkoz-Cosslett highlighted that the SDG Fund intends to act as a bridge in the transition from the MDGs to the SDGs by proving concrete experiences on “how” to achieve a sustainable and inclusive world beyond 2015.  

Former UN Resident Coordinator, Bruno Moro, spoke about his experience as director of the former MDG Achievement Fund and offered insight into the Fund’s legacy as well as lessons learned which have resulted in adopting revised strategies towards sustainable development. The MDG Achievement Fund was originally based on the following principles:  1) The Millennium Declaration of 2000 2) Delivering as One process 3) Paris Declaration. From the Fund programmes’ vast experience, it have been created a body of knowledge and best practices that is proving beneficial for the post-2015 debate. The programmes demonstrated that joint programmes with multidimensional and inter-sectoral approaches can offer integrated solutions that are more effective in tackling complex problems.

To illustrate, the Deputy Representative of the Peru Mission to the UN, shared a specific example of how the SDG Fund and its partners work at the country-level by presenting the case of Peru. Augusto Thornberry described how ILO, FAO and UNESCO are working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Development on a programme that is contributing towards establishing an inclusive value chain in the production of quinoa and other Andean grains, so that the increase of demand in the international market can convert into economic and social improvements on the ground. Overall, the ongoing programme is proving to be successful and the participants are benefiting from new job opportunities, training courses, knowledge management and public-private cooperation.

Sergio Fernández de Córdova, Chairman & Co-Founder of PVBLIC Foundation offered a fresh perspective from the private sector and highlighted the SDG Fund collaborative efforts especially now that businesses are being perceived as key players in advancing the future SDGs.  Fernández de Córdova stressed that the UN needs to be ready to deeply engage with the private sector on all of the issues covered in the goals. Furthermore, in the search for potential partners, the UN should bring companies and CEOs alike truly committed to make most efficient and impactful contributions to development.

Fernández de Córdova expressed his enthusiasm towards the newly created SDG Fund Private Sector Advisory Group which is designed to provide advice and input into a new toolkit that provides guidelines on how the private sector can work effectively with the UN towards the SDGs.