Future
Programme, Organisation And Draft decision by the CSD11 - submitted by the ChairpersonThe Economic and Social CouncilPreamble [To be submitted by the Chair during the second week.] Having considered the Report of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its 11th session, Future Organisation of Work of the CSD1. Decides that the organisation of work of the CSD should advance implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation at all levels. In order to achieve this objective, the work of the Commission will be organised as a series of two-year “Implementation Cycles”, which will consist of a “Review Year” and a “Policy Year”. The CSD review and policy sessions will normally be held in New York in May and their main objectives would be as follows: (a) The CSD Review sessions will undertake an evaluation of progress in implementing the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and Agenda 21 on the basis of: (i) The Secretary-General’s State of Implementation Report which reflects a synthesis and analysis of overall progress and constraints at the national, regional and global levels, as identified in the implementation reports and the outcomes of Regional Implementation Forums described in paragraph 2 below. (ii) In addition, the Secretary-General’s State of Implementation Report shall present a detailed analysis and evaluation of progress with implementation in the selected focus area for the cycle and also reflect on related new and emerging issues, approaches and best practice models for implementation. (iii) Based on this evaluation the Review session would decide on priority concerns, which would be the subject of detailed policy discussion in the course of the Policy Year with a view to strengthening implementation in these areas; (b) The CSD Policy sessions will: (i) Agree on policy decisions and practical measures to expedite implementation of the priority concerns identified at the CSD Review Session, on the basis of the Secretary-General’s Policy Reports containing recommendations and proposals for action on priority concerns identified in the Review Session (ii) Mobilise further action, by all implementation actors to overcome obstacles and constraints; address gaps, new issues, challenges and opportunities; and share lessons learned and dissemination of best practice. 2. Decides further that in order to enable the Commission to effectively achieve these objectives, the work of CSD’s subsidiary machinery will be re-organised as follows: (a) In preparation for CSD Review Sessions, the two annual meetings of the two former Ad Hoc Inter-sessional Working Groups of the CSD will be transformed into five CSD Regional Implementation Forums, which will usually be held and organised in conjunction with the established major regional or sub-regional meetings relevant to sustainable development, as follows: (i) The main objectives would be to review national, regional and sub-regional progress and constraints; exchange experience on best practices and lessons learned; identify new and emerging issues, challenges and opportunities on the basis of relevant implementation reports. The outcome of these Regional Implementation Forums will provide input to the Secretary-General’s State of Implementation Report. (ii) In order to ensure a comprehensive review, organisations of the UN system, national, sub-regional and regional scientific experts, educators, major groups, partnerships and stakeholders should participate in these forums. In this respect, Rules of Procedure and practices of the CSD will apply to the Regional Implementation Forums. (iii) The Forums will be organised by the Secretariat of the CSD working in co-operation with the Secretariats of the United Nations Regional Commissions, regional offices of funds, programmes and other organisations of the UN system, as well as relevant regional and sub-regional organisations and initiatives. (iv) Subregional review meetings and initiatives are encouraged as an input to Regional Implementation Forums. (b) In preparation for the CSD Policy Sessions, the two annual meetings of former Ad Hoc Inter-sessional Working Groups of the CSD will be transformed into one intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting, usually held in February, which should include a dialogue with experts to be held in New York. The resources released as a result of the Council’s earlier decision to terminate the work of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development and to transfer its work to the CSD, should be used in order to enable the Commission to obtain the best expert advice as required. The main objective of the Meeting would be to explore, on the basis of the Secretary-General’s Policy Reports, both concrete actions and policy options aimed at expediting progress in implementation through interactive and focused discussions between the members of the CSD and experts and practitioners in relevant fields, including scientific experts. (c) The report of the Meeting will be forwarded to the CSD Policy Session. (d) In developing the State of Implementation Report and Policy Report the Secretary General shall draw from information provided by countries, organizations of the UN system, regions, sub regions, scientific experts, practitioners, major groups and partnership implementers. 3. Decides that the provisions of paragraph (d) of ECOSOC resolution 1993/207 would continue to apply to the meetings of Regional Implementation Forums and intergovernmental Preparatory Meetings, as well as the annual sessions of the Commission. 