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Regional Experiences
Friday, 15 July 2016
3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Trusteeship Chamber

Official meeting

Regions provide a vital bridge between global frameworks and national development agendas, and regional implementation informs global and national policymaking and normative agenda-setting through the exchange of experiences and perspectives and the fostering of peer learning. Regions also serve as an important nexus where feedback loops from bottom to top, and vice versa.

Regional level cooperation further provides a space for deepening regional integration efforts and for elaborating effective public policies among countries of similar circumstances and beyond.

In accordance with paragraph 90 of the 2030 Agenda, Member States have been called to identify the most suitable regional entity in which to engage for following up and reviewing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, building on existing mechanisms and successful experiences. Important progress has been achieved in various regions in recognizing the Regional Forums on Sustainable Development (RFSDs) as platforms for regional follow-up and review . The RFSDs organized by the United Nations Regional Commissions in collaboration with various partners in the lead up to the 2016 HLPF, played an important role in identifying regional challenges, lessons learned and action specific to regional settings, in relation to the HLPF theme of “Ensuring that no one is left behind” and the overall 2030 Agenda follow-up and review.

Specifically, they looked how to support countries in their region, in particular countries in special situations, to enhance their capacity for implementation of the 2030 Agenda; how to identify regional trends, share best practices and lessons learned at the regional level; how to support follow-up and review of progress on the 2030 Agenda and sustainable development goals at the regional level; and how to tailor their support to the needs and specificities of each country in their respective regions.

In addition to the UN Regional Commissions, other regional and sub-regional implementing actors play an important role as partners in the attainment of sustainable development. Several have already made significant progress in mainstreaming the 2030 Agenda in their work and policy support. This session will hear from presentations of these stakeholders in an interactive roundtable.

Possible questions for discussion:
  1. What are the best practices and lessons learned we can draw from regional experience in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and specifically in relation to the HLPF theme of “Ensuring that no one is left behind?”
  2. What has been identified so far as the biggest challenges in different regions to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and sustainable development goals?
  3. How can regional platforms help ensure that no one is left behind in achieving the sustainable development goals?

Chair / Moderator:
  • H.E. Mr. Oh Joon, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN and President of ECOSOC

Roundtable members:
  • H. E. Mr. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Chair of the Asia Pacific Regional Forum and Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Sri Lanka
  • H.E. Ms. Ghada Waly, Minister of Social Solidarity, Egypt, relating the outcome of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development
  • H.E. Mr. Janis Karklins, Chair of the ECE Regional Forum and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations in Geneva
  • H. E. Mr. Juan José Gómez Camacho, Chair of the Latin America and Caribbean Forum and Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations
  • Mr. Amjad Mohammad Saleh Al-Moumani, relating the outcome of the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development - 2016, Deputy Permanent Representative Of the Mission of Jordan to the United Nations
  • H.E. Mr. Badre Eddine Allali, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Affairs Sector of the League of Arab States
  • H.E. Mr. Virachai Plasai, Thailand, Coordinator on the Sustainable Development Goals of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
  • H.E. Ms. Sherman-Peter, Permanent Observer of CARICOM to the United Nations
  • Mr. Christian Friis-Bach, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECE and Coordinator of the Regional Commissions
  • Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
  • Ms. Rima Khalaf, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCWA
  • Ms. Alicia Barcena, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECLAC
  • Ms. Giovanie Biha, Deputy Executive Secretary for Knowledge Delivery of ECA
Biographies
H. E. Mr. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera
Chair of the Asia Pacific Regional Forum and Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Sri Lanka
H. E. Mr. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera

Chair of the Asia Pacific Regional Forum and Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Sri Lanka

He is a Member of the 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka representing Kurunegala and has been a Member of Parliament since 1994.

He is currently the Cabinet Minister of Sustainable Development and wildlife and was the former Cabinet Minister of food Protection.

He was elected as the chairman of ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) in April 2016.

