Opportunities for input to the Australian Government on the SDGs

The Australian Government is seeking input on SDG implementation as part of both the preparation for Australia’s first National Voluntary Review on Agenda 2030 and the Senate Inquiry on the SDGs. Australian universities are strongly encouraged to provide input to these.

Voluntary National Review

Australia will be presenting its first National Voluntary Review (VNR) on national implementation of Agenda 2030 and the SDGs to the United Nations High Level Political Forum in July 2018. The VNR provides an opportunity to highlight Australia’s achievements, priorities and challenges – both domestically and internationally – in advancing the 2030 Agenda.

Several Government departments and agencies have launched calls for case studies on the implementation of certain SDGs or themes as potential contributions towards VNR. Some will be continuing to collect case studies beyond the VNR. SDSN Australia/Pacific is also helping to collect case studies from the university sector that will be provided to the Australian Government.

Calls for input:

• Health: SDG 3 (Healthy Lives). Collected by the Department of Health. Deadline: 19 January 2018.
• Education: SDG 4 (Quality Education). Collected by the Department of Education and Training. Deadline: Closed.
• Gender: SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Colleted by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Deadline: Closed.
• Environment and energy: SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land). Collected by the Department of the Environment and Energy. Deadline: 31 December 2017.
• Cities: SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Collected by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Deadline: Closed.
• University case studies: Any SDG (or the SDG framework in general). Collected by SDSN Australia/Pacific. Deadline 19 January 2018.

Senate Inquiry on the SDGs

The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee is holding an inquiry on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Committee will report by 29 November 2018. Submissions, with particular reference to the terms of reference below, can be submitted to the Committee by 29 March 2018.

Terms of reference:

• the understanding and awareness of the SDGs across the Australian Government and in the wider Australian community;
• the potential costs, benefits and opportunities for Australia in the domestic implementation of the SDGs;
• what governance structures and accountability measures are required at the national, state and local levels of government to ensure an integrated approach to implementing the SDGs that is both meaningful and achieves real outcomes;
• how can performance against the SDGs be monitored and communicated in a way that engages government, businesses and the public, and allows effective review of  Australia’s performance by civil society;
• what SDGs are currently being addressed by Australia’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) program;
• which of the SDGs is Australia best suited to achieving through our ODA program, and should Australia’s ODA be consolidated to focus on achieving core SDGs;
• how countries in the Indo-Pacific are responding to implementing the SDGs, and which of the SDGs have been prioritised by countries receiving Australia’s ODA, and how these priorities could be incorporated into Australia’s ODA program; and
• examples of best practice in how other countries are implementing the SDGs from which Australia could learn.

Event: Building networks for development impact: Sydney

• Date: Thu 23 November 2017, 3:00 – 5:30 pm
• Location: Sydney
• Hosts: The Research for Development Impact Network and the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney
• Link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/building-networks-for-development-impact-sydney-tickets-39000374169
• Overview: The event will feature an opportunity to strengthen cross-sectoral partnerships and meet and greet like-minded individuals working in the sector. The forum will also consider how an active Sydney development network can best engage in the process leading to Australia’s VNR. The forum will discuss potential opportunities for practical connected action or peer support to effectively engage with DFAT or other government agencies.