SDCs_prelimaryresearch_ASEF

Integration and Coordination

Situation and Issues

ASIA AND PACIFIC

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Ella S. Antonio Earth Council Asia-Pacific

SD INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

Ideal Set-Up Current Set-Up in AsPac

Regional Process Regional Process

Multi-stakeholder Regional SD Bodies



Multi-

stakeholder National and

Local SD Bodies

Multi-stakeholder

Global SD Body

Multi-stakeholder

Sub-Regional SD Bodies


Inter-Governmental Non-State Actors at

the sidelines



Multi-stakeholder &

Governmental

National and Local

Bodies

Inter-Governmental Non-State Actors at the

sidelines


the sidelines

ESD BODIES AT VARIOUS LEVELS

Regional Process Regional Process Regional ESD

Bodies


Sub-Regional ESD Bodies


National/Local ESD Bodies

Global SD Body

Europe AsPac LatAm Africa

UNCSD (UNDESA)

UNECE,

EC, UNDP

Europe

UNEP-ROE

ESCAP, ESCWA

UNDP-AP, UNEP-ROAP

UNEP-ROWA

ECLAC, UNDP-

LatAm, UNEP-

ROLAC

ECA,, UNDP-

Africa

UNEP-ROA

c/o Ingeborg

ASEAN, GMS SAARC,

SACEP, SPREP,

NEASPEC, CAREC,

ICSD,

Sub-regional branches of

ESCAP, UNEP, UNDP

NI

NI

National/Local

ESD Body

UNDP CT

National/Local

ESD Body

UNDP CT

National/Local

ESD Body

UNDP CT

National/Local

ESD Body

UNDP CT

ASPAC REGIONAL ESD BODIES

ESCAP/ESCWA UNDP UNEP

Function Forum for governments to

review & discuss economic &

social issues; strengthen

regional cooperation;

promote sustainable

economic & social

development; strengthen

institutional capacities

Advocates for change;

connects countries to

knowledge, experience and

resources; leads

programming of GEF &

climate-related funds; leads

UN country team.

Helps governments

translate global

environmental commitments

into national action; create

partnerships and

constituency for

environmental actions

Focus/

Priority

Themes

Macroeconomic policy;

social development; trade &

investment; transport;

environment & SD; disaster

risk reduction

Governance; Poverty

Reduction and MDG; Crisis

Prevention/Recovery;

Environment & Energy;

HIV/AIDS

MEAs; Regional

environmental issues

ASPAC REGIONAL ESD BODIES

ESCAP/ESCWA UNDP UNEP

Focal Unit Committee on Environment &

Development/ EDD N/A

Division of Regional

Cooperation/Regional Offices

Membership ESCAP – 62; ECWA - 14 AP -62; -WA-14 ROAP - 47 ; ROWA - 12

Horizontal

Integration

Inter-agency mtgs, Regional

Coordination Mechanism &

consultations, MCED

Inter-agency mtg; Regional

Bureaus; inter-national

consultations

Regional consultation meetings;

MCED; direct CS participation

Vertical

Integration

Upstream_ECOSOC

Downstream: sub-regional

offices; countries

Form: Consultation

meetings; project thru UNDP

Upstream: ECOSOC


offices; countries

Form: Consultation

meetings; projects

Upstream: Governing Council;


offices; Environment Ministers

Form: projects through UNDP

at country level

Stakeholder

Participation

Consultative mtgs/fora e.g.

AsPac Business Forum Consultative mechanism

Institutionalized w/ Structure

(MG Stakeholder Branch; MG

Stakeholder Forum)

NOTES ON REGIONAL ESD BODIES

• There are many more relevant and related regional bodies that deal with ESD (e.g. other UN programs, regional IFIs)

• Overlaps among the bodies are very apparent

• Many attempts to coordinate and harmonize agenda/activities but their effectiveness is not readily discernible

• Representation or integration of initiatives is possible (e.g. UNEP by UNDP at country level) = One UN

• Despite the regional bodies, DESA goes straight to countries and vice-versa on UNCSD matters.

