Date: 9th  July 2024 , Tuesday   

Duration: 2 hours - Check your time-zone

Location: Church Center/8^th Floor - High-Level Political Forum, New York   

Organizers: Forus, TAP Network, UNDP, Government of Uganda, and Government of Nepal   

Background:     

A global erosion of trust in institutions threatens progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. This breakdown fosters exclusion and undermines efforts to create a just and equitable world. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) stand as crucial actors in ensuring inclusive development that leaves no one behind. However, they face significant challenges in their efforts to engage with governments and other stakeholders, including a lack of trust and a perceived lack of legitimacy. Civil society organizations are at the forefront of rebuilding trust between governments and their citizens.    

As SDG 16 will be under review this year at the High-Level Political Forum, the Forus network will release a report on the implementation of SDG 16. The report will delve into the intricate dynamics of SDG 16 - "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels", emphasizing the pivotal role of rebuilding trust for inclusive governance. It will unpack the current state of SDG 16 implementation, achievements and challenges, identifies critical data gaps, explores the uneven progress across regions and countries, and outlines strategies for overcoming participation challenges and recommendations for the implementation of SDG 16 by 2030. By spotlighting civil society's role in leading transformative change, this document aims to offer a roadmap for accelerated implementation, ensuring no one is left behind.   

Event Description:   

This two-hour side event will coincide with the launch of the report, "Rebuilding Trust for Inclusive Governance – At the Core of Unlocking SDG 16" from the Forus network, and is designed to bring together key stakeholders to discuss challenges, share innovative practices, and outline actionable recommendations for implementing SDG 16 more effectively. The event will assess the trust deficit, illustrate how inclusive decision-making can be facilitated, and emphasize the critical role of civil society in fostering transparent, accountable, and effective governance.   

Objectives:   

• Diagnose the current trust deficit and its impacts on SDG 16 implementation.   

• Share innovative practices and success stories from various regions.   

• Develop actionable recommendations to enhance trust and participation for more inclusive governance.   

• Foster multi-stakeholder dialogue and collaboration to accelerate SDG 16 progress.