Title: Strengthening the capacities of policy makers for the

implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development –

An Asia-Pacific SDG Help desk
ii.Implementing Entity and UN Secretariat partners
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in collaboration with
the United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
iii.Background
The international community has just adopted an historic, universal, and transformative
development agenda (A/RES/70/1). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development offers an
invaluable opportunity for member States, civil society, the private sector and
international organizations to work together to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable
development.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the 2030 Agenda), its Sustainable
Development Goal framework and the means of implementation defined therein and in the Addis
Ababa Action Agenda (A/RES/69/313), is a global agenda for transformation that reflects the
aspirations, daily challenges, insights and convictions of people across the world.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its framework of 17 Sustainable
Development Goals, presents challenges to both member states and the UN system
in
supporting their efforts to implement it.
First is the lack of wide access to data on SDG progress and modalities for
engaging
stakeholders in dialogue on solutions and best-practices, as well as the multiplicity of actors in
the UN system and beyond that will be involved in preparing assessments of progress on the
SDGs.
The second is the need for the UN to provide specialized advice when requested, through an
integrated approach, working across disciplines with relevant skill sets to better support Member
States in addressing complex multi-sectoral challenges (as called for in the Secretary General’s
post-2015 Synthesis Report). This project will support joint ESCAP, UNEP integrated
approaches and also draw on broader UN system expertise through the regional coordination
mechanism.
The third is the need for access to cost-effective capacity building opportunities,
knowledge
products and partnerships that support evidence-based policy-making across the 17-goal
integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development across the policy cycle.
ESCAP has established a sustainable development knowledge platform
1

which builds on its

previous green growth knowledge platform to provide online capacity building opportunities to
member states. In its previous form the knowledge platform has successfully
administered
training courses at the national level through innovative, high-impact and cost-effective
onsite/online courses that have supported advances in the policy frameworks related to green
growth and its various dimensions in countries such as Viet Nam, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, and
others. Since the launch of the platform, two flagship courses were set up and 28 e-learning
training sessions were delivered in three languages – English, Russian and Arabic
involving
more than 1,400 students from 92 countries, including from 36 ESCAP member-States.
1
www.sustdev.unescap.org
1
ESCAP has also established an online consultation platform that has allowed for consultations
with stakeholders, and which, through partnerships with civil society and others, has brought
multiple perspectives to bear on ESCAP’s work.
2

