Introduction
Stakeholder engagement has developed from the 1992 Earth Summit, which identified the roles and responsibilities of the nine stakeholders. These were Women, Children and Youth, Farmers, Indigenous Peoples, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Trade Unions, Local Authorities, Science and Technology, and Business and Industry
The 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) then advocated that stakeholders working together, sometimes with governments and the UN, could serve as an engine for implementing global agreements. These partnerships were called Type II partnerships. They were guided by the Bali Principles on MSPs.
WSSD saw over 300 multi-stakeholder partnerships launched. WSSD also recognised the need for a 10-year framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP) to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production. Again, utilising a multi-stakeholder approach. It would take until the Rio+20 conference for this approach to be formally adopted.
This approach was accelerated through the 2012 Rio+20 Conference, where over 700 voluntary commitments and multi-stakeholder partnerships were launched. This grew after the conference to over 1400.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and in particular the 17 Goals and 169 targets launched at the UN General Assembly Special Session on Heads of State in September 2015, opened the door to an avalanche of new and revised multi-stakeholder partnerships to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDESA has produced a list of the numbers for each goal, and if you go deeper, what those partnerships are addressing and who is involved with them.
Key Components
Finance: Mobilising domestic and international financial resources, including development assistance, private investment, and debt sustainability for developing countries.
Technology: Promoting the development, transfer, dissemination, and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries, along with strengthening science, technology, and innovation capacity.
Capacity-building: Enhancing the ability of developing countries to implement policies for sustainable development and to collect and use reliable data.
Trade: Promoting a fair, rules-based, and open multilateral trading system, and increasing exports from developing countries by removing trade barriers.
Systemic Issues: Addressing systemic challenges through policy and institutional coherence for sustainable development and the creation of effective multi-stakeholder partnerships at all levels.
Challenges and Progress
Challenges
- Financial gaps and debt: Developing nations face an annual $4 trillion investment gap to achieve the SDGs, compounded by record-high external debt levels and debt-servicing costs.
- Digital divide: Despite rapid internet growth, access remains unequal, especially in lower-income regions, with stark disparities in digital literacy and infrastructure.
- Data and capacity: Many countries struggle with insufficient funding for their national statistical systems, making it difficult to track progress on the SDGs and make informed decisions.
- Coordination and systemic barriers: Limited coordination, capacity-building needs, and systemic barriers hinder effective partnerships between governments, the private sector, and civil society.
- Geopolitical and economic instability: Conflicts, climate disruption, and rising geopolitical tensions create an unstable global environment that jeopardises progress.
Progress
- Technological access: Internet use has expanded significantly, with 68% of the global population online in 2024, up from 40% in 2015.
- Infrastructure: Access to electricity has grown, reaching 92% of the global population.
- International flows: There has been some increase in financial flows to developing countries from both official and private sources.
- Gender parity: The gender gap in internet usage is narrowing.
