SDG conference: How can SDG monitoring and network building support effective lobbying?
A highlight of the project was the three-day SDG conference, which took place in Tbilisi from November 14-16, 2023. The conference focused on the question of how SDG monitoring and network building can support effective advocacy work. The focus was on the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) that Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will present to the United Nations at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York next year. The submission and presentation of these reports is an important event: on the one hand, the state representatives have to take stock of the implementation of the goals in their country and what measures they want to take in the future; on the other hand, it is also a good opportunity for civil society actors to write shadow reports or similar and present them in New York.
Goals
The conference had two main objectives: firstly, to strengthen the development of civil society SDG networks in the South Caucasus through personal encounters and cooperation over several days. Secondly, the participants were to be mobilized to carry out their own activities in the run-up to the UNRs 2024 and to actively participate in the process. The inputs, training sessions and presentations by various experts from SDG Watch Europe and the international network Action 4 Sustainable Development also strengthened the exchange between civil society in the EU and the South Caucasus.
Day 1 - First steps
After a welcome and general information about the project and the upcoming activities, the day started with a game to get to know each other. This allowed all participants to introduce themselves and break the ice. In an interactive recap session, the information learned in previous activities was then repeated and all participants were brought up to the same level. In a group work in country groups, the participants were then asked to develop a document that shows the connections between their organizations, but also which national and international SDG networks exist and to what extent they can cooperate with them. In doing so, they were able to build on existing information from the online workshop on SDG networks. The document helps to provide an overview of stakeholders, their thematic areas and existing resources and opportunities for cooperation and to develop ideas for projects and activities on this basis.
In the afternoon, experts from various SDG Watch Europe member countries presented their national VNR processes, how they have worked as civil society on these processes and what opportunities there might be for civil society in the South Caucasus to get involved in the processes. After a lively discussion and many questions, we moved on to the last part of the day. Experts from the three countries presented the official VNR processes in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. How civil society can best engage and organize itself in these processes - which are very different in the three countries - was discussed during the subsequent group work.
The evening offered the opportunity to network and exchange ideas over dinner.
Day 2 - In the run-up to the VNRs - Lobbying 2024
Day 2 of the conference focused on the topic of shadow reports and other possible civil society activities ahead of the 2024 UNRs. In the morning, experts from the region presented their experience of writing and working with shadow reports. During the subsequent training session on "How to write a shadow report", participants were able to ask all their questions. The most important topic for the participants was the question of resources - how can such a report be financed? Here, too, many ideas were exchanged, including a comprehensive presentation by the coordinator of Action 4 Sustainable Development, who showed the participants some options on where they could apply for funding for shadow reports, but also how they could ideally get involved on site during the HLPF. In the group work that followed, the participants were able to use this information to start developing an idea that they could implement in the run-up to the VNRs 2024.
During the evening food walking tour, which combined a cultural program with dinner, the participants were able to continue exchanging ideas and getting to know each other.
Day 3 - Summary & outlook
On the last day of the conference, the groups developed their respective ideas further and then presented them in plenary. Each group had managed to develop its own idea, in some cases with a precise timetable and budget, within a short space of time.
The afternoon was dedicated to the outlook. Together with the participants, a detailed timetable was developed for the next steps to be taken at national, regional and international level.
The conference ended with a detailed evaluation and feedback. At a concluding dinner, contacts were exchanged and the past days were reviewed.