4. Calls upon governments, international and regional institutions and major groups to undertake initiatives and activities in support of the CSD Programme of Work. The results of such initiatives and activities should be reported to the CSD meetings, as appropriate. 5. Decides that the results of CSD work should not be limited to summaries of discussions and negotiated texts, but should also include sharing of best practice and lessons learned, capacity-building activities such as learning centres, and partnerships that support implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. 6. Decides further that the CSD Review and Policy sessions should include High-Level Segments, which should involve ministers with portfolios relevant to the focus area under discussion. The Segments should be held at the beginning of CSD sessions so that their leadership and oversight of the outcomes of the sessions would be enhanced. Ministerial Segments should include inter-active and focused dialogue with active participation of implementation agencies, leaders from major groups and other stakeholders with the aim of reaching action-oriented recommendations to overcome obstacles and enhance the process of implementation. 7. Decides also that reports of CSD to ECOSOC should contain specific recommendations that should be addressed during the sessions of the Council, in particular its high-level, co-ordination, operational activities and general segments. Such recommendations could include: (a) Sustainable development focus areas and issues that could be addressed during the High-Level Segments of the Council, as provided in paragraph 144(b) of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; (b) Recommendations aimed at promoting greater coherence and co-ordination among intergovernmental bodies of UN system organisations involved in sustainable development; (c) Recommendations aimed at promoting implementation through the governing structures of the organisations of the United Nations system; (d) Recommendations aimed at promoting complementarities among the work of the Council’s functional commissions as well as other subsidiary bodies that deal with specific aspects of sustainable development or monitor progress in the implementation of the outcomes of other UN conferences and summits related to sustainable development. Multi-Year Programme of Work of the CSD for the period after 20038. Decides to adopt the overriding theme of “Sustainable Development for Poverty Eradication” for all Implementation Cycles identified in the CSD Multi-Year Programme of Work. 9. Decides to adopt the Multi-Year Programme of Work of the CSD for the period after 2003, as outlined in the Annex to this resolution. 10. Decides further that implementation of this Programme of Work will be guided by the following considerations: (a) The review and assessment of the implementation of actions, commitments and targets will be dealt with in accordance with the relevant provisions of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and the outcomes of specific CSD sessions; (b) Each theme would be addressed in an integrated manner taking into account economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development; (c) Deliberations in the Commission should focus primarily on the review and evaluation of the progress achieved in the attainment of WSSD goals and targets at all levels with the aim to identify action-oriented recommendations to enhance and expedite the implementation of those goals and targets as decided in the CSD Policy Sessions; (d) Means of implementation should be addressed and identified as a cross-cutting issue in every cycle and for every theme, action and commitment. (e) The following issues will be addressed in every cycle as part of the consideration of the main focus area where relevant: poverty eradication, sustainable consumption and production patterns, protecting the natural resource base for economic and social development, globalisation, health, corporate social and environmental responsibility, gender equality and governance; (f) Africa, SIDS and the Least Developed Countries should be given special focus in every cycle with respect to all relevant themes, actions and targets; (g) CSD should focus on those areas where the Commission could add most value to intergovernmental deliberations on cross-sectoral and sectoral issues and provide a forum for policy integration for implementation of sustainable development; (i) The CSD should take into account the work of the Open-ended Ad-hoc Working Group of the General Assembly on the integrated and co-ordinated implementation of, and follow-up to the outcomes of the major UN Conferences and Summits in the Economic and Social Fields. Reporting11. Emphasises that an effective system of reporting is essential for evaluation of progress in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Program for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, sharing of lessons learned and best practice, as well as identifying constraints to implementation. Reporting on progress to both the Regional Implementation Forums and the global CSD meetings is important. 12. Underscores that reporting to the CSD should be guided by the following considerations: (a) Reporting should be comprehensive and include inputs from: national, sub-regional and regional levels; UN organisations, programmes, funds and agencies; major groups; and partnership initiatives; (b) Reporting should focus on concrete progress in implementation, identifying constraints, challenges and opportunities; (c) The existing reporting systems should be used to the fullest extent possible. 