SDGS OWG PROGRAMME OF WORK AND FORMAT FOR MAJOR GROUPS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS' PARTICIPATION

The second session of the UNGA SDGs Open Working Group (OWG) took place on 17-19 April 2013 at UNHQ in New York. The meeting was devoted to conceptualizing the SDGs and the SDG process, and to poverty eradication. Governments are clearly investing in the process as evidenced by the high number of Ambassadors and Ministers who filled Conference Room 4 during the three days of the meeting. Delegates discussed the Programme of Work (PoW) for 2013-2014 and agreed upon the agendas for the third session and fourth session as follows:

  • Third Session, 22-24 May 2013: (a) food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, drought and desertification, land degradation; and (b) water and sanitation.
  • Fourth Session, 17-19 June 2013: (a) health and population dynamics; and (b) employment and decent work for all, social protection, youth, education and culture.

Preliminary SDG themes for further OWG meetings were also prepared by Member States. The Programme of Work 2013-2014 may be found here .

  • Fifth Session, 25 – 27 November: (a) Sustained and inclusive economic growth, macroeconomic issues (including trade and debt) infrastructure development.
  • Sixth Session, 9 – 13 December:  (a) Means of Implementation; global partnerships for achieving sustainable development goals; (b) Needs of countries in special situations, LDCs, LLDCs, SIDA and Africa.
  • Seventh session, 6 – 10 January: (a) Sustainable cities and human settlements, sustainable transport; (b) Energy; (c) sustainable consumption and production, climate change, and disaster risk reduction.
  • Eighth session, 3 – 7 February: (a) Oceans, forests, biodiversity; (b) promoting equality, including social equality and women’s empowerment; (c) Conflict, peace and security.

Summaries and results of the OWG second session (17-19 April) may be found below:

  • The statement & presentations by political groups, Member States, Major Groups and panelists & web casts here.
  • Summary of concluding remarks by Co-Chair here.
  • IISD Summary Report here.
  • TWN Summary Reports, 25th of April and 26th of April

Information on the OWG third session (22-24 May) may be found below:

  • Draft Programme of Work & Guidelines for Organizers of Side Events here.
  • The meeting will be broadcasted through United Nations webcast.

Format for Major Groups/CSO Participation at OWG Third Session

The OWG co-facilitators have agreed to host one hour morning public hearings for Major Groups and other stakeholders during the three day session. At the last session, Major Groups were invited to make extemporaneous statements from the floor during interactive panel discussions with Member States, so we expect that the same courtesy will be extended at this session as well. NGOs are welcome to organize side events as well.

To maximize the participation of all stakeholders, including Member States, we agreed to organize the morning public hearings as panels on the theme being discussed that day in the OWG as follows:

22 May: Food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture
23 May: Desertification, land degradation and drought
24 May: Water and Sanitation

Each panel will be organized by its own steering committee of Major Groups and other stakeholders that work/have specific interest in the area being discussed, that will select panelists, rapporteurs, and respondents, as well as identify who have expressed interest to take the floor during the session and facilitate the outreach to Member States and other stakeholders. Once the steering committee is established the DESA Secretariat will support conference calls to help identify panelists, respondents, key questions, and other logistics, outreach, and consultation needed.

The MGs/CSO Food and Agriculture Cluster has already expressed interest in helping organize the first morning hearing with other MGs, Post 2015 CSOs and FAO Civil Society Mechanism. Attached is a discussion draft from the Food/Ag cluster. For more information on how to participate, please contact Naiara Costa (WSPA) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Mayumi Sakoh (Millennium Institute/Biovision Foundation) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

We also need expressions of interest to create steering committees for the other days. Interested NGOs may contact NGO OP Jeffery Huffines at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Each day will have the following proposed structure:

1. Welcome by the co-chairs of the OWG, Ambassadors of Kenya and Hungary;

2. Two short presentations on the subject by (a) representative of the major groups; and (b) representative of other civil society;

3. Open discussion.