Targets and Indicators
| Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development | |
| Target | Indicator |
| Finance | |
| 17.1 Strengthen domestic resource mobilisation, including through international support to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection | 17.1.1 Total government revenue as a proportion of GDP, by source |
| 17.1.2 Proportion of domestic budget funded by domestic taxes | |
| 17.2 Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments, including the commitment by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income for official development assistance (ODA/GNI) to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries; ODA providers are encouraged to consider setting a target to provide at least 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries | 17.2.1 Net official development assistance, total and to least developed countries, as a proportion of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee donors’ gross national income (GNI) |
| 17.3 Mobilise additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources | 17.3.1 Additional financial resources mobilised for developing countries from multiple sources |
| 17.3.2 Volume of remittances (in United States dollars) as a proportion of total GDP | |
| 17.4 Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief and debt restructuring, as appropriate, and address the external debt of highly indebted poor countries to reduce debt distress | 17.4.1 Debt service as a proportion of exports of goods, services and primary income |
| 17.5 Adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries | 17.5.1 Number of countries that adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for developing countries, including the least developed countries |
| Technology | |
| 17.6 Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge-sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism | 17.6.1 Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, by speed4 |
| 17.7 Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed | 17.7.1 Total amount of funding for developing and developed countries to promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies |
| 17.8 Fully operationalise the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology | 17.8.1 Proportion of individuals using the Internet |
| Capacity-building | |
| 17.9 Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the Sustainable Development Goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation | 17.9.1 Dollar value of official development assistance committed to developing countries |
| Trade | |
| 17.10 Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organisation, including through the conclusion of negotiations under its Doha Development Agenda | 17.10.1 Worldwide weighted tariff-average |
| 17.11 Significantly increase the exports of developing countries, in particular with a view to doubling the least developed countries’ share of global exports by 2020 | 17.11.1 Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global exports |
| 17.12 Realise timely implementation of duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting basis for all least developed countries, consistent with World Trade Organisation decisions, including by ensuring that preferential rules of origin applicable to imports from least developed countries are transparent and simple, and contribute to facilitating market access | 17.12.1 Weighted average tariffs faced by developing countries, least developed countries and small island developing States |
| Systemic issues | |
| Policy and institutional coherence | |
| 17.13 Enhance global macroeconomic stability, including through policy coordination and policy coherence | 17.13.1 Macroeconomic Dashboard |
| 17.14 Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development | 17.14.1 Number of countries with mechanisms in place to enhance policy coherence of sustainable development |
| 17.15 Respect each country’s policy space and leadership to establish and implement policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development | 17.15.1 Extent of use of country-owned results frameworks and planning tools by providers of development cooperation |
| Multi-stakeholder partnerships | |
| 17.16 Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilise and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries | 17.16.1 Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals |
| 17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | 17.17.1 Amount in United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships for infrastructure |
| Data, monitoring and accountability | |
| 17.18 By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts | 17.18.1 Statistical capacity indicators |
| 17.18.2 Number of countries that have national statistical legislation that complies with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics | |
| 17.18.3 Number of countries with a national statistical plan that is fully funded and under implementation, by source of funding | |
| 17.19 By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building in developing countries | 17.19.1 Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen statistical capacity in developing countries |
| 17.19.2 Proportion of countries that (a) have conducted at least one population and housing census in the last 10 years; and (b) have achieved 100 per cent birth registration and 80 per cent death registration | |
SDG 17 and the UNEP Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) 2026–2029
The UNEP Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) tackles the triple planetary crisis—climate change, nature loss, and pollution—by strengthening the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda through SDG 17. It prioritises partnerships, resource mobilisation, technology transfer, and data-driven, science-based decision-making for sustainable development.
Key elements of UNEP’s approach to SDG 17 in its strategy include:
- Partnership and Collaboration: Building inclusive partnerships at global, regional, and national levels, incorporating governments, civil society, and the private sector.
- Means of Implementation: Strengthening financial, technology, and capacity-building support, particularly for developing nations.
- Data and Science: Utilising high-quality data to guide environmental policies and tracking progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Policy Coherence: Enhancing the integration of environmental dimensions into national development plans.
The 2026–2029 strategy builds on previous efforts to address the root causes of environmental degradation.
Relevant Linkages with other SDGs
DG 17, “Partnerships for the Goals,” acts as the implementation framework for the 2030 Agenda, providing critical means—finance, technology, capacity building, trade, and data—necessary to achieve all other 16 goals. It addresses the estimated $4 trillion annual SDG financing gap, requiring multi-stakeholder collaboration among governments, the private sector, and civil society.
Key interlinkages of SDG 17 with other SDGs include:
- Finance (Targets 17.1-17.5): Essential for mobilising resources to fund poverty eradication (SDG 1), health (SDG 3), and education (SDG 4).
- Technology (Targets 17.6-17.8): Facilitates knowledge sharing and access to science, directly supporting innovation (SDG 9) and climate action (SDG 13).
- Capacity Building (Target 17.9): Strengthens national plans to implement all SDGs.
