This finding is about the need for effective processes to achieve SDG 16+, as well as political will and resources.

— National governments stress that they cannot tackle the whole 2030 Agenda alone. A ‘whole of government’ approach to achieving the SDGs is required that involves not just national government agencies and state institutions but also the locali-zation of the SDGs across local and regional governments and institutions to make them a reality for communities.

— A ‘whole of society’ approach with broad engagement and con-sultation with stake-holders across all sectors of society is key to ensuring no one is left behind, and it is most effective when insti-tutionalized within formal structures and at different levels of gov-ernment. Multi-stakeholder partnerships and platforms involv-ing actors from government, civil society, youth and the private sector are a critical mechanism for the achievement of SDG 16+. Targeted efforts are needed to build capacities and infrastructure and an enabling environment for such collaboration.

— For conflict-affected states, particularly where parts of a terri-tory are outside state administrative authority, engaging with actors from the whole of society to design and implement development policies is vital. In humanitarian and conflict contexts, SDG 16+ can guide state and society reconstruction, institution- and constitution-building efforts.

These 3 Key Findings draw on the preliminary report on SDG 16+ being prepared for the HLPF in July 2019, that is informed by a series of global and regional consultations on SDG 16+, documented case studies of SDG 16+ imple-mentation and a review of recent studies.*

This finding is about political will and resources to achieve SDG 16+.

— SDG 16+ will be challenging to meet by 2030 on current trajec-tories. Visionary national leadership is essential to accelerate progress on SDG 16+ and transform societies to prevent con-flict, address injustices and be more inclusive.

— SDG 16+ can enable other SDGs if governments invest in the enabling and accelerating role of SDG 16+. The risks of failure to invest in SDG16+ are worsening violence, injustice and ex-clusion which will reverse development gains across all SDGs, including education, health and climate action.

— Measuring SDG 16 is politically, technically and financially possible and will enhance implementation. The VNRs demon-strate how countries are doing this. However in many countries, institutional mechanisms to gather data, plan and monitor policy efforts and deliver outcomes are weak. Partnerships between national statistical systems and civil society organi-sations, academia, international organisations and the private sector enhance countries’ ability to gather data on SDG16+ tar-gets and indicators.

Political and financial investment is needed to accelerate progress on SDG 16+1

2 SDG 16+ implementation requires a ‘whole of government’ and ‘whole of society’ approach

G LO B A L A L L I A N C E | S D G16+ R E P O R T | MAY 2019

Key Findings

P E AC E

CO N F L I C T

J U S T I C E

I N J U S T I C E

I N C LU S I O N

E XC LU S I O N

N AT I O N A L G O V E R N M E N T

C I V I LS O C I E T Y

P R I VAT E S E C TO R

YO U T H

R E G I O N A L G O V E R N M E N T

LO C A L G O V E R N M E N T

G LO B A L A L L I A N C E | S D G16+ R E P O R T | MAY 2019 | K E Y F I N D I N G S

* The development of the report is co-ordinated by UNDP on behalf of the Global Alliance and as a member of the editors group of the Global Alliance Secretariat that includes UNODC, OHCHR, UNDP, UNESCO, UNHCHR and UNW under the guidance of the Global Alliance Steering Committee.

3 SDG 16+ targets and principles can guarantee no one is left behind

This finding is about the special emphasis that SDG 16+ puts on inclusion, whether in the design and implementation of policies and programs or the technical details of measuring impact.

— Many civil society actors are faced with barriers to inclusion and participation and are prevented from meaningfully participating in development planning and policy making processes. The trend risks excluding the needs and voices of the most vulnera-ble in society from policy-making.

— No one is left behind if governance institutions and decision-making processes are designed in line with SDG 16+ principles. Bold reforms in making governance insti-tutions adhere to SDG 16+ principles will increase the resilience of societies to conflict by better integrating minority and marginalized voices. Institutions must not only be accountable and transparent but also more participative, inclusive, responsive and rep-resentative, and operate in accordance with rule of law and human rights principles.

— National Human Rights Institutes can play multiple roles in ensuring no one is left behind: they are catalysts for sustainable development, helping to address inequality and discrimination in all its forms. They contribute to inclusive data collection and anal-ysis; they facilitate access to justice, redress and can remedy complaints. They promote human rights standards and the SDGs in business conduct, conflict prevention and peacebuilding; and provide a platform for dialogue in societies that are transitioning towards peace and justice. They play a bridging role that can help build trust between government institutions and people to promote transparent, participatory and inclu-sive national processes of SDG implementation and monitoring.

— Significant investment is required in reliable disaggregated data to ensure that pol-icy and programs reach those often left behind. Data collection systems and deci-sion-making processes are still weak when it comes to systematic coverage and data disaggregation, although there are new opportunities brought about by the data revo-lution, and the responsible use of big data and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, many SDG 16+ methodologies and national practices are state and citizen centred and there-fore leave out the estimated 3.1 million asylum seekers, 25.4 million refugees, and at least 3.8 million stateless people worldwide.

ACCO U N TA B L E T R A N S PA R E N T R E S P O N S I V EPA R T I C I PAT I V E I N C LU S I V E R E P R E S E N TAT I V E

I N S T I T U T I O N S