ASPAC SUB-REGIONAL ESD BODIES

ASEAN SAARC ICSD

Coverage Southeast Asia/10 nations South Asia / 8 nations Central Asia/ 5 nations

Focus Economic, social, cultural

development; ESD

Economic & social

development

Economic, environment &

natural resources

Objective/

Function

Accelerate economic growth,

social progress, & cultural

development; promote

regional peace & stability

Strengthen cooperation on

economic growth & social

progress; strengthen

collective self-reliance

Regional cooperation in

environmental protection and

SD; solve problems related to

Aral crisis

Vertical

Integration

Country participation;

representation in regional &

global bodies


representation in regional and

global bodies


representation in regional and

global bodies

Horizontal

Integration

Regular summit & meetings

of foreign ministers, standing

and other functional

committees

Meetings of heads of states &

Council of Foreign Ministers;

Standing Committee; project

Action Committees

Annual meeting of heads of

states

Participation

mechanism

CS affiliation Guide Consultation meetings Consultation meetings

ASPAC SUB-REGIONAL ESD PROGRAMS

NEASPEC SPREP SACEP GMS

Coverage Northeast Asia/ 6

nations

Pacific/ 25 island

states

South Asia Southeast Asia and

Yunnan province

Creator/Year ESCAP/1993 ESCAP/1982 Member govts/ 1982 ADB/1992

Objective/

Function

Address

environmental

problems; promote

common policy

dialogue

Promote ESD in the

region; focus on CC,

Biodiversity, Waste

Mgt

Cooperate in Envt in

the context of SD

(waste mgt; CC

adaptation, data mgt)

Implement projects

in e.g. transport,

energy, envt.,HRD,

agriculture

Vertical

Integration

Participation of

Environment Ministries;

reports/inputs to ESCAP


representation in

regional and global

bodies/mtgs

Governing Council;

feed into regional and

global bodies/mtgs

Feeds into ASEAN,

ESCAP and sub-

regional bodies

Horizontal

Integration

Meetings of officials;

national focal points

Annual meetings Consultation

meetings

Sectoral working

grps; ministerial mtgs

Participation

mechanism

Not clear

Consultation meetings Consultation

meetings

Consultation

meetings

NOTES ON SUB-REGIONAL BODIES

• Many more sub-regional bodies (e.g. UNDP, UNEP, MRC) and

programs (e.g. CAREC) that deal with ESD exist

• There are very little integration and coordination activities these

bodies and programs. Perhaps these are unnecessary in some

cases but there may be room for cooperation for better

efficiency and effectiveness.

• National positions on ESD issues are brought directly to global

• Linkages of many sub-regional bodies to regional bodies are

hazy.

ASPAC NATIONAL SD BODIES

Multistakeholder

Philippines Philippine Council for Sustainable Development 1992 Minister, Planning

Japan Japan Council for Sustainable Development 1996 Tri-sectoral

Mongolia National Council for Sustainable Development 1996 Prime Minister

Uzbekistan National Commission for Sustainable Development 1997 Deputy PM

Kazakhstan Council for Sustainable Development 1998 Prime Minister

Kyrgyztan National Council on Sustainable Human Development 1998 President

Korea Korea Presidential Commission for Green Growth 2000;2009 Pres; Private Sector

Nepal National Commission for Sustainable Development 2002 -

Vietnam National Council for Sustainable Development 2005 Deputy PM

Thailand National Council for Sustainable Development - -

Governmental (Inter-Agency)

Russia Inter-Agency WG on Sustainable Development 1996 Minister, Economy

Tajikistan National Commission for Sustainable Development 1998 Prime Minister

Iran National Council for Sustainable Development - -

All Other Formations are Governmental; some are inter-Agency

NOTES ON NATIONAL ESD BODIES

• Only few bodies are consistent with A21 prescription. Many of these bodies are inactive

• Most ESD bodies are led by governments so vertical and horizontal linkages are strong

• Governmental bodies are mostly led by the environment ministry; a few by ministries of development/planning (e.g., China, Phil, Vietnam), hence limited participation of social & economic sectors

• SD are sensitive to changes in leadership and availability of funds (e.g. Korea, Japan, Mongolia)

• Parallel bodies, often superior than the NCSDs, are created (e.g. CC bodies)

• Most formulated NSDS but many are not implementing it fully/well

CHALLENGES FACED BY NON-STATE ACTORS

• Some countries do not have developed or vibrant civil society

• Limited democratic spaces; limited engagement

• Lack of recognition and encouragement from government

• Low capability, maturity, expertise to engage governments

• Mechanisms for representation, feedback and accountability

remain weak at all levels.

