7 February 2024 - Every year, the UN ECOSOC Partnership Forum brings together Member States, the private sector, civil society, the UN system and other international actors to address global challenges, while forging new partnerships to deliver on the promise of sustainable development for all.
This year¡¯s event was no exception. Taking place on 30 January 2024, and at a time when the international community is facing multiple global crises, the Forum served as a critical platform to exchange ideas, priorities, and boost accountable partnerships to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
In her address to the Forum, ECOSOC President Paula Narv¨¢ez stressed the importance of bringing various actors together, recognizing the important contribution that they can make towards the 2030 Agenda and the localization of the SDGs. She also noted the defining moment of the 2023 SDG Summit last September, when world leaders recommitted to the SDGs, also pledging in the political declaration to enhancing global, regional, national and local partnerships.
During the Forum, global leaders emphasized the importance of inclusive and accountable partnerships as catalysts for SDG implementation at all levels. The effectiveness of these collaborations hinges on the ability to respect country ownership, align with the local context and establish pragmatic accountability measures.
The discussion revolved around a shared commitment to ensure that no one is left behind in the sustainable development narrative, particularly those struggling with extreme poverty and vulnerable capacities.
In addressing the Forum, Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs stressed the need to ensure that no one is left behind in development efforts, including those in deepest poverty and with the weakest capacities. He further highlighted the tremendous capacity gaps that exist in particular in the least developed countries and other countries in vulnerable situations. ¡°We urgently need to mobilize more resources to address these barriers, including through the SDG Stimulus Plan as proposed by the Secretary-General, which seeks to increase liquidity, accelerate debt restructuring efforts and expand concessional and long-term financing to developing countries,¡± he said.
¡°This is the moment to galvanize political will to deliver sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions for all,¡± Mr. Li stressed, while pledging that UN DESA will continue providing ¡°its full support to the collective global endeavour to advance sustainable development.¡±
The 2024 edition of the ECOSOC Partnerships Forum, which also featured an extensive Side Events Programme and SDG Action Segments, demonstrated a shared global dedication to charting a course towards a more equitable and sustainable future.
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