The experience with ESCAP’s knowledge and online consultation platforms has shown
the
potential for using an enhanced online platform for meeting post-2030 agenda implementation
challenges and providing support to member states.
Recognizing that all regional commissions of the United Nations system face similar challenges
and that member states across the globe are likely to face similar needs, the proposed project
proposes the establishment of an SDG Help Desk as a pilot effort as a regional project in Asia
and the Pacific. At the conclusion of the project, the feasibility of expanding the
Help
Desk to support the work of other regional commissions will be explored.
At the same time, UNEP contributes to the UN’s efforts for system-wide coherence
on
sustainable development from its environmental perspective – with a focus on creating
coherence in the way the UN system integrates the environmental dimension to
implement
normative guidance and environmental safeguards, and Delivering as One at the regional and
country level. UNEP, through its seven subprogrammes (climate change, resource efficiency,
ecosystems, chemicals & waste, environment under review, conflict & disasters, and
environmental governance) , is also providing expert knowledge and technical assistance on the
environment dimension of the 2030-Agenda including through science-policy interface for
evidence-based decision making.
The benefits of a help desk on the SDGs are multiple. Firstly the help desk can promote an
integrated UN system response to implementation post-2030 agenda by providing a one stop
shop for member states to access UN tools, knowledge and expertise from across
the UN
system. Such a help desk will also create significant economies of scale by providing greater
access to data and statistics, tools for benchmarking progress and engaging
stakeholders,
technical assistance for implementation, and for synthesis and presentation of best practices
and knowledge. Through shared infrastructure for online course delivery, and for knowledge
sharing, ESCAP and UNEP will be able to save costs associated with management
and
operations of such a platform. Existing resources for capacity building through section 23 will be
more effectively utilized.
Making the operations of such a Help Desk available online with enable the engagement of a
wide range of stakeholders and the possibility to develop vibrant regional networks of
stakeholders engaged in the implementation of the sustainable development agenda.
The linking of provision of data, online consultation of stakeholders, capacity building
opportunities, and access to knowledge products, including synthesis of country experiences on
one platform can support a more effective follow-up and review process at both national and
regional levels.
Most importantly, member states will be able to access a much greater resource base, and as a
result, strengthened technical assistance, based on a one-stop-shop approach.
iv.
Relationship to the Strategic Framework for the period 2016- 2017 and the
Sustainable Development Goals
ESCAP as a regional commission of the United Nations has the mandate to promote regional
cooperation for inclusive and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.
Following the
adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030) by the
General
2
https://www.worldwewant2030.org/node/470371
Assembly in September 2015, ESCAP has explicit and implicit mandates to assist
member
States in Asia and the Pacific in integrating the three dimensions of sustainable development,
providing technical support for the implementation of sustainable development goals
(SDG)
through effective leveraging of the means of implementation, and facilitating effective follow-up
and review.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the regional level promotes
the
integration of environmental dimension in sustainable development including through the Forum
of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific. As the voice of the environment in the
UN system, UNEP is mandated to play a key role in support of the SDGs since about half of the
SDGs are directly environmental in focus or address the sustainability of natural
resources:
poverty, health, food and agriculture, water and sanitation, human settlements, energy, climate
change, sustainable consumption and production, oceans, and terrestrial ecosystems. At
the
same time over 86 targets concern environmental sustainability, including at least one in each of
the 17 SDGs.
The proposed project responds to the expected accomplishments of Subprogramme 4 of ESCAP
Strategic Framework 2016-2017 – Environment and Development which aims to improve policies
for integrating environment into development, management of energy and water resources and
urban development as well as to UNEP’s mandate from member states to support UN system
wide strategies on environment across the seven UNEP subprogrammes.
The current project concept contributes to all three expected accomplishments (EA) under the
Subprogramme, EA(a), (b) and (c) including enhancing the understanding and regional
cooperation networks in the region and improving the capacity of local and national government
officials and other stakeholders to align and operationalize environment and development policy
making and energy security, water resource management and urban development
policies,
including their gender dimensions, with the 2030 Agenda and the sustainable
development
goals.
The proposed project is also relevant to other Subprogrammes of ESCAP, especially
Subprogramme 7 – Statistics.
v.
Objective
The objective of the project is to enhance the capacity of member states in implementing the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by strengthening the support provided at the regional
level and national levels for evidence-based policy-making.
It will establish an Asia-Pacific SDG Help Desk for implementing the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable
Development and the framework of Sustainable Development Goals in the region.
The help desk will be the primary modality for coordinating ESCAP’s support to member States
with particular focus on vulnerable countries and countries with special needs, including through
its divisions, regional institutions and subregional offices, as well as through the
Regional
Coordination Mechanism of the United Nations system and its thematic working groups. The Help
Desk will also provide a modality for UNEP to support environmental dimension of requests from
member states through the provision of UNEP knowledge products including on-line training and
UNEP capacity building expertise from across its seven subprogrammes.
The Help Desk will receive requests for assistance and offers of partnership, and also facilitate
cooperation between ESCAP, UNEP and other regional commissions.
vi.
Expected accomplishments
3
EA1:
Increased access of policy and decision makers to support for evidence-based
policy making in relevant areas, including follow up and review through the Help Desk
EA2
: Strengthened capacity of policy and decision makers and other stakeholders for the
implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development through evidence-based
policymaking.
vii.
Indicators of achievement
IA1.1 At least
80% of the policy and decision makers confirm that the services provided
by the Help Desk are relevant to their needs and are likely to support evidence-based
policy making at the national level.
IA2.1 At least 80 % of the policy and decision makers that have benefited from the
services of the help desk, confirm that their capacity for evidence-based policymaking has
been strengthened.
IA2.2 At least five countries use the services of the help desk to follow up on capacity
building support provided to countries in support of implementation of the 2030 Agenda
for sustainable development, including for follow up and review.
viii.
Main activities
The functions of the Help Desk will be to foster evidence-based policymaking though
(1)
supporting an online platform for effective follow up and review at national and regional levels
based on consistent and transparent use of data and engagement of stakeholders; (2)
direct
technical cooperation support to member states, including facilitation of regional and south-south
cooperation opportunities; and (3) expanding capacity building opportunities through
online-
learning, collecting and disseminating best practices and bringing various streams of
support
provided by ESCAP and other partners together.
Establishment of the SDG Help Desk
A1.1
Defining user needs will take place in three steps (1) through 5 subregional and 2 regional
online consultations through the ESCAP online consultation platform; (2) through various forums
organized by ESCAP and UNEP, such as the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development,
Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific and relevant expert groups and
Committees, and (3) through a meetings of the UN system at the regional level in each region
(through the respective RCMs) to discuss the findings of the consultations and (4) a final report
that would synthesize these discussions and consultations.
An on-line consultation will discuss the findings of the scoping study and further
define
operations, strategy, mission, partnership of the SDG Helpdesk “service-lines,” and facilitate the
finalization of a proposal that defines the “service-lines” of the Help Desk in the
three areas
described above (relating to follow-up and review, technical cooperation and south-
south
cooperation and capacity-building and knowledge management) and suggests effective modes
of delivery, in particular the partnerships and approaches that would be best employed, based on
user needs, as well as financing needs and sustainability aspects.
A1.2
 Design and development online aspects of a regional follow up and review system in
cooperation with the UN Regional Coordination Mechanism, including data and statistics
requirements.
A1.3
Creation of the content of the Help Desk through

