How should civil society stakeholders report their contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development?

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Intended Audience

Civil society organisations

G. Long, UN DESA

2018

Paragraph 89 of the 2030 Agenda 2030 for sustainable development calls on major groups and other stakeholders to report on their contribution to implementation of the SDGs. With specific reference to civil society organisations (CSOs), this technical paper analyses how this call should be understood, and how it should be answered. In analysing key aspects of this issue, it finds:

• A broad and inclusive understanding of the contribution of CSOs to the SDGs is needed – stressing their specific contributions to implementation via regulation (as watchdogs) and representation (as voice for people, especially those ‘left behind’), as well as realisation of sustainable development outcomes through service delivery.

• Any account of SDG reporting for CSOs must acknowledge (i) the diversity of CSOs in terms of type, size, capacity, focus etc., (ii) reporting and implementation already undertaken by CSOs and (iii) the specific “value added” by the SDGs – notably, via ideas of “leave no one behind”, universality, interconnectedness and participation.

• The key purposes of reporting - notably peer learning, coordination, and solidarity within the global partnership for sustainable development and within country, thematic, and regional contexts - should be identified and addressed in any reporting mechanisms. CSO reporting for mutual accountability is much less straightforward: the accountability demand for CSOs is distinct (and less onerous) compared to that of states.

• Not just reporting per se, but deliberation, review and follow up - and so structures and processes that facilitate these activities - are necessary to realise these collective benefits of CSO reporting for CSOs and other partners.” (p.3)

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Governance and management

SDGs LINKAGES

The resource provides a thorough exploration of the content and purpose of reporting that can contribute to reporting of the SDGs and their implementation, and how reporting can be co-ordinated with other reporting processes at national and international levels. This contributes to SDG target 12.6 (‘Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and sustainability reporting’), SDG 12.8 (ensure everyone has access to relevant information for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature). This also contributes to SDG 16.6 (‘Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels’), 16.7 (participatory decision-making at all levels), 16.10 (on ensuring public access to information), 16.B (adopt and promote laws and policies for sustainable development) and 17.14 (policy coherence for sustainable development). Co-ordinating civil society reporting into international, national and more local reporting of SDG activity also contributes to SDGs 17.16 (international and multistakeholder partnerships) and 17.17 (cross-sector partnerships).

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

SDG 12.6: Encourage Companies to Adopt Sustainable Practices and Sustainability Reporting
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Clear visions, strategies and plans in place for all aspects of sustainability – environmental, social and economic (people, planet, prosperity)- across all areas of activity.
Visions, strategies and plans relating to sustainability to be publicly available and incorporated into planning documents.
Commitments to be in line with local, regional, national and/or international targets and ambitions.
Incorporation of sustainability into reporting for funders and other stakeholders, including the public. Reporting to include commitments and progress towards targets.
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SDG 12.8: Promote Universal Understanding of Sustainable Lifestyles
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment.
Extent to which global citizenship education and education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in formal, informal and non-formal education programmes and activities drawing on and related to collections.
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SDG 16.6: Develop Effective Accountable and Transparent Institutions
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of the population [audience/users/non-users] satisfied with their last experience of public services.
Access to information, and accountability policies and mechanisms, in place.
Effective institutional arrangements, both for own working and for working in partnership with other sectors, in place.
Plans and arrangements in place for extraordinary circumstances such as natural and human-caused disasters.
Effective arrangements in place to fulfil legal and social obligations and responsibilities.
Effective arrangements in place for transparent communication and reporting of institutional performance.
Effective arrangements in place for transparent decision-making and accountability.
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SDG 16.7: Ensure Responsive, Inclusive and Representative Decision-Making
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportions of positions (by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions.
Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive, by sex, age, disability and population group.
Decision-making addresses societal, environmental and economic challenges related to the community, considering short-term and long-term risks and opportunities.
Decision-making draws on diverse backgrounds, viewpoints and interests, reflecting a broad base of stakeholders, and working to promote inclusion and provide effective services for all of society.
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SDG 16.10: Ensure Public Access to Information and Protect Fundamental Freedoms
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to enhance public access to information relating to collections.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to support fundamental freedoms, in line with human rights, national and international agreements and legislation.
Plans and procedures in place for public access to information relating to the operation and management of collections-based institutions.
Complaint mechanism in place for public to use where public access to information and fundamental freedoms not supported or fulfilled.
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SDG 16.B: Promote and Enforce Non-Discriminatory Laws and Policies
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
Number and proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, in the full sense of recognizing all three of social, economic and environmental considerations.
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SDG 17.14: Enhance Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, linking to SDGs and targets.
Incorporation of policy considerations from outside the collections sector into policies of collections-based institutions, to facilitate partnerships and effectiveness.
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SDG 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs, or that otherwise involve collections-based organisations and institutions.
Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships involving developing countries that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs.
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SDG 17.17: Encourage Effective Partnerships
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.
Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of local, national and regional multi-stakeholder (public, public-private and civil society) partnerships that address the SDGs drawing on collections, or that otherwise involve collections-based organisations and institutions.
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