Many governments in Asia and the Pacific have made good progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Many have been adapting the SDG targets to their national circumstances and priorities and incorporating them in their policies and development plans. Many are mobilizing and adapting their institutions, engaging local governments, parliaments and other actors; and identifying follow-up and review structures. The SDGs, as an integrated framework, call for whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches and many countries have been moving in this direction. Good practices, lessons and challenges are already emerging. These were discussed at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July 2016 and July 2017 when 65 countries carried out voluntary national reviews (VNRs).
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) (Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) has already organized two regional Symposia on the theme of equipping public institutions for implementing the 2030 Agenda in March 2016 in Bolivia and in February 2017 for SIDS in the Bahamas.
Against this backdrop, DPADM/DESA, through its Project Office on Governance (UNPOG), in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Korea, organized a Symposium from 5 to 8 December 2017 on “Building Effective, Accountable and Inclusive Institutions and Public Administration for Advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
The ultimate objective for the Symposium was to strengthen public governance for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and to enable governments to respond to the SDGs in innovative ways, drawing from the strategies that different countries are implementing and the related successes, challenges and difficulties.
The Symposium allowed participants to identify good practices and ideas and enhanced cooperation between countries, between central and local governments and among all actors. This included discussing actions for localizing the SDGs, improving public services delivery, engaging all stakeholders, particularly civil society organizations and the private sector, enhancing means of implementation, and adapting plans and policies to the SDGs and to national situations.
Countries in Asia and the Pacific are deeply committed to realizing the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and governance and public institutions have been recognized as the engine for realizing all the SDGs.
- • A paradigm shift is needed in governance. Institutions need a much greater focus on people, innovation, partnerships and data, and leadership is needed at all levels of government and within public administrations.
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• Whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches have been highlighted as crucial due to the integrated nature and multi-disciplinary challenges of the SDGs.
- • Public servants are essential to transform the vision of the 2030 Agenda into reality and need to be sensitized to the SDGs and to learn new skills and competencies. Ultimately, we need to promote a change of mindsets in the public service– which requires much more reflection and innovation.
- • It is important to sensitize local leaders to the 2030 Agenda, to keep them engaged and to identify champions, as the implementation of the SDGs is taking place largely at local level. The resource allocation should reflect local governments’ responsibilities in public services.
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• There exists big challenges for countries to identify or define vulnerable groups, which may require concerted efforts by different institutions such as the ministry of planning, national statistical office and ICT management. This is critical to ensure that government support and aid packages can be channeled to the “real” poor people and reduce corruption.
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• Information technology and e-Government are important enabling tools to support the transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies.
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• Tracking and reviewing progress at national level is key for reaching the SDGs. National oversight bodies such as parliaments and supreme audit institutions are already working together across countries to boost their capacity and elaborate methods to oversee government implementation of the SDGs.
The key messages and lessons learned emanating from the symposium will inform the meetings of the high-level political forum on sustainable development, United Nations General Assembly, ECOSOC and UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration.
Documents
Aide Memoire
Information note
Agenda
DRAFT FINAL REPORT
Day 1 - 06 December 2017:
Opening Remarks: Mr. Bo-Kyun Shim, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), Republic of Korea
Opening Remarks: Ms. Marion Barthélemy, Director, Division for Public Administration and Development Management, DESA
Welcoming Remarks: Mr. Keewon Hong, Ambassador for International Relations, Incheon Metropolitan City
Keynote Speeches: H.E. Tan Sri Dr. Ali Hamsa, Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia and UN CEPA Member
Keynote Speeches: H.E. Ms. Ismat Ara Sadique, Minister of State, Ministry of Public Administration, Bangladesh
Plenary Session I - Organizing, Planning and Mobilizing for Implementing the SDGs
Part 1 - Getting Institutions Organized for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society Approaches:
Plenary Remarks: Mr. Leonard Tampubolon, Deputy Minister, Ministry of National Development Planning / National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), Indonesia
Plenary Remarks: Mr. Chae Gun Chung, Head of UN Project Office on Governance (UNPOG), DPADM/UNDESA
Plenary Remarks: Dr. Kamariah Noruddin, Deputy Director General (Macro), Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia
Plenary Remarks: Mr. Brian Lariche, Boardmember, Asia, Aflatoun International
Part 2 - Strategic Planning for Implementing the 2030 Agenda:
Special Remark: Ms. Michaela Prokop, Regional Programme Advisor for the SDGs, UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre
Plenary Remarks: Mr. M. Aslam Alam, Rector, Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC), Ministry of Public Administration
Plenary Remarks: Mr. Dasho Karma Tshiteem, Chairman, Royal Civil Service Commission, Bhutan
Plenary Remarks: Mr. Samuel Grundler, Director of Aid, Planning & Aid Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of Nauru
Part 3 - Parallel Breakaway Groups
Group 1 - Mobilizing Public Servants and Transforming Mindsets - Advancing a Curriculum on the SDGs:
1st Presentation by Adriana Alberti, Senior Governance and Public Administration Officer, Division for Public Administration and Development Management, DESA
2nd Presentation by Adriana Alberti, Senior Governance and Public Administration Officer, Division for Public Administration and Development Management, DESA
Presentation by Dr. M Aslam Alam, Senior Secretary to the Government and Rector, Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Presentation by Mr. Dasho Karma Tshiteem, Chairman, Royal Civil Service Commission, Bhutan
Presentation by Amb. Young-sam Ma, Director, UNITAR CIFAL Jeju
Presentation by Dr. Lan Xue, Dean, School of Public Policy and Management, Sustainable Development Institute of Tsinghua University, China
Presentation by Mr. Wonkyu Shin, Specialist, Division of Development Research, Korea Development Institute (KDI)
Group 2 - Spearheading Whole-of-Government Approaches and Policy Integration:
Presentation by Mr. Jean D’Aragon, Senior Sustainable Development Expert, UN Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD/UNDESA)
Presentation by Ms. Ma'ata Mafi, Economist, National Planning Division, Prime Minister's Office, Tonga
Presentation by Mr. Mok Khemera, Director, Department of E-Government, General Department of ICT, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Cambodia
Group 3 - Engaging All Stakeholders in SDG Implementation:
Presentation by Hon. Noel E Rosal, Mayor of Legazpi City, Philippines
Presentation by Ms. Hee Jae Yoo, Director, Korea ToP Facilitation Center, Korea
Day 2 - 07 December 2017:
Plenary Session II - Localizing the SDGs - Enhancing Cooperation Between Central and Local Governments and Equipping Institutions:
Keynote Speech by Ms. Durreen Shahnaz, Founder, Impact Investment Exchange and Foundation
Plenary Remarks by Ms. Girlie Grace Casimiro-Igtiben, Chief Economic Development Specialist, National Economic and Development Authority, The Philippines
Plenary Remarks by Mr. Hoiseung Lee, Director General, International Cooperation Bureau, Seoul Metropolitan Government
Plenary Remarks by Mr. Arab Hoballah, Team Leader, EU-GIZ SWITCH-Asia Facility on Sustainable Production and Consumption (SCP)
Plenary Remarks by Dr. Lan Xue, Dean, School of Public Policy and Management, Sustainable Development Institute of Tsinghua University, China
Plenary Session II - Parallel Breakaway Groups:
Group 1 - Localizing the SDGs:
Presentation by Hon. Eloy C. Eclar, Mayor of Gerona, Philippines
Presentation by Mr. Chang-Soo Choe, Professor, Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Presentation by Ms. Eah Antonio, Philippines, 2030 Youth Force (Initiated by UNDP & UNV)
Group 2 - Resources Allocation between National and Local Governments:
Presentation by Mr. Syviengxay Oraboune, Acting Director General, Center for Socio-Economic Science and Policy Research, National Institute for Economic Research (NIER) of Lao Government, Lao PDR
Presentation by Hon. Suriya Yeekhun, Mayor of Prik Municipality, Thailand
Presentation by Mr. Moise Tchankoumi, Former Professor, Public Finance Consultant, France
Presentation by Mr. David Kasdan, Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, Graduate School of Governance, SungKyunKwan University
Group 3 - Making Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable:
Presentation by Ms. Waltraut Ritter, Founder and Principal, Knowledge Dialogues
Presentation by Mr. Wang Xingquan, Director of Research Center on Innovation, Institute of Information Sciences, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences
Key Points by Mr. Wang Xingquan, Director of Research Center on Innovation, Institute of Information Sciences, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences
Presentation by Mr. Shaleen Singhal, Professor of Sustainable Cities, TERI University, India
Presentation by Mr. Hi Yong Lee, Director, Technical Operations Division, Incheon Smart City Corporation
Presentation by Mr. Gerald Paragas, Representative of the Governor of Provincial Government of Pangasinan, Philippines
Presentation by Ms. Binita Karki, Nepal, 2030 Youth Force (Initiated by UNDP & UNV)
Plenary Session III - Improving Public Service Delivery and Promoting Inclusion through Innovation and ICTs:
Keynote Speech by Mr. Liam Maxwell, National Technology Adviser, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, United Kingdom
Plenary Remarks by Ms. Adriana Alberti, Senior Governance and Public Administration Officer, UNDESA/DPADM