The
design and development of an online database of consultants and experts on all
aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in cooperation with the
UN RCM, as well as other online aspects of the Help Desk technical cooperation
support, especially related to the means of implementation.

Expansion and consolidation of the ESCAP knowledge platform for sustainable
development based on the needs defined and to bring diverse online platforms
across the ESCAP and ESCWA secretariats together.

Development of 5 additional online courses to support SDG implementation based on
the needs assessment.
Delivery of services
A2.1
Preparation and dissemination of advocacy and media material for the awareness raising
regarding the services of the Help Desk including a Video and a Brochure. The Video and
other awareness raising materials will be disseminated during APFSD sessions,
Commission sessions and functional committees as well as workshops and events
organized by ESCAP, UNEP and their partners.
A2.2
Organization of SDG implementation approach and knowledge sharing workshops
(including on follow and review at the national level), back to back to main events
organized by ESCAP in collaboration with the RCM and, in particular, with UNEP and
UNDP for policy makers from strategic line ministries such as the ministry of planning,
environment, social, economy, sustainable development and other key stakeholders.
These information sessions will take advantage of existing forums being convened by the
partners and serve the dual purposes of publicizing the services of the Help Desk and
generating information and knowledge on best practices and other implementation
aspects that may be shared through the help desk.

4 information sessions
in
2017 and 2018, back to back with major regional
events (APFSD and Commission sessions).

6 information sessions back to back with regional sectoral events, including
where appropriate, ESCAP Functional Committees in 2017 and 2018

10 information sessions back to back with appropriate subregional events.

