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Criteria & Guidelines

The text below is an extract from the full CSD-11 decision on the future programme and organization of work of the CSD.

  1. Recalls that the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation designated the Commission on Sustainable Development to serve as the focal point for discussion on partnerships that promote sustainable development and reiterates that partnerships, as voluntary multi-stakeholder initiatives, contribute to the implementation of inter-governmental commitments in Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. They are a complement to, but not intended to substitute for, these commitments.
  2. Stresses that partnerships in the context of the WSSD process and its follow up should be developed and implemented in accordance with the following criteria and guidelines; in this regard, taking note of the preliminary work undertaken on partnerships during the preparatory process for WSSD, including the Bali Guiding Principles, and General Assembly resolution A/RES/56/76:
    1. Partnerships are voluntary initiatives undertaken by governments and relevant stakeholders, e.g. major groups and institutional stakeholders;
    2. Partnerships should contribute to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and should not divert from commitments contained in those agreements;
    3. Partnerships are not intended to substitute commitments made by Governments but to supplement the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;
    4. Partnerships should have concrete value addition to the implementation process and should be new - that is not merely reflect existing arrangements;
    5. Partnerships should bear in mind the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in their design and implementation;
    6. Partnerships should be based on predictable and sustained resources for their implementation, include mobilising new resources and, where relevant, result in transfer of technology to, and capacity building in, developing countries;
    7. It is desirable that partnerships have a sectoral and geographical balance;
    8. Partnerships should be designed and implemented in a transparent and accountable manner. In this regard, they should exchange relevant information with Governments and other relevant stakeholders;
    9. Partnerships should be publicly announced with the intention of sharing the specific contribution that they make to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;
    10. Partnerships should be consistent with national laws, national strategies for the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, as well as the priorities of countries where their implementation takes place;
    11. The leading partner of a partnership initiative should inform the national focal point for sustainable development of the involved country/countries about the initiation and progress of the partnership, and all partners should bear in mind the guidance provided by Governments; and
    12. The involvement of international institutions and United Nations funds, programmes and agencies in partnerships should conform to the inter-governmentally agreed mandates and should not lead to the diversion to partnerships of resources otherwise allocated for their mandated programmes.
  3. Decides that providing information and reporting by partnerships registered with the Commission should be transparent, participatory and credible taking into account the following elements:
    1. Registration of partnerships should be voluntary and be based on written reporting to the Commission, taking into account the provisions above. Reporting by partnerships should focus on their contribution to the implementation of goals, objectives and targets of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;
    2. Partnerships should submit a regular report, preferably at least on a biennial basis;
    3. The Secretariat is requested to make information available on partnerships, including their reports, through a database accessible to all interested parties, including through the Commission website and other means;
    4. The Secretariat is requested to produce a summary report containing synthesized information on partnerships for consideration by the Commission in accordance with its programme and organization of work, noting the particular relevance of such reports in the review year;
    5. The Commission, during the review year, should discuss the contribution of partnerships towards supporting implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation with a view to sharing lessons learned and best practice, to identifying and addressing problems, gaps and constraints, and providing further guidance, including on reporting, during the policy year as necessary.
  4. Calls for activities aimed at strengthening partnerships in the context of the WSSD process and its follow up and facilitating new ones, including through initiatives such as partnerships fairs and learning centres, mindful of the importance of sharing information on existing activities particularly across the United Nations system.