Transcript Slide 1

Strengthening Institutional Frameworks for
Sustainable Development
Pre-event on
Institutional Frameworks for Sustainable Development in Africa:
Integrating the three Pillars of Sustainable Development
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 17 June 2012
Josue Dione,
Director, Food Security and Sustainable Development Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Outline
1.Background
2.Objectives of the Africa Report
3.Main Findings
4.Policy Recommendations
5.Key Questions for Discussion
1. Background
Institutional
Framework
for
Sustainable
Development (IFSD) is one of two themes of
Rio+20
ECA commissioned the Africa Report on
Institutional and Strategic Frameworks for
Sustainable Development (ISFSD) as an
integral part of the Africa Regional Preparatory
Process for Rio+20
The report served as one of the background
documents for the Africa Regional Preparatory
Conference for Rio+20 and informed the Africa
Consensus Statement to Rio+20
2. Objective of the Report
The
report
is
intended
to
guide
the
establishment/strengthening
and
operationalization of institutions, and the
development and implementation of policies
and strategies on sustainable development at
the regional, subregional and national levels
The report was prepared through consultations
with
regional,
subregional
and
UN
organizations; and enriched with extensive
desk review
and comments provided by
members States and other stakeholders at the
Africa regional Preparatory Conference for
Rio+20
3. Key Findings/1
The linkage between good governance and sustainable
development is well recognized and is increasingly being
demonstrated
Institutional reforms have been undertaken and, to a
certain extent, sustainable development strategies are
being developed and implemented
Appreciable
progress
has
been
made
towards
strengthening institutional and programmatic linkages
At the regional level, NEPAD continues to provide a
framework for sustainable development
Regional and subregional institutions such as AU organs,
ECA, RECs play a significant role in promoting effective
institutional and strategic frameworks for sustainable
development
Key Findings/2
The main challenge is achieving a balanced integration
of the three pillars in planning, budgeting and
implementation of plans and programmes, due to the
lack of coordination and synergy among relevant
institutions
The relatively weak involvement of planning and
finance ministries in sustainable development issues
is a major challenge to achieving a balanced
integration of the three pillars of sustainable
development
Another major challenge is inadequate human,
institutional and financial resources at all levels
4. Policy Recommendations /1
Global level:
Effective linkages among global, regional, subregional
and national institutions and processes should be
ensured in order to advance sustainable development,
based on the principle of subsidiarity
International environmental governance should be
strengthened within the context of the institutional
framework for sustainable development, in order to
promote a balanced integration of the economic, social
and environmental pillars of sustainable development
Regional Levels
Rio+20 should result in a strengthened governance
framework that leverages the comparative advantages
of existing regional and subregional institutions to
ensure effective vertical and horizontal linkages
Policy Recommendations/2
Regional Level Cont…
Regional and subregional institutions should be
strengthened and supported to foster and facilitate
institutional
coherence
and
harmonization
of
development strategies, plans and programmes among
member States
ECA should enhance its work in promoting a balanced
integration of the three pillars of sustainable
development in the region, and support other regional
and subregional institutions in developing and applying
sustainable development monitoring and evaluation
frameworks
There is the need for a clear and actionable indicator
framework for sustainable development, to enhance
understanding and guide integration modalities
Policy Recommendations/3
National Level
Countries
should
consider
reviving
and
further
strengthening
National
Councils
for
Sustainable
Development (NCSDs) to address the challenge of
integrating economic, social and environmental goals,
by engaging a broader range of ministries and
stakeholders
Rio+20 should explore the possibility of reactivating and
reinvigorating NCSDs which should be adequately
capacitated to play a more active role
Rio+20 should decisively address the shortcoming of the
poor involvement of the ministries of finance, economic
affairs and planning and the ministries for social affairs
in sustainable development
5. Some Key Questions for
Discussion
What institutional frameworks are needed at regional, subregional, national and local levels to achieve a balanced
integration and enhance implementation?
How could linkages between the institutions at regional,
subregional and national levels be strengthened to
enhance coordination, synergy and policy coherence to
achieve the balanced integration of the three pillars of
sustainable development?
What kind of institutional architecture for the integration
of the three pillars at the global level would best support
the institutional framework for sustainable development at
regional, subregional, national and local levels?
What further guidance and recommendations can you make
on further consultations to foster the strengthening and
effective functioning of institutions for sustainable
development in Africa?
Thank you