Vision of civil society: Leaving no one behind in recovering better

The role of the Major Groups and Other Stakeholders (MGoS) in the implementation, follow-up and review of the Sustainable Development Goas was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 67/290 and in paragraph 89 of the 2030 Agenda. The role of civil society in ensuring that no one is left behind cannot be underestimated. This session, organized by the Coordination Mechanism of the MGoS, will discuss pathways for moving forward in the post COVID-19 recovery and advancing the 2030 Agenda. It will address the urgent need for expansion of policy and fiscal space of developing countries through systemic reforms and financing policies that can ensure better alignment between social, ecological, economic and climate priorities.

Proposed guiding questions:

The large recovery gaps between countries urgently require the expansion of policy and fiscal space of developing countries. Which systemic reforms and financing policies can ensure better alignment between social, ecological, economic and climate priorities?
How can governments effectively dedicate more resources - fiscal and human - to quality and inclusive public services for education, health, social protection?
How can governments uphold the “Right to Development” as a fundamental framework for implementing the 2030 Agenda and tackling inequalities between and within countries, in order to leave no one behind based on human rights and gender perspectives?

Chair:

H.E. Mr. Collen Vixen Kelapile , President of the Economic and Social Council

Opening remarks:

Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations
Ms. Mabel Bianco, President of the Fundacion para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer, Co-Chair of the Coordination Mechanism of Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS)

Interactive discussion

Moderator:

Mr. Ajay Jha, Director of the Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society (CECOEDECON), India, Co-Chair of the MGoS Coordination Mechanism

Resource Persons:

Ms. Wezzie Chimwala, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), Malawi
Mr. Wali Haider, Joint Director of Roots for Equity, Focal Point for Farmers' Major Group at UNEP, and co-chair of Asia Pacific CSO Regional Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM)
Ms. Emilia Reyes, Programme Director, Policies and Budgets for Equality and Sustainable Development, Equidad de Género: Ciudadanía, Trabajo Familia
Ms. Svetlana Slesarenok, Founder and Director, Black Sea Women’s Club, Odessa, Ukraine

Lead Discussants:

Mr. Saad Alfarargi, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development
Mr. Denison Jayasooria, Head of the Secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG)

Open dialogue

Interventions of Ministers and participants (3 minutes each)