[2024] 2024 Sustainable Development Transformation Forum
Documents
Concept Note and Agenda (updated as of 23 October 2024)
Background
At the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, the world’s progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is alarmingly off track. As highlighted in the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report, only 17% of SDG targets are on track, while nearly half show minimal or moderate progress, and progress on over one third of the Goals has stalled or even regressed.
Furthermore, the pace of SDG progress varies significantly across country groups with low-income and vulnerable nations lagging far behind. The impacts of climate change, a growing number of conflicts, a fragile global economy, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed weaknesses and hindered progress towards the Goals.
About 23 people million are living in extreme poverty, with an increase of 100 million suffering from hunger in 2022 compared to 2019 due to the spillover effects of conflict, inflationary pressures, a cost-of-living crisis for many, and supply chain disruptions among other human-induced causes. In addition, greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations hit record highs in 2022, with real-time data in 2023 indicating a continued rise further affecting the resilience of food systems, human health and planetary health overall. 2024 is also a transformative year politically, with half of the world’s population undergoing an election, presenting the potential for significant changes in approaches to sustainable development and climate action for many countries.
However, we still have hope to rescue these ambitions by 2030, provided we swiftly accelerate our efforts. At this year’s HLPF, 36 countries presented their Voluntary National Reviews with a focus on showcasing national progress towards the 2030 Agenda.
While the annual investment gap for developing countries to achieve the SDGs stands at $4 trillion, there is marked progress in engaging private sector financing and innovative and sustainable engines of growth in developing countries and vulnerable communities.
The United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD), under the umbrella of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), plays a pivotal role in fostering the creation, dissemination, and application of knowledge to advance the implementation of the SDGs in developing countries.
A flagship initiative of UNOSD aimed at realizing this objective is the annual Sustainable Development Transformation Forum (SDTF). Typically held in Incheon City in October, this event brings together approximately one hundred participants implementing the 2030 Agenda from various sectors and offers a platform for capacity building, knowledge exchange, policy innovation and partnerships.
Methodology
The 2024 SDTF will open with a reflection on the outcomes of the Summit of the Future and the themes of the 2025 HLPF, framing the Forum within the current international framework and the latest scientific thinking.
The rest of the Forum will consist of several sessions covering the five levers suggested by 2023 GSDR matched with SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17 under the theme of ‘Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind’. The sessions will be composed of presentations by international experts, scholars, practitioners, and actors followed by Q&A and discussions. While most of the sessions will take place in plenary, group work and breakout sessions may also be used as needed. The Forum will take place in person.
Target Audience
The Forum participants will include policymakers at all levels, civil society, local communities, youth, academia, and the private sector. The opening session may involve a larger number of high-level government officials. The Forum will focus on developing countries with participation encouraged from countries in special situations, particularly Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, Small Island Developing States and countries in conflict and post-conflict situations.
Date & Time
The Forum will take place in Incheon City, the Republic of Korea from 29 - 31 October 2024.
Theme
As indicated above, the theme of the 2024 Sustainable Development Transformation Forum will be focused on SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17 in line with the 2025 HLPF theme of ‘Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind’.
Language
The Forum will be conducted in English
Outputs and Follow-up
The Forum will result in an outcome document of key messages which participants would like to convey to the international community regarding the successes, lessons learned and good practices they identified in relation to the implementation of the selected SDGs as well as the main theme of the Forum. In addition, a Forum Report documenting the presentations and discussions on the entire integrated agenda will be produced. Both the key messages and the 2024 SDTF Report will be published and posted on UNOSD’s Website.
Organizers
The 2024 SDTF is organised by the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) of UN DESA, Division for Sustainable Development Goals (UN DESA-DSDG).
