I. Overview
The 2021-22 Sustainable Development Transformation Forum (SDTF) followed the thread of the forthcoming High-level Political Forum (HLPF 2022), which has the overarching theme of building back better from COVID-19 while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The 2022 edition of the SDTF featured the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will go under in-depth review during the HLPF in July 2022, namely SDGs 4 on quality education; 5 on gender equality; 14 on life below water; 15 on life on land; and 17 on partnerships for the Goals. The Forum also strived to examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on SDGs 4, 5, 14, 15, and 17 but also across all the SDGs given the integrated nature of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
II. Objectives
The overarching objective of the 2022 SDTF was closely linked to the HLPF 2022, aiming to offer a platform for capacity building, policy dialogue and knowledge sharing for building back better from the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Forum aimed to achieve a better understanding of success, challenges, lessons learned, and good practices related to the implementation of SDGs 4, 5, 14, 15 and 17, the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on those and across all the SDGs, and to identify potential solutions to advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
III. Target audience
The Forum aimed to bring together an international audience composed of national government officials and experts responsible for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, as well as representatives of regional and international organizations, including the United Nations, and of civil society and private sector. The Forum was also opened to other non-government experts working in the areas of SDG implementation at the national, regional, and local levels. It also welcomed academia, youth, and other interested stakeholders to ensure an inclusive and integrated discussion on sustainable accelerated solutions for COVID-19 recovery and the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.
IV. Program
Day 1: Monday, 28 February 2022, 8 – 10:30 PM (Korea Standard Time) (7 – 9:30 PM, Singapore Time)
Session 1 Theme: Quality Education – Advancing the 2030 Agenda through Education, Vocational Training and Capacity Building
Day 2: Tuesday, 1 March 2022, 8 – 10:30 PM (Korea Standard Time) (7 – 9:30 PM, Singapore Time)
Session 2 Theme: Gender Equality – A Gender Perspective on Building Back Better from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Day 3: Wednesday, 2 March 2022, 8 – 10:30 PM (Korea Standard Time) (7 – 9:30 PM, Singapore Time)
Session 3 Theme: Life Below Water – How the Oceans can help us fight against, and recover from COVID-19 and deliver the SDGs
Day 4: Thursday, 3 March 2022, 8 – 10:30 PM (Korea Standard Time) (7 – 9:30 PM, Singapore Time)
Session 4 Theme: Life on Land – How COVID-19 recovery and 2030 Agenda can only be fully achieved through addressing SDG 15
For more information, please visit the UNOSD’s website: https://unosd.un.org/events/2021-22_SDTF
SDTF is hosted by the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD). Since 2013, ASEF, via the ENVforum, has been regularly contributing to the SDTF as a knowledge partner, bringing experts on sustainable development and presenting outcomes of ENVforum research on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
