2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The Communitas Coalition played a vital role in the formulation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), building upon the substantive contributions made by Communitas to the intergovernmental Open Working Group which crafted the SDGs. Throughout the intergovernmental process leading up to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, Communitas’ technical contributions focused on: (i) comprehensive technical support towards the elaboration of targets for SDG 11 to “Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable,” as well as of the overall territorial approach of the other SDGs; (ii) proposals for indicators, indicators and monitoring frameworks for SDG 11 and other related targets across the overall SDGs framework; (iii) the connection between the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Means of Implementation for the 2030 Agenda and the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in July 2015; (iv) the connection between the 2030 Agenda and its SDG 11 on Cities and Human Settlements, and the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – Habitat III – which took place in Quito, Ecuador in October 2016. During the UN Summit, Communitas lead discussions on the important evolution towards the implementation of SDG 11, to “make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable,” as well as the partnerships for the achievement of the overall Agenda at the regional and local levels. Below is the full report of Communitas activities around the Summit. On 28th September 2015, the Communitas Coalition Secretariat and its core partners - ICLEI, nrg4SD, Tellus Institute and UN-Habitat – convened a high-level multi-stakeholder gathering of the Urban SDG Campaign and the World Urban Campaign, in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany, the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments, Cities Alliance and the UN-Sustainable Development Solutions Network. This high-level event celebrated the successful efforts over the past three years of Urban SDG Campaigners for achieving the recognition of sustainable urban development as a driver for human development in the horizon of 2030. More importantly, this gathering constituted a key turning point towards the challenges of successfully implementing SDG11 in an integrated approach with other SDGs, as well as of localizing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. In addition to initiating strategic discussion on implementation, the convening aimed at furthering the engagement of the urban development community in the Habitat III Conference. During the Post-2015 intergovernmental negotiations Communitas elaborated contributions to the Outcome Document that were adopted by Heads of States and Governments at the Post-2015 UN Summit in September 2015, in order to secure a strong urban and territorial dimension that shall pave the way for the effective implementation of the agenda at the subnational and local levels. For this exercise, Communitas worked with partners in the #UrbanSDG Campaign. Communitas also sent a letter to the co-facilitators of the Post-2015 intergovernmental process with suggestions for amendments to the zero draft of the Outcome Document. In support of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the global Post-2015 development agenda, which took place in, February 2015 the Communitas Secretariat published its Technical Proofing of the Targets under the SDG on Cities and Human Settlements. Careful consideration was given to preserving the political balance crafted relentlessly by the SDGs Open Working Group. A limited number of key words were tweaked and/or introduced with a view to: (i) enhance the consistency with existing multilateral agreements; (ii) improve the action-oriented and outcomes-oriented approach of the targets and (iii) facilitate measurability, follow up and monitoring. Above all, the technical proofing re-emphasized the productive role of cities in adding economic value and creating informal and formal livelihoods that not only bolster the on Cities and Human Settlements, but also provide the basis for the implementation and financing of key SDGs. Over several months, the Communitas Coalition fostered a far-reaching dialogue around a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) dedicated to cities and human settlements. This included the side event in January 2014 at the 7th Session of the SDGs Open Working Group (OWG); the networking event, “Unpacking Targets for the Urban SDG” held at the Seventh World Urban Forum (WUF7) in Medellín in April 2014, and the technical briefing for the SDGs Open Working Group on the “Rural Urban Nexus,” in May 2014 co-organised with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Communitas Secretariat continued to provide both technical input and urban advocacy into the SDGs process, via collaboration with various stakeholders and the UN system, direct participation in all SDGs OWG sessions and the publication of a regular online newsletter. Held in the City Changer Room at the 7th World Urban Forum in Medellín, Colombia, in April 2014, the Communitas Coalition held its consultation on first draft urban targets with a Networking Event, “Unpacking Targets for the Urban SDG.” The event aimed to create a bridge between the World Urban Forum and the SDGs Open Working Group (OWG) in New York, effectively connecting leading urban innovators to the OWG’s final formulation of Sustainable Development Goals. In the short-term, the Networking Event helped urban advocates to better understand the SDGs process and the role of “sustainable Cities and Human Settlements” therein. In the medium-term, it helped city changers to shape and anticipate SDG targets in the following months. In the long-term, it served to bolster local and subnational efforts to implement an Urban SDG on the ground. This important event helped pave the way for the Communitas second draft targets towards a standalone SDG on Cities and Human Settlements. Click here to read this document. In July 2014, the Communitas Secretariat produced a Matrix of Targets and Indicators as a practical tool for the final session of the Open Working Group in charge of crafting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs OWG). At the final stages of the negotiation on the proposed SDG on Cities and Human Settlements, the OWG faced a few remaining issues toward refining the targets proposed in the reviewed Negotiation Draft. The matrix outlined the proposed targets under the SDG on Cities and Human Settlements in rows, as well as the latest iteration of proposals elaborated by the Communitas Secretariat on 3rd June. Each target was correlated