13. Requests the Secretariat of the Commission, working in close cooperation with other organisations of the UN system to: (a) Take measures to streamline reporting in order to avoid duplication; (b) Provide support to countries, upon their request, in national reporting. Enhancing contributions of funds, programmes, specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations System 14. Calls upon all relevant international, regional and sub-regional organisations, the UN funds, programmes and Regional Commissions, specialised agencies, international financial institutions and the Global Environmental Facility to be actively involved in the work of the CSD and implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. To this end, it is essential for the United Nations system to undertake further measures, both through designated lead organisations and joint arrangements and programmes aimed at: (a) Promoting stronger linkages between global, regional and country-level implementation measures; (b) Promoting policy coherence within and between organizations; (c) Identifying areas where further policy development may be required in order to expedite progress; (d) Mobilising resources for implementation; (e) Enhancing collaboration and co-ordination in all areas and especially those where there is no clear lead agency, such as water, energy and changing consumption and production patterns. 15. Calls on the UN Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) to ensure effective UN system coordination to enhance the implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. 16. Requests the Secretary General to submit, as a matter of urgency, a report outlining an integrated and comprehensive response of the UN system to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and identifying the revised roles and responsibilities of UN task managers to ensure implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Enhancing Contributions of Major Groups and participation of other constituencies17. Decides that contributions from major groups to CSD sessions, while respecting established rules of procedure, should be further enhanced through such measures as: (a) Strengthening major group involvement in the activities of the CSD, including the High-Level Segments; (b) More action and implementation–oriented multi-stakeholder dialogues; (c) Promoting more active involvement of representatives of major groups who are directly involved in implementation; (d) Striving for a better balance in representation of major groups from all regions; (e) Active involvement in partnership-related and capacity building activities, including the learning centres, organized as part of the meetings of the CSD. 18. Other constituencies, such as disabled persons, consumer groups and educators, should be actively involved in the implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and CSD work. CSD as the focal point for partnerships that promote sustainable development 19. Reiterates that partnerships, as one of the key innovations of the WSSD, are an important complementary instrument to enhance implementation of goals, objectives and targets in Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Partnerships are not a substitute for inter-governmentally agreed commitments. 20. Stresses the importance of transparency in the design and implementation of partnership initiatives and the need for these initiatives to be based on new and additional resources. 21. Decides that the CSD should provide a transparent, participatory and credible monitoring mechanism on the partnerships. Such a mechanism should include the following elements: (a) Voluntary reporting by partnerships with a focus on their contribution to the implementation of goals, objectives and targets of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; (b) Development by the Secretariat of a database on partnerships, which should be easily accessible through the CSD website to all interested parties; (c) Periodic preparation by the Secretariat of progress reports and background material on partnerships for consideration by the Commission in accordance with its programme and organization of work; (d) Initiatives such as partnership fairs, aimed at sharing lessons learned and best practice; (e) Review of the role of partnerships in supporting implementation and overcoming problems, gaps and constraints; (f) Activities aimed at strengthening existing partnerships and mobilizing new ones, taking into account the need for a balanced contribution of such partnerships to implementation of all goals, objectives and targets of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation in all regions. 21. Underscores that involvement of UN organizations in partnerships should be in accordance with their mandates and priorities and should not lead to diversion of the resources allocated for inter-governmentally agreed priorities. 22. Requests the Secretariat of the Commission, taking into account the provisions of Paragraphs 18, 19 and 20 above, to prepare a framework for voluntary reporting by partnerships. Bureau[To be submitted by the Chair during the second week.] ANNEX: Multi-Year Programme of Work of the CSD
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