The global health, economic and human crisis driven by the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and to keep the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on track. The mobilization of public resources and other sources of funding, emergency spending, redirection of funds and debt management are essential to address the consequences of the crisis. The pandemic requires decisive action, but transparency and accountability should be embedded in all COVID-19 fiscal responses and efforts to building back better.

Five years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is clear that there is a strong commitment and momentum for implementation in the decade of action for the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is also clear that implementing the SDGs presents major challenges for Member States, particularly when compounded with the need to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, the year 2020 witnessed unprecedented challenges to the world amidst the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’re at a critical juncture in the global fight against poverty. An estimated 71 million people have been pushed back into poverty by COVID-19, threatening to erase decades of progress.  
 
On Friday 16 October 2020, from 9:00am to 11:00 am (EDT), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs through its Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government and in collaboration with China National Academy of Governance (CNAG) hosted a webinar on Strengthening the Role of Public Institutions in Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development.  
 

The current COVID-19 pandemic calls for agile and scientific solutions of government by leveraging ICTs and digital government for innovations. Many countries have effectively deployed ICT and digital government tools for health and wellbeing support, ensuring business continuity, and delivering uninterrupted digital services. Sharing of strategies, innovative cases, and lessons learned and fostering cooperation among countries is crucial for combating COVID-19.

In addition to unleashing unfathomable opportunities for sustainable development, the digital age has also highlighted the vitality of digital solutions allowing societies to function and businesses to continue in the times of COIVD-19 pandemic.  Online services and remote working arrangements were among the few of the measures addressing the isolation, keeping people informed and engaged during the COVID-19 response and recovery.  

Online Discussion Board

To facilitate continued discussion on "Public Governance and Innovative Partnerships for Addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic", the Online Discussion Board was created to address unanswered questions, promote dialogue, and exchange ideas.

More information is available here.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) has finalized a Curriculum on Governance for the Sustainable Development Goals. Its objective is to provide ready-to-use training material on key governance pillars needed to implement the 2030 Agenda.
 
Within this context, we are planning to pilot test in the Arab region two of its toolkits, namely one on Changing Mindsets in Public Institutions and another on Institutional Capacities for Policy Coherence.
 

The Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) adopted 11 principles of effective governance at its seventeenth session. The principles, endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2018/12, highlight the need for pragmatic and ongoing improvements in national and local governance capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

This Side Event was organized to present an online Training Toolkit on “Government Innovation for Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups”, which is part of the Curriculum on Governance for the SDGs developed by DPIDG/UN DESA. The Toolkit aims to build capacities of public servants to promote government innovation for social inclusion of vulnerable groups by introducing diverse innovative approaches, strategies and experiences. 

A virtual capacity development training workshop on "Innovation, Digital Government and Public Service Delivery for Sustainable Development in the Caribbean Region", composed of ten facilitated webinars, was held on 23, 24 February and 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24 March 2021.