The objective of the Forum is to provide those responsible for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the countries of the region with a space conducive to peer learning through interactive sessions in which participants are able to identify, through the discussion of shared experiences and goals, good practices that would allow member countries to make recommendations and present them at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, under the auspices of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, as part of regional contributions to the global follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda.
The first meeting of the Forum took place in Mexico City, in 2017; the second meeting at ECLAC headquarters in Santiago, in 2018; the third meeting at ECLAC headquarters in Santiago, in 2019; the fourth meeting was held virtually in 2021; the fifth meeting was held in San José, in 2022; and this sixth meeting will be held at ECLAC headquarters in Santiago, from 26 to 28 April 2023, under the theme “Accelerating the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”.
On this occasion, the Executive Secretary of ECLAC will present the document Halfway to 2030 in Latin America and the Caribbean: Progress and Recommendations for Acceleration, the sixth report on regional progress and challenges concerning the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The document, which analyses the progress and current status of the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17, as well as projections for their achievement by 2030, highlights that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been compounded by cascading crises that have hampered the achievement of goals, as evidenced by the respective indicators. Therefore, it is time for bold and transformative policies that offer realistic and pragmatic solutions to realign the legitimate ambitions to achieve the SDGs with countries’ capacities to achieve them. The document calls for strengthening of strategic planning of public institutions and of foresight capabilities with a view to building desirable development scenarios for the future, encompassing both public-private partnership and international cooperation, to refocus efforts towards the full achievement of the 2030 Agenda. Civil society participation must also be bolstered to quickly get back on track to achieve the SDGs.
Ministers and other high-level authorities as well as other relevant stakeholders will be able to dialogue and share good practices in the five panel discussions on each of the SDGs that will be examined this year.
In addition, the panel discussion entitled “Path to the SDG Summit. Transformative initiatives: creating opportunities to strengthen the commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its full implementation at all levels”, which will be held on 28 April, will provide an opportunity to address global challenges and strengthen the commitment to the 2030 Agenda and accelerate the full implementation of the SDGs, in preparation for the Sustainable Development Goals Summit (19 and 20 September 2023), at which governments will carry out a comprehensive review of the state of Goals, respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world, and provide high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
More information on the sixth Meeting of the Forum can be found here.