- Trade (Targets 17.10-17.12): Promotes a fair, universal trading system via the WTO, crucial for economic growth (SDG 8).
- Data, Monitoring, and Accountability (Targets 17.18-17.19): Enhances data availability to track progress on all goals.
Key science reports for SDG 17
Key scientific reports, evidence syntheses, and policy analyses for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17—Partnerships for the Goals—focus on strengthening the means of implementation, including technology transfer, data infrastructure, and financial capacity-building. These reports highlight that while data and connectivity have improved, progress is “alarmingly off track” due to debt crises and a $4 trillion annual investment gap.
Here are the key reports and studies for SDG 17:
1. UN Official Progress Reports (Annual)
- The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 (and 2024): Prepared by UN DESA, this is the definitive annual review. It analyses SDG 17, focusing on Official Development Assistance (ODA) trends, debt sustainability, and digital connectivity (Target 17.6-17.8).
- The 2024/2025 Extended Report on SDG 17: Provides detailed data on the 19 targets, covering finance, technology, trade, and statistical capacity.
- The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020: Highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global partnerships and the reversal of some progress.
2. Evidence Syntheses and Strategic Reviews
- Evidence Synthesis of the Sustainable Development Goal 17 Partnership Pillar (AIR, 2023): Presented at the UN General Assembly, this report presents 17 lessons on accelerating progress, emphasising that SDG 17 acts as a necessary “enabler” for the other 16 goals.
- SDG 17: Review of Research Needs (Stockholm Environment Institute, 2020): Identifies critical research gaps regarding policy coherence, public administration, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
3. Scientific Studies and Academic Analysis
- Scientific evidence on the political impact of the Sustainable Development Goals (Nature Sustainability, 2022): Reviews over 3,000 studies, finding that SDG 17 has had a “largely discursive” impact but limited transformative, institutional change.
- A spatial perspective on the impact of official development assistance (Scientific Reports, 2026): Investigates the impact of ODA on SDG performance from 2000–2021, emphasising the need for a holistic approach to financing.
- Unravelling the complexity in achieving the 17 sustainable development goals (PMC, 2019): Analyses the role of science, technology, and engineering in minimising resource use and maximising efficiency.
4. Policy-Oriented Reports on Means of Implementation
- Science, Technology and Innovation for Achieving the SDGs: Guidelines for Policy Formulation (UNCTAD/UNESCO/UNDP, 2022): Offers a framework for building national STI capacities, aligning with Targets 17.6–17.8.
- The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation Policies (European Commission): Examines how STI acts as a cross-cutting tool to improve efficiency in both economic and environmental sectors.
- Science in action to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (International Science Council, 2024): Showcases 13 case studies on how science-based decision-making drives progress, prepared for the High-level Political Forum (HLPF).
Key Themes in SDG 17 Science
- Data and Statistics (Targets 17.18-17.19): Reports show a surge in data collection for pandemic response, but 2.6 billion people remain offline, and data systems in low-income countries still lack sustainable funding.
- Finance (Targets 17.1-17.4): Highlights record-high debt-servicing costs ($1.4 trillion in 2023) and a large investment gap, necessitating a $500 billion annual SDG stimulus.
- Technology and Capacity Building (Targets 17.6-17.9): Focuses on bridging the digital divide and transferring environmentally sound technologies.
These reports collectively argue that achieving the SDGs requires shifting from passive monitoring to active, science-based, and collaborative implementation.
Funding for SDG 17
Financing SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) requires an estimated additional $500 billion annually, part of a broader $4 trillion yearly gap for all SDGs, focusing on mobilising resources through increased ODA (0.7% of GNI), debt relief, private investment, and strengthening domestic tax systems. Key needs include enhanced technology transfer, equitable trade, and improved data capacity.
Key Financing Components for SDG 17:
- Official Development Assistance (ODA) & Public Finance: Developed nations must fulfill 0.7% GNI commitments, with a focus on boosting concessional finance via multilateral development banks (MDBs).