H. E. Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, is the Chair of the Asia Pacific Regional Forum and Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Sri Lanka

H. E. Mr. Juan José Gómez Camacho
Chair of the Latin America and Caribbean Forum and Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations
H. E. Mr. Juan José Gómez Camacho

Chair of the Latin America and Caribbean Forum and Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations

He is career diplomat who has held different positions
within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and abroad, amongst them:
Head of Mission to the European Union and Ambassador to Belgium
and Luxembourg; Permanent Representative to the United Nations
and other International Organizations in Geneva; and Ambassador
to Singapore, Myanmar and Brunei Darussalam.

He had a prominent role in the conclusion of several landmark agreements, such as the WHO Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework (PIP), and WIPO's Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or otherwise Print Disabled.

Ambassador Gómez Camacho was appointed Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York in February of 2016

H.E. A. Missouri Sherman-Peter
Ambassador and Permanent Observer for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to the United Nations (UN)
H.E. A. Missouri Sherman-Peter

Ambassador and Permanent Observer for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to the United Nations (UN)

During her diplomatic, international, and public service career, she served her country, The Bahamas, as Consul General at New York; Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN; High Commissioner (Ambassador) to Canada and Non-Resident High Commissioner to Zimbabwe; and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Special Envoy. In The Bahamas, positions she has held include Permanent Secretary (Administrative Head) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (and Head of the Foreign Service), Office of the Attorney General, and Ministry of National Security.

H.E. Ambassador Virachai Plasai
Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United Nations
H.E. Ambassador Virachai Plasai

Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United Nations

He is Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United Nations, New York

From May 2009-February 2015 he was the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Kingdom of the Netherlands

In September 2007-May 2009 he was Director-General, Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs. May-August 2008: Ambassador attached to the Ministry and Legal Adviser to the Permanent Secretary

March 2006-September 2007 He was the Director-General, Department of International Economic Affairs

H.E. Mr. Janis Karklins
Chair of the ECE Regional Forum and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations in Geneva
H.E. Mr. Janis Karklins

Chair of the ECE Regional Forum and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations in Geneva

Before assuming duties as Chair of the ECE Regional Forum and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Karklins served as the Latvian Ambassador to France, Andorra, Monaco and UNESCO.

He served as the First Vice-Chairman, and later as Chairman of the Council of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Geneva. He has held posts in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and UN Commission of Science and Technology for Development, as well as presided over the Group of Governmental Experts on Cluster Munitions within the framework of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). He also served as the Vice-President of the Preparatory Committee of the Geneva Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and was President of the Preparatory Committee of the Tunis Phase of WSIS.

H.E. Ms. Ghada Waly
Minister of Social Solidarity, Egypt
H.E. Ms. Ghada Waly

Minister of Social Solidarity, Egypt

Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly has been  appointed Minister of Social Solidarity in Egypt since March 2014. 

Her work experience includes more than 25years in the field of Development and Poverty Reduction and Social Protection . 

In the frame work of her position, she is the Chairperson of  Nasser Social Bank a pro-poor financial  institution .

She chairs the boards of National Center for Social and Criminology Research , National Fund for Drug Control and Treatment of Addiction ,The Executive Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs .

She also chairs the  National Authority of Social Insurance serving 25 million Egyptians as well as serving as the Vice-chairperson of the Egyptian Red Crescent Association. 

Ms. Waly is the Coordinator of the Ministerial Committee for Social Justice comprising 8 ministries.

Throughout her professional experience, she had leadership positions as being Managing Director of Social Fund for Development SFD, a multi-million dollars SME’s Fund. Assistant Resident Representative for Poverty reduction at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) where she was responsible  for coordinating the MDGs reports . She served as Micro Finance and Access to Finance Advisor to the Chairman of Egypt Financial Supervisory Authority, and Executive Committee Member . She was Program Director of CARE International in Egypt, working in Poverty Alleviation in Upper Egypt, Micro Finance and Community Development Team Leader at SFD.

She was elected Co-chair of SMEs donors subgroup for six years.

Ms. Waly sits on the Board of a variety of CS organizations and is an advocate for women empowerment and SMEs.

Ghada Waly holds an MA and an MBA from Colorado State University , USA.

Mr. Christian Friis-Bach
Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECE and Coordinator of the Regional Commissions
Mr. Christian Friis-Bach

Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECE and Coordinator of the Regional Commissions

Mr. Christian Friis Bach, a national of Denmark, was appointed as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of UNECE in July 2014.