Programme and Agenda
Day 1 (29 October)
Opening Remarks
- Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head of UNOSD, UN DESA
Welcoming Remarks
- H.E. Mr. Wansup Kim, Minister of Environment, Republic of Korea (video)
- Mr. Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (video)
Setting the Stage - Keynote Address
- Dr. Eun Mee Kim, President, Ewha Womans University, Republic of Korea and Independent Group of Scientists (IGS) for the 2019 Global Sustainable Development Report
Reflections on the Summit of the Future
- Ms. Astra Bonini, Chief, Integrated Policy Analysis Branch, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UN DESA
Science-Policy Dialogue: How to Advance Sustainable, Inclusive, Science- and Evidence-Based Solutions
Moderator: Ms. Sara Castro de Hallgren, Sustainable Development Officer, UNOSD, DSDG, UN DESA
- Ms. Astra Bonini, Chief, Integrated Policy Analysis Branch, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UN DESA
- Dr. Eun Mee Kim, President, Ewha Womans University, Republic of Korea, IGS for the GSDR 2019
- Ms. Nancy Shackell, Senior Research Scientist, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, IGS for the GSDR 2023
- Mr. Dovlet Dovletalyyev, Head of the Division of Monitoring the Execution of Programs for the Department of Strategic and Sustainable Development, Ministry of finance and Economy, Turkmenistan
- Mr. Mesuilame Maheuliuli Simote Vea, Chief Economist, Prime Minister's Office, Tonga
Session I: 2024 Voluntary National Reviews – Reviewing progress for accelerating the SDGs
Moderator: Mr. Riccardo Mesiano, Deputy Head, ESCAP-ENEA
- Mr. Friedrich Soltau, Chief, Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch, Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development (OISC), UNDESA
- VNRs from selected 2024 Member States
- Ms. Araksya Babikyan, Third Secretary, Department of Multilateral Policy and Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
- Mr. Nabi Nabizade, Chief Advisor, Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan
- Mr. Steeven Gabriel Guaycha Cruz, Advisor, National Planning Secretariat, Ecuador
- Mr. Alomlangsy Rajvong, Director of Division, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR
- Ms. Darlyn Lucy Muloma Brima, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Republic of Sierra Leone
- Mr. Tawanda Chitambara, Ministry of Public Services, Labour and Social Welfare, Government of Zimbabwe
Session II: Interactive session – Operationalizing the GSDR: Training Session on Entry Points and Levers of Transformation for the SDGs
Moderator: Ms. Astra Bonini, Chief, Integrated Policy Analysis Branch, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UN DESA
- Framework presentation on Entry Points and Levers by Ms. Nancy Shackell, Senior Research Scientist, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, IGS for the GSDR 2023
- Call to Action Plan – Transformation for the SDGs Exercise Part 1 of 3: Exploring the GSDR’s Framework of Entry Points and Levers for Transformation at national level
Day 2 (30 October)
Opening Session
- Recap of Day 1 and Overview of Day 2
- Warm-up Systems-thinking exercise
Session III: Enabling Engines of Sustainable Growth (SDG 3, 5, 8, 14, & 17)
Moderator: Ms. Sara Castro de Hallgren, Sustainable Development Officer, UNOSD, DSDG, UN DESA
Overall Presentations
- Ms. Cornelia Kaldewei, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, EAPD, UN DESA (virtual)
- Mr. Stefan Csordas, Economic Affairs Officer, Least Developed Countries Section, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Exercise - Reviewing the Productive Capacities Index
Session IV: From Rural Livelihoods to Rural Well-being: Empowering Rural Women and Communities Towards Prosperity (SDG 3, 5 & 8)
Moderator: Mr. Simon Gilby, Sustainable Development Officer, UNOSD, DESA
Introductory Presentations
- Mr. Albert Motivans, Head, Data and Insights, Equal Measures 2030
- Mr. Wycliffe Alwago, Phd Fellow, UNU-WIDER
- Ms. Rajvi Joshipura, Senior Coordinator, Self-Employed Womens Association (SEWA)
Country Discussant