- Debt Relief & Restructuring: Addressing the high cost of debt for developing nations, including converting short-term high-interest loans into long-term (30+ years) low-interest debt.
- Domestic Resource Mobilisation: Strengthening tax administration, curbing illicit financial flows, and implementing progressive taxation to increase local revenue.
- Private Sector Investment: Catalysing private capital through blended finance (combining public grants with private loans), particularly for infrastructure and technology in developing regions.
- Technology & Capacity Building: Enhancing knowledge sharing, fostering technology transfer, and strengthening scientific capacities to allow for innovation.
- Data and Monitoring: Investing in robust, reliable, and timely data collection to measure progress and ensure accountability.
These actions are supported by the UN Secretary-General’s call for an SDG Stimulus to bridge the financial gap.
SDG 17 and the Just Transition
SDG17 (Partnerships for the Goals) acts as the crucial “means of implementation” for the just transition, providing the necessary framework for global cooperation, resource mobilisation, and technological transfer required to transition to a greener economy without leaving anyone behind. It enables a just transition by fostering inclusive, multi-stakeholder partnerships that bridge the gap between developed and developing nations, focusing on social protection and equitable economic growth.
Here is how SDG17 contributes to the just transition:
1. Mobilising Finance for Equity
A just transition requires significant investment to support vulnerable communities and industries. SDG17 contributes by:
- Strengthening Resource Mobilisation: Assisting developing countries in improving domestic capacity for tax collection.
- Supporting Debt Sustainability: Helping countries manage debt to create fiscal space for green, socially responsible investments.
- Enhancing Official Development Assistance (ODA): Encouraging developed nations to meet ODA commitments, particularly for climate adaptation and mitigation.
2. Technology Transfer and Capacity Building
Technology is a key driver of the green transition, but access is unequal. SDG17 facilitates:
- Environmentally Sound Technology: Promoting the transfer and diffusion of green technologies to developing countries on favourable terms.
- Capacity Building: Enhancing international support for targeted, national-level capacity building to implement sustainable policies.
- Knowledge Sharing: Strengthening North-South, South-South, and triangular regional cooperation to share knowledge and expertise.
3. Policy Coherence and Inclusive Decision-Making
A just transition requires aligning climate goals with social and economic policies. SDG17 supports this by:
- Enhancing Policy Coherence: Promoting coordinated global macroeconomic policies that ensure sustainable development is not hindered by conflicting economic goals.
- Respecting National Leadership: Respecting each country’s policy space to establish and implement policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development.
- Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: Encouraging partnerships between governments, the private sector, and civil society to create inclusive, “people-centred” solutions.
4. Fair Trade and Economic Stability
A just transition requires a fair global economic system. SDG17 addresses this through:
- Equitable Trading Systems: Promoting a universal, rules-based, non-discriminatory, and equitable multilateral trading system.
- Boosting Developing Country Exports: Increasing the exports of developing nations, particularly the least developed countries, to help them participate in green, sustainable growth.
5. Data, Monitoring, and Accountability
To ensure the transition is actually “just,” rigorous tracking is required. SDG17 contributes by:
- Improving Data Availability: Enhancing support for developing countries to produce high-quality, timely, and reliable data for tracking progress on SDG implementation.
- Measuring Progress: Building on existing initiatives to develop measurements for sustainable development that go beyond GDP.
By connecting these elements, SDG17 ensures that the transition to a low-carbon economy also addresses the social, economic, and environmental injustices, helping to shift from an extractive to a regenerative, inclusive economy.
UNDESA and Partnerships and Commitments
UNDESA supports SDG 17, the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, by providing substantive support for multi-stakeholder partnerships, building capacity, and facilitating collaboration through platforms like the Partnerships for SDGs platform. This goal focuses on revitalising the global partnership by bringing together governments, civil society, the private sector, and others to pool knowledge, expertise, and resources to achieve the other 16 SDGs. UNDESA also tracks progress through voluntary commitments registered on the platform and its associated annual progress reports, while initiatives like the Partnership Accelerator work to improve the effectiveness of these partnerships.
