An ECA Presentation at the Eighth Session of the Committee on Food Security

1. Main outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development: Institutional Framework An ECA Presentation at the Eighth Session of the Committee on Food Security and Sustainable Development and the Africa Regional Implementation Meeting for the Twentieth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 19 November 2012

2. Strengthening the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development • Rio+20 • Emphasized the role of effective governance at all levels in achieving sustainable development • Called for the strengthening of institutional framework for sustainable development at the global level to: • Promote a balanced integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development • Enhance coherence, reduce fragmentation and overlap, and increase efficiency, effectiveness and transparency • Promote full and effective participation of all countries in decision-making processes • Engage high-level political leaders to provide policy guidance and enhance the engagement of major groups

3. Institutional framework: Global level • Rio+20 • Underscored the need to ensure adequate frameworks for sustainable development at the international, regional, national and sub-national levels • Called on GA to further integrate SD in its agenda, including through periodic high-level dialogues • Resolved to establish a Universal Intergovernmental High-Level Political Forum for a balanced integration of the three dimensions, building on, and eventually substituting, the CSD • Also resolved to launch an intergovernmental process under the GA to define the format and functioning of the Forum - convene - 68th UNGA • Agreed to consider the need for promoting inter-generational solidarity for SD- SG to present a report

4. Institutional framework: Global level… • The RIM may wish to consider the following: • Ensure that the form and composition of the Forum to be defined adequately caters to its agreed functions • Clear definition of roles, responsibilities and relationships with other bodies eg. ECOSOC • Definition of an implementation mandate- delivery on SD commitments • How to ensure flexibility to address new and emerging challenges • How to ensure effective linkages- regional, national

5. Institutional framework: Global level… • Insist on broad-based, transparent and inclusive participatory process involving all relevant stakeholders • Decide on establishing a regional consultative process to be supported by its partners and involving African regional and subregional organizations • AUC, ECA, AfDB within the framework of their joint Secretariat would be well placed to support the consultative process in the region • Approaching inter-generational solidarity for SD leveraging on contribution global commons, low ecological footprint, lift population out of poverty, access adequate MoI • Call for support for long-term development visions that foster IGE • Proactive in terms of providing inputs to the SGs report

6. Institutional framework: Regional level • Africa Consensus Statement: • Reaffirms the role of role of ECA in promoting a balanced integration of the three pillars of sustainable development. • Calls on ECA, AUC, AfDB, NPCA and the RECs to continue facilitating consultative meetings and processes on SD • Rio+20: • Emphasized that regional and subregional organizations, including the UN Regional Commissions (RCs) and their Subregional Offices (SROs) play a significant role in promoting a balanced integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development, • Underscored the need to support these institutions. • Urged the prioritization of sustainable development and encouraged enhancement of the RCs and their SROs Since 2005m the ECA Committee on Food Security and sustainable Development (CFSSD) - providing platform for Africa RIMs

7. Institutional framework: Regional level… • The Africa RIM may wish to consider the following for Africa: • Support the strengthening of ECA in view of its principal role in integrating the three dimensions of SD • The need to strengthen the Africa-RIM to a Regional Forum • Ensure that the principle of subsidiarity is applied fully in the HLPF process to be established • Support for the participation of African Least Developed Countries in the Regional Forum • RCM-Africa which also plays an important role in furthering the sustainable development agenda on the continent be strengthened

8. Institutional framework: National level Africa in its Consensus Statement, • Urged countries to strengthen NCSDs – effectively address integration issues (function and form) • Called on Rio+20 to explore the possibility of reactivating and reinvigorating the National Councils for Sustainable Development (NCSDs) Rio+20, • Underlined the need for more coherent and integrated planning and decision-making at the national, subnational and local levels • Called on the international community to strengthen national, subnational institutions, bodies and processes dealing with sustainable development

9. Institutional framework: National level… • Africa RIM may wish to consider the following : • The mandate, location and organizational structure of these bodies should allow for horizontal and vertical linkages, and effective integration • The composition these bodies should be broad-based ensuring full and effective involvement of all relevant ministries as well as major groups • SD bodies should: • Have decentralized structures at local levels • Guide the development and implementation of policies and strategies- ensure synergies, avoid overlaps and duplication • Adopt or enhance the use and application of approaches and tools, including integrated assessments to promote balanced integration • have a sensitization and advocacy role regarding provide platforms for experience sharing and knowledge networking • Identify and establish innovative funding mechanisms to ensure sustainability

10. Thank You