Mr. Friis Bach previously served as Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Special Advisor to the European Union Commission for the United Nations Global Sustainability Panel.

He is Honorary Professor of International Economics and Development at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Ms. Alicia Bárcena
Executive Secretary of ECLAC and coordinator of the Regional Commissions
Ms. Alicia Bárcena

Executive Secretary of ECLAC and coordinator of the Regional Commissions

On 13 May 2008, the United Nations Secretary-General announced the appointment of Alicia Bárcena Ibarra of Mexico as Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Ms. Bárcena Ibarra, who assumed her new position on 1 July 2008, replaced Mr. José Luis Machinea of Argentina.

Ms. Bárcena Ibarra served as the Chef de Cabinet to the former Secretary-General before serving as the Under-Secretary-General for Management.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Bárcena Ibarra served as Deputy Executive Secretary of ECLAC, and in this capacity she contributed substantively and increased interagency collaboration to provide a regional perspective on the Millennium Development Goals and on Financing for Sustainable Development, connecting issues of inequality, poverty, economic development and sustainability with the required fiscal policies needed to address extreme poverty.

As Chief of the Environment and Human Settlements Division of ECLAC, she heightened the profile of the Regional Commission in the areas of climate change, sustainable energy, fiscal policies and environment. She previously served as Coordinator of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as well as Adviser to the Latin American and Caribbean Sustainable Development Programme in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

She was part of the Secretariat that was in charge of preparing the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. She was Principal Officer in charge of various topics related to Agenda 21 and was also the Founding Director of the Earth Council in Costa Rica.

Previously, she served in the Government of Mexico as the first Vice-Minister of Ecology and as Director-General of the National Institute of Fisheries.

In the academic arena, Ms. Bárcena Ibarra was the Director of the South-East Regional Centre of the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones sobre Recursos Bióticos in the State of Yucatán, working closely with the Mayan communities. She has taught and researched on natural sciences, mostly on botany, ethnobotany and ecology. She has published a number of articles on sustainable development, namely on financing, public policies, environment and public participation.

Ms. Bárcena Ibarra holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University.

Ms. Bárcena Ibarra was born in 1952.

Ms. Giovanie Biha
Deputy Executive Secretary for Knowledge Delivery of ECA
Ms. Giovanie Biha

Deputy Executive Secretary for Knowledge Delivery of ECA

Ms. Giovanie Biha is a national of Burundi. Prior to joining the ECA on 30 March 2015 as a Deputy Executive Secretary for Knowledge Delivery, Ms Biha served as Director of Management and Administration Division at UN Women. Among the posts she held was as Chief of Budget Strategy and Corporate Performance Management in UNDP's Office of Planning and Budgeting; as Deputy Resident Representative for both Programme and Operations in UNDP-Mauritania;

Her current position as Deputy Executive Secretary of ECA for knowledge Delivery oversees the work of ECA’s Capacity Development Division (CDD); Public Information and Knowledge Management Division (PIKMD); Division of Administration (DoA); ECA’s five Sub-regional Offices (SROs); and the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP).

Ms. Rima Khalaf
Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCWA
Ms. Rima Khalaf

Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCWA

Before her appointments as Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCWA, Ms. Khalaf was Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),

Prior to joining UNDP, Ms. Khalaf held senior policymaking positions in Jordan, as Minister for Industry and Trade Minister for Planning and Deputy Prime Minister.

A regular contributor to regional and international policy forums on global governance and development in the Arab world, Ms. Khalaf has participated in a number of international commissions, including the High-Level Commission for the Modernisation of the World Bank Group Governance

Ms. Shamshad Akhtar
Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
Ms. Shamshad Akhtar

Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP

Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, a national of Pakistan, was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and as the tenth Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. She also serves as the United Nations Sherpa for the G20.

Formerly the Secretary-General's Senior Advisor on Economics and Finance, and Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development at the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, she led the UN-wide coordination of the post-2015 development agenda and related policy and normative work, including supporting work on the Sustainable Financing Strategy.

Statements
Statements
H.E. Ms. Sherman-Peter, Permanent Observer of CARICOM to the United Nations
Together 2030
United Nations