• Inadequate and unsustained financing

• Limited access to information

STRENGTHENING THE REGIONAL/SUB-REGIONAL

SD BODIES/MECHANISMS

• Consider in the over-all reform of SD institutional framework

Strengthen connections and interaction among various

levels (vertical)

Clarify functions and focus areas of each level

Promote subsidiarity principle (e.g. localized issues,

monitoring thru SD targets/indicators)

STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL SD MECHANISM

• Create independent and self-sustaining SD body that is

legally directly linked to government (address leadership,

influence and funding issues)

• Enable its substantive content strategic, useful & consistent

with A21

• Entry point is NSDS where vision and goals are spelled

out (SDG)

• Monitor & Evaluate (SD targets/indicators)

• Promote NCSD networking/exchanges

Provide venue for exchange of knowledge & experiences

Regular regional and global meetings of NCSDs levels

Cooperative undertakings (joint projects) among NCSDs

PROMOTE ACTIVE AND MEANINGFUL

PARTICIPATION OF NON-STATE ACTORS

• Provide access to adequate and sustained resources including

establishing deliberate financing scheme to sustain CS capacity

building

• Provide incentives for participation of non-state actors in NCSD

and NSDS matters

• Develop the mechanisms for vertical and horizontal

representation and feedback

• Establish accountability mechanisms

• Ensure access to information; establish regional Principle 10

Convention

• Maintain CS independence and flexibility

SD INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

Ideal Set-Up Current Set-Up in AsPac





Multi-


Local SD Bodies

Multi-stakeholder

Global SD Body

Multi-stakeholder

Sub-Regional SD Bodies



the sidelines



Multi-stakeholder &

Governmental

National and Local

Bodies

Inter-Governmental Non-State Actors at the

sidelines


the sidelines

• Composed of representatives of ESCAP (secretariat), UNEP ROAP, Sub-Regional Bodies, none-state actors, and other relevant entities

• Roles (through the members)

• Global-sub-regional linkage and coordination

• Thematic (e.g. CC) and geographical (5 sub-regions & AsPac region) integration, coordination, facilitation and monitoring

• Regional Knowledge, Information and Education Center

• Sub-regional exchanges

• Regional studies and researches

• Data banking and analysis

Option:





Multi-


Local SD Bodies

Multi-stakeholder

Global SD Body

Multi-stakeholder Sub-Regional

SD Bodies

Asia Pacific SD Council

• Composed of representatives of Sub-Regional Bodies, none-state actors, other relevant entities (e.g. IFIs) and sub-regional programs

• Roles

• Regional-National linkage and coordination

• Thematic (e.g. CC) and geographical (national) integration, coordination, facilitation and monitoring

• Sub-regional Knowledge, Information and Education Center (closely linked to Regional)

• National exchanges

• Sub-regional studies and researches

• Data banking and analysis

Option: Sub-Regional SD Councils





Multi-


Local SD Bodies

Multi-stakeholder

Global SD Body


SD Bodies

• Multi-stakeholder; multi-sector

• Roles

• Mechanism for Global-Regional-National-Local linkages, integration and coordination

• Means for cooperative action and forging commitment

• Voice /Advocate of sustainability

• Venue for resolving inter-sectoral issues/conflicts

• Vehicle for education, information dissemination and awareness raising (National Knowledge, Information and Education Center)

• Mechanism for formulating, monitoring and assessing implementation of national SD strategies

• Thematic (e.g. CC) and geographical (local) facilitation and monitoring and evaluation

Create/Strengthen:





Multi-


Local SD Bodies

Multi-stakeholder

Global SD Body


SD Bodies

National and Local SD Councils

Would all these be politically tenable?

If not, what other options are available?

Technology

SDCs_prelimaryresearch_ASEF