The Philippine government and the United Nations (UN) operationalized a strategic partnership toward achieving the UN’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and implementing the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.
The inaugural meeting of the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on the 2024-2028 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) of the Philippines at the NEDA Central Office brought together key stakeholders on May 3, 2024.
The terms of reference (TOR) approved during the meeting outline the cooperation between the government and the UN under a new partnership for 2024-2028.
Its blueprint sets the stage for coordinated efforts to achieve the UN’s SDGs while aligning with the country’s PDP 2023-2028.
“The UNSDCF complements our national development plan, serving as a guiding framework that fosters synergy with the international community. By crafting the UNSDCF collaboratively, the government and the UN aim to maximize impact and create a harmonious approach to sustainable development,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.
The JSC also endorsed key documents from the Cooperation Framework and reviewed the current UN portfolio in the Philippines, focusing on human capital development, inclusion, and resilience building; sustainable economic development, decent work, and innovation; as well as climate action, environmental sustainability, and disaster resilience.
The UN Philippines presented an overview of resource requirements for the next four years, along with a joint work plan for 2024 that carries an estimated budget of $211 million.
NEDA presented the TOR for the JSC and the Joint Results Group (JRG), emphasizing the primary role of each JRG in facilitating the implementation of programming priorities and ensuring internal coherence.