1 side event at the 2017 High-level Forum on sustainable development on
effective support to member states.
A2.3
Organisation of 10 onsite training courses, each followed by an on-line training course at
the national level focusing on the follow up and review (including statistical capacity
building) and topics to support integration of the SDGs organized for the 5 ESCAP Sub-
Regions.
Two countries per subregion will selected based on expressed interest, and tentatively
targeting
Pakistan (which is mainstreaming SDGS in national planning), Sri Lanka (which
has established a new sustainable development ministry, the first in the region), Georgia
5
(which is one of the first countries of the region that will present a national
voluntary
review at the upcoming session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable
Development, Kazakhstan (with its forward looking green growth focussed policies),
Mongolia (with its green growth policy framework), Philippines, Thailand and Samoa
(which have also volunteered to present their national voluntary reviews at the upcoming
HLPF, as well as Fiji (which has a strong interest in green growth
).
Each onsite/online training event will have a duration of 1-2 days and the on-line courses
will be organized along 6-8 weeks back to back with this. The training sessions will
complement and complete the training received through the regional sessions and
contribute to the creation of competencies at the national level for a larger number of
policy makers.
The online training will also have the option of training of trainers to guarantee a
multiplying effect. The participants targeted will be those who are directly responsible for
coordinating, facilitating or driving the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development at the national level. Participants will be tasked with documenting their
experiences after the training as a contribution to building the Help-Desk’s knowledge
base.
The experiences of the training as documented on the help desk’s online platform will
encourage other governments to use the Help-Desk’s resources. The knowledge platform
of the Help Desk will also provide knowledge products to support follow-up action by
government officials receiving training.
A 2.4
Day to day management and delivery of services through the help desk, including receipt
of queries from government offices, review, responses and identification of resources
from Section 23 or XB sources.
The Helpdesk will receive requests from member countries and stakeholders responsible
for the implementation of the SDGs. Options for the self-sustainment of the Help Desk
after the project completion will be discussed during the establishment phase (these
include fund raising, hosting from a pilot member country, hosting from partner
institutions). Capacity building elements of the services provided by the Help Desk can be
funded through Section 23 funding across the relevant divisions, with sufficient internal
commitment and coordination.
A 2.5
Monitoring and evaluation of services provided through the help desk, including an
assessment of the potential for supporting the work of other regional commissions.
ix.
Budget narrative
($500,000)
Consultants and Experts (105)
: $140,000
(a)
International consultants
International consultants for the task(s) of drafting the methodology for follow up and
review and preparation of on-line course, in support of activities:
A1.3
(2 work-months x
$5,000 per month) = $10,000.
Evaluation of the project: (1 work month x $10,000 per work month) = $10,000.
(b)
National / Regional consultants
National consultant for task of managing the Help Desk in support of activities A 1.2 to A
2.5 (20 work-months x $2,500 per month) = $50,000.
National consultant for task of Scoping Study in support of activities A 1.1 (2 work-
months x $4,000 per month) = $8,000.
National consultant for task of establishment of a data base in support of activities A 1.1,
1.2 and 1.3 (2 work-months x $4,000 per month) = $8,000.
National consultant for task of awareness and advocacy material preparation in support
of activities A 2.1 (2 work-months x $4,000 per month) = $8,000.
National consultant for task of developing and maintaining knowledge platform and on-
line courses in support of activities A1.1 to A2.5 (14 work-months x $2,000 per month) =
$28,000.
(c)
Consultant travel
6 missions by consultants for the purpose of Help Desk promotion in support of activities
A 1.2 to A 2.5. ($3,000 average mission cost) x (6 missions) = $18,000.
Travel of Staff (115): $ 90,000
(a)
UN Staff from the implementing entity
30 missions by UN staff for the purpose of delivery of training in support of activities
A2.2,
A.2.3 and A 2.4 ($ 3,000 average mission cost) x (30 missions) = $90,000
Grants and Contributions (145): $ 270,000
(a)
Workshops & seminars
Information sessions on follow up and review methodologies in Thailand in support of
A2.2
. Duration of the information sessions: 1 day ($21.5 per participant) x (50
participants) x (10 Information sessions) = $10,750
Workshop on follow up and review methodologies in Suva in support of
A2.2, A 2.4,
A.2.5
. Duration of workshop: 1 day ($243 per participant) x ( 12 participants) x (2
workshops) = $5,832
Workshop on follow up and review methodologies in Bangkok in support of
A2.2, A 2.4,
A.2.5.
Duration of workshop: 1 day ($ 215 per participant) x ( 10 participants) x (2.
workshops) = $ 4,300
Workshop on follow up and review methodologies in Almaty in support of
A2.2, A 2.4,
A.2.5.
Duration of workshop: 1 day ($287 per participant) x ( 9 participants) x (2
workshops) Total: $ 5,166
Workshop on follow up and review methodologies in Incheon in support of
A2.2, A 2.4,
A.2.5
. Duration of workshop: 1 day ($259 per participant) x ( 8 participants) x (2
workshops) = $ 4,144
Workshop on follow up and review methodologies in Delhi in support of
A2.2, A 2.4,
A.2.5
. Duration of workshop: 1 day ($168 per participant) x ( 10 participants) x (2
workshops) = $ 3,360
On-site training course for the follow up and review and integration of the SDGs
in
support of
A2.3
. Duration of workshop: 2 days; ($500 per participant) x ( 15 participants)
x (10 workshops) = $75,000
7
1 side event at the 2017 High-level Forum in New York on sustainable development on
effective support to member states in support of A2.1 to A.2.5. Duration of Side event: 1
day ($4,550 per participant x 10 participants with 2 coming from each sub-region) =
$45,550
Interim workshop to discuss follow up and review methodologies in Bangkok in support
of
A1.2-A2.5
. Duration of workshop: 2 days; ($2,145 per participant x 27 participants) =
$57,915
Final workshop to discuss best practices and success stories in Bangkok in support of
A1.2-A2.5
. Duration of workshop: 2 days ($2,145 per participant x 27 participants) =
$57,915