- Ms. Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Nigeria
- Mr. Hugo Allan Garcia Monterrosa, Undersecretary for Strategic Development Analysis, Secretariat of Planning and Programming of the Presidency, Guatemala
Levers of Transformation – Interactive Group & Plenary Discussion led by forum facilitators
Session V: Towards Sustainable Stewardship: Sustainable Fishing, Livelihoods and Life Under Water (SDG 8 & 14)
Moderator: Mr. Simon Gilby, Sustainable Development Officer, UNOSD, DESA
Introductory Presentations
- Mr. Nancy Shackell, Senior Research Scientist, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, IGS for GSDR 2023
- Ms. Adrienne Egger, Fisheries Officer, FAO
Country Discussant
- Ms. Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Nigeria
- Mr. Hugo Allan Garcia Monterrosa, Undersecretary for Strategic Development Analysis, Secretariat of Planning and Programming of the Presidency, Guatemala
Session VI: Financing a Just Transition – Accelerating Investments for SDG Progress
Moderator and Introductory Presentation: Mr. Stefan Csordas, Economic Affairs Officer, Least Developed Countries Section, UNCTAD
- Mr. Jaehyuk Choi, Director for Financial Collaboration, Outreach, and Management, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
- Ms. Oyun Sanjaasuren, Director, Department of Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation, Green Climate Fund
Country Discussant
- Ms. Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Nigeria
- Mr. Hugo Allan Garcia Monterrosa, Undersecretary for Strategic Development Analysis, Secretariat of Planning and Programming of the Presidency, Guatemala
Call to Action Plan – Transformation for the SDGs Exercise Part 2 of 3
Day 3 (31 October)
Opening Session
- Recap of Day 2 and Overview of Day 3
- Warm-up exercise
Session VII: Fuelling Future Green Growth - Competing crises, the demographic dividend and decent jobs (SDG 3, 5, 8 & 17)
Moderator: Mr. Simon Gilby, Sustainable Development Officer, UNOSD, DESA
Roundtable discussion
- Ms. Nadeeka Sudarshani Amarasinghe, Sustainable Development Council and Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, Sri Lanka
- Mr. Wycliffe Alwago, Phd Fellow, UNU-WIDER
- Mr. Stefan Csordas, Economic Affairs Officer, Least Developed Countries Section, UNCTAD
- Ms. Adrienne Egger, Fisheries Officer, FAO
- Mr. Albert Motivans, Head, Data and Insights, Equal Measures 2030
Session VIII: Fuelling Future Growth for an SDG Push – Charting pathways towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Facilitator: Ms. Sara Castro de Hallgren, UNOSD, DSDG, DESA
Identifying national SDG insights based on integrated accelerators across Governance, Social Protection, Green Economy and Digital Disruption
- Ms. Laurel Patterson, Head, Sustainable Development Goal Integration, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Country Cases
- Mr. Omar Herrera, Specialist, Department of Sustainable Development, Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, Dominican Republic
- Ms. Rachelle Ida Yapo, Director of Sustainable Development Policies and Strategies, Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Côte D'Ivoire
Session IX: Next Steps and Call to Action - HLPF 2025, Voluntary National Reviews and data development
Moderator: Mr. Fred Soltau, Chief, Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch, OISC, UNDESA
HLPF 2025 and next steps – Mr. Fred Soltau, Chief, IPRB, OISC, UN DESA
2025 Voluntary National Reviews
- Ms. Reverie Pure G. Sapaen, Director, Governance, National Economic Development Authority, Philippines
- Ms. Fatima Gabriela Avelar Bonilla, Institutional Coordinator, National Council for Sustainable Development, Vice-presidency of the Republic of El Salvador
- Mr. Jime Lhendup, Planning Officer, Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Government of Bhutan
Discussant: Mr. Eliezer Chi, Statistician II, Statistical Institute of Belize
Country representatives: Presentation of the Call to Action Plan
Forum Closing
Session Presentation of the key messages – rapporteurs
Closing Remarks
Code of Conduct
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