with possible indicators. The ultimate objective of the matrix was to show how the inclusion of existing targets under the SDG on Cities and Human Settlements could already address additional areas of particular importance. Click here to read this document. Following the Communitas Experts’ Workshop on Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements in the SDGs, on 6th January 2014 the Coalition held an official side event at the UN Headquarters in New York at the sidelines of the 7th Session of the SDGs Open Working Group - the session focused on the thematic area of sustainable cities and human settlements. The technical elements for a strong urban dimension in the SDGs were presented, building on the draft targets discussed at Communitas’ Experts’ Workshop (UN Headquarters, NYC, 5-6th December 2013). Each panelist presented a view on the critical role for sustainable urbanisation towards a Post-2015 development agenda; as well as proposals for incorporating a balanced territorial dimension and relevant means for implementation into the overall SDGs framework. On the basis of the issues papers produced by the Communitas expert-led work groups in collaboration with the practitioner-based Advisory Committee, Communitas convened multi-stakeholder discussions at an Experts’ Workshop held in United Nations Headquarters ahead of the 7th session of the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in January 2014 - the session dedicated to the theme of sustainable cities and human settlements. With all this technical background, in December 2014, the Communitas Secretariat pioneered first draft targets for a stand alone SDG on cities and human settlements. At that time, the Communitas Secretariat identified a “clustered approach” for developing target proposals for input to the SDGs OWG stocktaking exercise, comprised of (i) Fundamental Urban Patterns; (ii) Urban Life of Dignity for All; (iii) Governance and Accountability; (iv) Enabling Policies; (v) Territorial Dimension of Other SDG Areas. The first draft targets were a pivotal step towards achieving a stand alone SDG on Cities and Human Settlements. A compilation of place-based experiences from subnational and local practitioners. Published January 2014. City of Buenos Aires, Argentina Nord Region, Burkina Faso Habitat for Humanity International On 5th-6th December 2013 at the UN Headquarters in New York, the Communitas Coalition - in collaboration with UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the Group of Member States Friends of Sustainable Cities, UN Major Groups & Stakeholders and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN-SDSN) - convened an Experts’ Workshop on Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements in the SDGs. The workshop - made possible by the generous support of the Ford Foundation and the European Union - served to enable governments at all levels to discuss informally with grass roots movements, stakeholders, practitioners and the UN system the issue of sustainable urbanization in the Post-2015 Development Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The lead experts of the six Communitas thematic work groups presented their draft issues papers elaborated in collaboration with the multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee. The workshop played a key role in refining issues papers, and in turn, generating first draft targets for the SDGs. In Autumn 2013, the Communitas Coalition set up six thematic work groups- covering a wide notion of sustainable and just cities and human settlements. Each of the six groups were administered by a core partner of the Communitas Coalition, with an expert on the relevant thematic area leading its works in close collaboration with the Communitas multi-stakeholder advisory committee. Each lead expert was tasked with producing a thematic issues paper, which contained a stock-taking exercise on the theme, highlighted lessons learnt and outlined proposals for urban targets for a stand alone Sustainable Development Goal on Cities and Human Settlements. Integrated urban design & planning for inclusive public space and city-region connectivity & efficiency Participatory democracy, poverty & inequalities reduction Prosperity & jobs for all within planetary boundaries with a focus on youth & women Universal access to affordable housing, social services & public utilities: Water & sanitation, transport, energy, and waste management Linkages with rural development, including food security & ecosystem resources Resilience through risk prevention & management & environmental sustainability
Engagement in the UN Sustainable Development Summit, September 2015
Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century - Part 1
Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century - Part 2
Messages from urban sustainability practitioners
Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Making the Transformation Happen
Programme
List of Speakers
List of Participants
Outcomes Report
Key Messages
A Movement for Sustainable Cities and Regions in the 21st Century Contributions to the Outcome Document of the UN Sustainable Development Summit
Crafting indicators and a monitoring framework for urban sustainability and balanced territorial development
Technical Proofing of SDG Targets on Cities and Human Settlements
Urban Sustainability at the Core of Human Development: A Stocktaking Discussion about Ongoing Post-2015 Processes
From Refining Second Draft Targets to Communitas Final Target Proposals
Unpacking the targets for SDG11 at the 7th World Urban Forum
Frequently Asked Questions on the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Matrix of Targets and Indicators
Timeline of UN Post-2015 Processes
Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements in the SDGs: An Event at the UN Open Work Group
Producing First Draft Targets for a Stand-Alone SDG
Booklet of Practitioners’ Experiences
Local Governments
City of Shimla, India
City of Toronto, Canada
District of Seferihisar, TurkeyRegional/State Governments
Province of Azuay, Ecuador
Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Region of Basque Country, Spain
Region of Catalonia, Spain
Region of Fatick, Senegal
Region of Lower Normandy, France
Region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France
Region of Rhône-Alpes, France
State of Paraná, Brazil
State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
State of São Paulo, BrazilNon-Governmental Organizations
International Housing Coalition (IHC)
Oxfam Great Britain
Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI)
Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO)Experts’ Workshop - Pioneering the Discussions on a SDG
Thematic Work Groups towards a SDG