UN DESA role in SDG 17
- Substantive support: UNDESA, through its Division for Sustainable Development Goals, provides support for the implementation of SDG 17, including partnerships, capacity-building, and the Global Sustainable Development Report.
- Partnerships for SDGs platform: UNDESA hosts an online platform where governments, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders can register voluntary commitments and multi-stakeholder partnerships to drive SDG implementation.
- Facilitating collaboration: The platform acts as a major matchmaking tool, connecting stakeholders and providing a framework for reporting on progress, which strengthens accountability.
- Building capacity: The Partnership Accelerator initiative, supported by UNDESA, focuses on building the capacity of organisations to develop and implement partnerships for the SDGs by improving skills, strategies, and processes.
Commitments and partnerships under SDG 17
- Multi-stakeholder partnerships: The goal emphasises effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships that combine knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources.
- Voluntary commitments: Partnerships and commitments registered on the platform are encouraged to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Resource-based, and Time-bound) to facilitate the achievement of the SDGs.
- Mobilising resources: Key commitments include mobilising financial resources, facilitating technology development and transfer, and strengthening capacity-building in developing countries.
- Tracking progress: Each registered initiative on the Partnerships for SDGs platform submits annual progress reports, which are reviewed by other users to foster accountability and the exchange of experiences.
Partnerships and Commitments
The table below shows how 2025 initiatives on the SDG Action Platform are distributed across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Many initiatives contribute to multiple SDGs, reflecting the interconnected nature of sustainable development.
| Sustainable Development Goal | Number of Multi-stakeholder Partnerships on the UN website |
| SGD 1: No Poverty | 1495 |
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | 1424 |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being | 1326 |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 1870 |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 1721 |
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 1862 |
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 1081 |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 2011 |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | 1092 |
| SDG 10: Reduce Inequalities | 1028 |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 1274 |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 1715 |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 2238 |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | 2084 |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 1363 |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | 1073 |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 2290 |
Examples of SDG 17 partnerships
Large-scale and international examples
- Konza Technopolis: A “Silicon Savannah” project in Kenya that was built through a collaboration of international investors and the Kenyan government to create a technology hub.
- Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme: A North-South and South-South collaboration that finances solar and wind farms across the continent.
- UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries: A partnership providing access to research, innovation, and technical expertise for smaller states to help them compete globally.
Private sector and NGO examples
- Grab and EcoMatcher: A partnership focused on planting trees in Southeast Asia to support environmental and economic goals.
- RHB Islamic Bank and WWF: A collaboration that launched debit cards made from recycled plastic waste in Malaysia.
- Sunway Berhad, Celcom Axiata, and Huawei: A public-private partnership in Malaysia to develop smart township solutions for areas like telehealth and public safety.
- Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI): A public-private partnership that has contributed to vaccinating hundreds of millions of children and saving millions of lives.
- The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: A partnership that raises and invests funds to support programs for fighting these diseases in countries and communities that need them most.
- The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C): A community of member organisations that works together to develop web standards, making it an example of how a standards-setting partnership fosters a more accessible web.
SDG 17 Toolkits
Corporate and Business Toolkits
- SDG Action Manager: A tool from the UN Global Compact that helps businesses manage and improve their sustainability performance.
- Women’s Empowerment Principles Gender Gap Analysis Tool: Assesses and improves gender equality in a company’s workforce, marketplace, and community.
- Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) Tool: Helps companies align their climate targets with the 1.5°C emissions reduction pathway.
- Decent Work Toolkit for Sustainable Procurement: Supports companies in advancing decent work through their purchasing decisions.
- SDG Impact Tool: Developed by Gold Standard to help report, validate, and track project contributions to the SDGs.
Government and Policy Toolkits
- OECD Toolkit for A Territorial Approach to the SDGs: A user-friendly checklist for policymakers to implement a territorial approach to achieving the SDGs.
- UNSDG Acceleration Toolkit: A compendium of tools for governments and UN Country Teams to accelerate progress, analyse interconnections, and build resilience.
