National Strategies for Sustainable Development (NSSD)

1. National Strategies for Sustainable Development (NSSD) nicos georgiades

2. 2000 - strategic review of SD in the region • the “sustainable development fashion” exerted limited influence on policies • sectoral visions and priorities still predominate

3. 2010 + the situation not much different

4. 2009 review- (W.G. 358.8)

5. strengths • regional processes- MSSD?; MDGs; EU (SDS, enlargement, Western Balkans, neighbourhood; union for the Med; horizon 2020, water initiative) • all countries NSSD (or other) • strong (?) political commitment

6. strengths • responsibilities to units or committees • steps in institutions, legislation, investments • foster multi stakeholder participation • awareness raising, information • measures in the hundreds

7. weaknesses • inequalities in level of information • reporting erratic, selective, numerical, snapshot in time • monitoring and review (biased?) • elusive how to reconcile economic growth with economic development

8. weaknesses • usually environmental issues overshadow other two • bulk of strategies short to mid-term • no overall objectives, list a lot unrelated • lack of integrated approach

9. weaknesses • regulatory instruments overriding tools • weak incorporation of new actors • governance structures weak, slow, no central node • lack of capacity building • lack of implementation

10. weaknesses influence of NSSD • impossible to isolate impacts • policy formulation not clear if guided by a NSSD • many initiatives would be taken anyway • multitude of measures rarely interact

11. other processes assessment of MSSD (WG 358.4) • many findings at the regional level coincide with those at the national

12. other processes 2010 SG review • 106 countries implementing a NSSD, rarely the principal vehicle • mechanisms used in parallel • differences in what sd means • slippage in terms of commitments • national councils ceased to function

13. 2010 study of 22 countries • 9 - strategic processes with linkages • 6- responsibility for NSSD with PM- P • 5 - attempted to coordinate national action with local • 4- legal mandate • 1 - integrated with p&b

14. proposals for NSSD- regional context/ dimension indispensable

15. link with changing wider context (W.G.358.5) • shifts towards MDGs • global governance • contribution of local to global • new strategies incorporating SD goals- CBD, WB, FAO, UNDP, UNFCC, CSD • Barcelona- ‘ecosystems approach’

16. link with an MSSD looking to the future • accommodate global issues (poverty) • introduce new challenges (integration of vulnerable groups) • provide guidance for agencies- synergies

17. scope of the MCSD • after almost 2 decades still debate role!- WG 358.5 • initial idea of a think tank did not catch up • advisory council it can never be • return to original scope - forum for review, dialogue, identification of issues

18. scope of the MCSD • improve way decisions are made • choosy on participation • reps act outside the box • not expert dominated • not a bit of everything • no focus on environmental issues

19. CoP • ministerial meetings, review, political guidance • agree on broader regional goals, priorities • gaps between north and south - “regional solidarity” • upgrade principles into protocols, e.g precautionary

20. MEDU • more resources • leadership, cooperation, synergies, coordination of centers • interagency coordination • pressure on partners • unit for sustainable development

21. centers • delivery, implementation • facilitate technical assistance • mobilize financing

22. proposals for NSSD- national

23. broader strategic aspects • influence norms and values • stimulate action • shared vision of the future • secure clarity of goals • high ambition, no what is possible • address all 3 pillars

24. broader strategic aspects • integrate short and long term economic, social and environmental objectives • ensure synergies, coherence, connections with other strategies/ policies • induce institutional change/ make institutions effective and functional • bottom-up as well as top down process

25. broader strategic aspects • broaden debate beyond environment • move incrementally • build on what works/ remove barriers • unifying tools- • impact assessment • integration • correlation with budget • economic instruments

26. governance • “good governance, …is perhaps the single most important factor in promoting development and advancing the cause of peace” (UN) • design and execution of policy; process by which society is governed; ways (principles, rules, procedures) through which an agency exercises powers vested by the public

27. governance five principles • transparency • participation • accountability/ responsibility • effectiveness • coherence

28. governance • strong governance intervention, political ownership, who does what, how, with what, when • national councils upgraded, made relevant- follow up, report on progress, legally mandated, unambiguous responsibility (empowerment, legitimacy)

29. governance • critical evaluation of institutions- strengthen (financial stability, authority, dependability, mechanisms) • conflict resolution mechanisms • enhance cross-sectoral approach

30. local government • multilevel governance • subsidiarity principle • empower local authorities, e.g. devolution • strengthen capacity to respond • support to local initiatives

31. stakeholder involvement/ participation • citizen concerns/ perceptions • channels of interaction • outreach programs/ understandable • systematic dialogue, early • targeted consultations

32. stakeholder involvement/ participation • representativeness of groups • support to NGOs • evaluate influence • agree on roles • access to information • prepare institutions to absorb the shock

33. multi stakeholder entities • forums for debate across lines • rendering advice, ideas • establishing options and priorities • preparing/ advising on NSSD • reviewing results of monitoring • raising public awareness

34. process review / future revision • open from the beginning to society • widely devolved • reviews- including peer ones • monitoring/ evaluation • ensure relevancy to contemporary concerns

35. a model of a potentially broadly relevant structure of a NSSD (W.G. 358.9)

36. process for the NSSD preparation • necessity • information utilized • problems encountered • key strengths/constraints • preparation process • participation • legitimacy- endorsement, constitution

37. major strategic frameworks and concepts • national political commitment • long-term vision/ time perspective • major challenges • balancing different dimensions and priorities • goals for the three pillars • core strategic objectives • policy guiding principles

38. global solidarity(national commitments) • regional and international context • international and equity considerations • how to help meet the MDGs • helping to improve international environmental governance • working with others

39. key priority themes and sectors • priority areas/ sectors and themes comprising action programmes • progress and good practices in priority areas, sectors/ themes

40. key priority themes and sectors for each one- • vision • issues; “hot topics”; challenges • priorities; choices; policy approaches • institutions to steer the process • major programmes and action plans • actors

41. processes and mechanisms (cross - cutting issues) • ensuring linkages • integration and coherence of goals and objectives • tools and instruments • financing • deconcentration • communication and awareness-raising • knowledge management

42. stakeholders • key stakeholder groups and involvement • partnerships and networks for stakeholder participation • measures to build up knowledge and participation capacity

43. implementation, co-ordination and management • governance structures, mechanisms, procedures • role of other branches of state • conflict resolution and risk management • development of critical capacities

44. monitoring, review, evaluation • indicators for monitoring implementation, progress, change • monitoring and review processes • evaluating effectiveness • revision and adaptation

45. remember • sustainable development- a bridge, a promise, a reasoned basis, a perspective, a means, a way • strategy- an interactive process, evolving, flexible, integrating umbrella, a focus for other policies NO “MASTER PLAN”