Video Presentation by Ms. Anita Gurumurthy, Executive Director, IT for Change, E-Government for Women’s Empowerment - UNESCAP & DPADM/UNPOG joint project
Plenary Remarks by Mr. Zheng Lei, Associate Professor, Public Management, Fudan University
Plenary Remarks by Mr. Cheung Moon Cho, Executive Principal Researcher, Korea National Information Society Agency (NIA)
Plenary Remarks by Mr. Redempto Parafina, Executive Director, CheckmySchool.org and Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific (ANSA-EAP)
Plenary Session III - Parallel Breakaway Groups:
Group 1 - Improved Access to Public Services through National ID Management:
Presentation by Ms. Jennifer Tan, Director, Government Technology Agency, Singapore
Talking Points by Ms. Jennifer Tan, Director, Government Technology Agency, Singapore
Presentation by Dr. Sang-Baek Chris Kang, Director, Department of Global Cooperation, Korea Local Information Research & Development Institute
Talking Points by Dr. Sang-Baek Chris Kang, Director, Department of Global Cooperation, Korea Local Information Research & Development Institute
Presentation by Mr. Bhagawan Aryal, Director, Department of Civil Registration, Ministry of Local Development and Federal Affairs, Nepal
Group 2 - Multichannel Services Delivery - Improving the Delivery of Services for Vulnerable Groups:
Presentation by Ms. Girlie Grace Casimiro-Igtiben, Chief Economic Development Specialist, Social Protection and Integration Division, National Economic and Development Authority, Philippines
Presentation by Mr. Mok Khemera, Director, Department of E-Government, General Department of ICT, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Cambodia
Presentation by Ms. Nora Shikin binti Ismael, Head of SL1M Secretariat, Training Scheme to Empower Vulnerable Groups, Prime Minister’s Economic Planning Unit, Malaysia
Presentation by Mr. Nazrul Islam, Country Director, Bangladesh, Relief International
Presentation by Mr. Il-han Kwon, Department of Global Cooperation / Team Leader, Korea Local Information Research & Development Institute (KLID)
Group 3 - Improving Financial Inclusion for Vulnerable Groups:
Presentation by Mr. Sameer Goyal, Program Manager, Seoul Center for Financial Sector Development Finance & Markets Global Practice, World Bank
Presentation by Mr. Praneel Pritesh, Financial Inclusion Specialist, UNCDF/PFIP
Presentation by Mr. Brian Lariche, Board member, Asia, Aflatoun International
Presentation by Ms. Sylvia Okinaly-Paraguya, CEO, National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO)
Day 3 - 08 December 2017:
Plenary Session IV - Review of SDG Implementation and Accountability at National Level:
Keynote Speech by Dr. Agus Joko Pramono, Boardmember, the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia
Presentation by Mr. Saber Chowdhury, Honorary President of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Member of Parliament, Bangladesh
Presentation by Mr. Yeom Tae-Young, Mayor of Suwon City, Republic of Korea
Plenary Session V - Reviewing Progress at the Global Level:
Presentation by Mr. Sangmin Nam, Acting Head, ESCAP Sub-regional office for East and North-East Asia
Presentation by Dr. Kamariah Noruddin, Deputy Director General (Macro), Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia
1st Presentation by Mr. Samuel Grundler, Director of Aid, Planning & Aid Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of Nauru
2nd Presentation by Mr. Samuel Grundler, Director of Aid, Planning & Aid Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of Nauru
Action Points from the Breakaway Groups and Way Forward:
Presentation by Dr. Lan Xue, Dean, School of Public Policy and Management, Sustainable Development Institute of Tsinghua University, China
Presentation by Ms. Jennifer Tan, Director, Government Technology Agency, Singapore
Presentation by National Information Society Agency (NIA)
Presentation by National Human Resources Development Institute (NHI)
Presentation by United Nations Project Office on Governance, Division for Public Administration and Development Management, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Closing Remarks:
Remarks by Mr. Il-jae Kim,, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), Republic of Korea
Key Messages from Concluding Comments by Ms. Marion Barthélemy, Director, DPADM/DESA
More information about previous regional symposia organized by the UNDESA Division of Public Administration and Development Management can be found here:
The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Symposium on "Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SAMOA Pathway in Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Equipping Public Institutions and Mobilizing Partnerships” (21-23 February 2017)
Bolivia Symposium on the “Promotion of an Inclusive and Accountable Public Administration for Sustainable Development”
For information please contact:
UNDESA/DPADM
Mr. Chae Gun Chung
Head, UN Project Office on Governance
Division for Public Administration and Development Management
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Tel: +82 (2) 756-7576
Email: chaegun.chung@un.org
Ms. Adriana Alberti
Senior Governance and Public Administration Officer
Division for Public Administration and Development Management
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Tel: +1 (212) 963-2299
Email: alberti@un.org
Ms. Yeh-Jin Suh
Programme Assistant
UN Project Office on Governance
Division for Public Administration and Development Management
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Tel: +82 (2) 717-4263
Email:
suh@un.org