NGO and Community Toolkits
- SDGtoolkit (SDG Watch Europe): A collection of over 300 resources, including articles, presentations, and monitoring tools, aimed at NGOs in Europe.
- Gaia Education’s SDG Toolkit: Includes flashcards, a handbook, and a project canvas to help design community projects and can be used in a variety of settings.
Other notable tools
- Water Stewardship Toolbox: Provides businesses with relevant tools, guidance, and datasets for water stewardship.
- KnowSDGs Platform: A web platform offering tools, methods, and data to support evidence-based policymaking for the SDGs.
- SDG Toolkit (ICCROM): A collection of tools with a focus on SDG 12, 16, and 17, with a specific emphasis on policy coherence and partnerships.
Key events for SDG 17 in preparation for the 2027 High-Level Review of the SDGs
February 24–27: HLPF regional meeting Asia-Pacific (ESCAP Bangkok, Thailand)
All of the regional meetings are under the theme “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for a sustainable future for all”. The Forum will place a special emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals under in-depth review at the 2026 high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF), namely Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Goal 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
March 3-6: UN Statistical Commission
March 31–2 April: HLPF regional meeting Western Asia (ESCWA Beirut, Lebanon – tentative)
April 13–17: HLPF regional meeting Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC Santiago, Chile
April 21-22: HLPF regional meeting Europe and Central Asia (UNECE Geneva, Switzerland)
April 28-30: HLPF regional meeting Africa (ECA Kampala, Uganda) May 6-7: 11th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals.
July 6-15: UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development:
The theme of the HLPF will be “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all”. The 2026 HLPF, with full appreciation for the integrated, indivisible, and interlinked nature of the Sustainable Development Goals, will conduct in-depth reviews of SDG 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; SDG 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all; SDG 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation; SDG 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable; and SDG 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
Stakeholder Engagement
The stakeholder mechanism for the SDGs and the events in New York can be found here, as described in the ‘About Us’ section of the Major Groups & Other Stakeholders website:
“The first United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, also known as the “Earth Summit”, recognised that achieving sustainable development would require the active participation of all sectors of society and all types of people. Agenda 22, adopted at the Earth Summit, recognised nine core constituencies of society through which broad participation of as many people as possible would be encouraged in UN activities related to sustainable development. These sectors are officially referred to as “Major Groups”.
Two decades later, during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as the Rio+20, other constituencies were recognised and invited to participate in UN processes related to sustainable development. Today, there are 21 Major Groups and other Stakeholder constituencies, and the list continues to grow.
At the global level, Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) have been granted comprehensive participatory opportunities in the High Level Political Forum through the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/67/290. Paragraph 15 of the Resolution states that, while retaining the intergovernmental character of the HLPF, Major Group representatives and other relevant Stakeholders shall be allowed to:
- Attend all official meetings of the forum
- Have access to all official information and documents
- Intervene in official meetings
- Submit documents and present written and oral contributions
- Make recommendations
- Organise side events and roundtables, in cooperation with Member States and the Secretariat
The Coordinating Mechanism of the Major Groups and other Stakeholders has grown from the original nine Major Groups to 22 constituencies. Listed below are those constancies and a link to their websites if they have one.
Major Groups
Business & Industry Major Group, Farmers’ Major Group, Indigenous Peoples’ Major Group, Local Authorities’ Major Group, Major Group for Children & Youth NGO Major Group, Science & Technology Major Group, Women’s Major Group, Workers & Trade Union Major Group
Added by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Education & Academia Stakeholder Group, Persons with Disabilities Stakeholder Group, Stakeholder Group on Ageing, Volunteers Stakeholder Group
Multi-stakeholder mechanism from other UN processes
Civil Society Financing for Development Group, Sendai Engagement Mechanism
Other stakeholder groups added
Africa Regional Mechanism, Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism, ECE Regional Civil Society Engagement Mechanism, LGBTI Stakeholder Group, People of African Descent Stakeholder Group, Stakeholder Group for Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent, and Together 2030