CIVICUS discusses this year’s High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) with Arjun Bhattarai, Secretary General of the NGO Federation of Nepal, the platform that coordinates civil society efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nepal.

This year, the United Nations hosted the 12th edition of the HLPF under the theme ‘Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crisis: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions’. The meeting reviewed progress on five of the 17 SDGs that make up the 2030 Agenda: SDG 1 on zero poverty, SDG 2 on zero hunger, SDG 13 on climate action, SDG 16 on peace and justice and SDG 17 on partnerships.

What were the key takeaways from the 2024 HLPF?

The 2024 HLPF highlighted progress and ongoing challenges in achieving the SDGs. With only 15 per cent of targets on track, the need for urgent action is clear. Issues such as climate change, global inequality and the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to hinder progress. The forum called for integrated solutions to tackle these crises and ensure the success of the 2030 Agenda.

Key SDG commitments such as poverty eradication (SDG 1), inclusive education (SDG 4) and climate action (SDG 13) were reaffirmed, along with calls for increased climate finance, support for vulnerable communities and ensuring a just climate transition. The interconnected nature of crises such as food security, health and biodiversity was also highlighted, as well as the need for integrated policy responses and greater public trust in institutions.

What role did civil society play?

Local civil society played a critical role in ensuring inclusiveness in SDG monitoring, particularly by representing excluded communities. The forum recognised the crucial role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in filling gaps in official statistics, particularly with qualitative and citizen-generated data. Despite facing challenges such as limited funding and capacity constraints, they have been instrumental in making reporting more comprehensive and diverse. The forum highlighted the importance of working with CSOs to improve data inclusivity, quality and accessibility, particularly in hard-to-measure areas such as governance (SDG 16).

Evidence shows that collaboration between CSOs and governments is critical to creating more robust reporting mechanisms. However, without significant improvements in capacity, resources and collaboration, the likelihood of achieving key SDG targets by 2030 is low.

How useful are platforms like the HLPF for monitoring progress towards the SDGs?

The HLPF is an important platform for monitoring progress towards the SDGs, fostering dialogue and sharing solutions between governments, civil society and others. It helps raise awareness and promote global cooperation for the implementation of the SDGs.

However, its impact is limited by the lack of enforceable mechanisms and insufficient resources for actual implementation, particularly in vulnerable regions. Ultimately, the forum’s effectiveness depends on the political will of states to translate their commitments into actionable policies.

The 2024 HLPF highlighted that achieving the SDGs will require systemic reforms, greater financial commitments and inclusive partnerships. Key actions include scaling up climate finance, aligning investments with SDG priorities, strengthening local data systems through collaboration between CSOs and governments, improving cross-sectoral policy integration, strengthening accountability and promoting public education to combat misinformation.

Another priority is to engage young people as active stakeholders in SDG initiatives. A concerted global effort focusing on equity, sustainability and inclusive partnerships will be critical to translating the 2030 Agenda into tangible progress.