March 7, 2018
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) acknowledges the integrated and indivisible nature of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets and recognizes the need to address these interlinkages to fully achieve its aims. The water and sanitation Sustainable Development Goal 6 links across all the other 16 Goals. The 2030 Agenda stresses the importance of “leaving no one behind”, and this can only by achieved if the interlinkages between the Goals are understood and actions are undertaken to bring them together for the benefit of all, including addressing socio-economic and gender inequalities. A human rights-based approach would support these aims. Understanding the linkages enables countries to implement the Goals and targets effectively by harnessing synergies between them while managing any potential conflicts.
Along with a global platform for dialogue, dissemination of good practices and knowledge exchange, the regular opportunity for High-level dialogues and meetings for water-related SDGs will be organized to engage and allow a wide global audience to participate in the Decade, based on the existing frameworks. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) organised the high-level symposium on SDG6 and targets “ensuring that no-one is left behind in access to water and sanitation” in August 2016, and supported the UN Special Thematic Sessions on Water and Disasters in 2013, 2015 and 2017, which will be consolidated for the dialogues and meetings during the Decade 2018-2028.
The high-level dialogues and meetings will support many activities conducted for the strengthening of communications in relation to the implementation of global water goals including: organization of numerous global and regional events. For example, side events at the annual International Water Week in Sweden; high level events at the UN General Assemblies; the triennial World Water Forums. The engagement of international celebrities as champions of the Decade as well as the organization of exhibits and fairs in special events such as the World Expo events are also highly expected.
The activity will create opportunities for collaboration between UN agencies related to water, multilateral development banks, donors, governments, civil society, private sector and other agencies on funding and developing actions for the Decade implementation. The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), through its Division for Sustainable Development (DSD), was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General to carry out the mandates requested by the Resolution. DESA/DSD work will focus on taking appropriate steps to plan and organize the activities of the Decade at the global, regional and country levels with the support of UN-Water taking into account the outcomes of the 2005-2015 Water Decade, and the work of the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) and the High-Level Panel on Water (HLPW).
This can be done through:
– Organizing high-level meetings in cooperation with Member States and other partners on a biennial basis on the implementation of the Decade
– Organiszng UN Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters in cooperation with Member States and partner organizations on a biennial basis on the implementation of SDGs regarding water and disaster risk reduction.
– Organizing high-level dialogues and meetings as requested by Member States and partner organizations. The meetings will include preparatory regional workshops for the HLPF, as well as expert group meetings to provide substantive inputs for Decade activities.
– Supporting capacity development activities including regional workshops to assess different technical and policy aspects related to water and corresponding SDGs and targets
- Organization: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)