Experts call for bold governance action to build better societies

Achieving sustainable development and strengthening the resilience of societies at a time of multiple crises require both a short- and long-term perspective in public policymaking, based on effective governance, acknowledged the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA).

Gathering for its 23rd session held on 15-19 April 2024 in New York under the theme New governance insights to advance the SDGs and eradicate poverty, CEPA emphasized that these perspectives must be coupled with institution-building at all levels and a firm commitment to fostering peaceful, just and inclusive societies. 

Participants identified five crucial transformative actions: 1) embedding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in public discourse as a future policy framework; 2) promoting sustainability through national budgets to build public trust; 3) investing in changing mindsets within the public sector; 4) applying the principles of effective governance for sustainable development; and 5) raising awareness of the SDGs and their importance at all levels. 

The draft report adopted by CEPA underscored the need for continuous evaluation of poverty reduction expenditure initiatives, particularly pro-poor budgeting. The document highlighted the role of investments in economic growth, such as infrastructure and agriculture, in reducing poverty and counteracting long-term stressors like inflation and debt financing. 

Amplifying rural voices and food security 

CEPA acknowledged the importance of promoting participatory approaches that include rural people and small-scale farmers who are too often excluded from decision-making processes. In this direction, the Committee encouraged the development of innovative financial mechanisms to support small-scale farmers, including micro-insurance for crops and specialized green bonds and catastrophe bonds. 

"People in rural areas and small-scale producers, including women, youth, and indigenous peoples, are often left behind and disproportionately affected by the lack of progress on SDGs, shocks, crises, and conflicts. Yet, they are the primary providers of our food," stated Dubravka Bojic, Program Officer for Governance and Policy at FAO, speaking as the Organization’s representative before CEPA’s session. 

“To act as agents of change, they need an enabling policy and legal environment, along with specific policy instruments that facilitate access to resources, technology, and learning opportunities,” Bojic emphasized. “Ensuring their voices and participation in decision-making processes, and unlocking their potential through increased financing, including climate finance and financial services, is paramount.” 

CEPA also called for urgent coordinated action and policy solutions to achieve SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by 2030. These efforts, according to the Committee’s input to the 2024 high-level political forum on sustainable development, are required to address entrenched inequalities, transform agrifood systems, invest in sustainable agricultural practices, and reduce and mitigate the impacts of the polycrisis on global nutrition and food security. 

New governance insights and transformative actions 

CEPA identified several areas for new governance perspectives and transformative actions to mobilize stakeholders’ participation and engagement while promoting partnerships and social inclusion. Key recommendations included: 

• deepen civic engagement; 
• promote the participation of women and young people in parliamentary and electoral processes as candidates and voters; 
• intensify multilateral public-private partnerships to better align financial support, capacity-building, training and insurance in response to the climate crisis; and 
• enlarge opportunities for peer learning through regular reporting in voluntary national reviews and voluntary local reviews on progress in the integration of the Goals in the management processes and practices of public administrations.

Watch the session

 (2nd meeting) 23rd session of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration - Economic and Social Council

The Committee of Experts on Public Administration will hold its twenty-third session (CEPA23) at UN Headquarters in New York from 15 to 19 April 2024. The theme is "New governance insights to advance the SDGs and eradicate poverty"