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  • 29 Dec 2016

UNIDO Headquarters

UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna International Center

Between 14–16th December 2016, CTI-CFF’s Executive Director, Widi Agus Pratikto, Ph.D., participated in the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) at the UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. He attended as one of the expert panelists through an invitation from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The Expert Group Meeting, titled “Readying Institutions and Policies for Integrated Approaches to Implement the 2030 Agenda”, aimed to explore the institutions, actions, and mechanisms necessary to develop integrated plans and policies for implementing the SDGs. The results will form a basis for the High-Level Political Forum under UNDESA in July 2017.

The discussion in Panel 7 was led by Ms. Asha Singh, Head of Oceans Governance, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Commission, and moderated by Mr. Julian Barbiére, Head of Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO.

The Executive Director highlighted two critical points and two action points of ocean governance presented during Panel 7 on integrated actions for oceans contributing to SDG No. 14 on oceans and seas.

Critical Points of Ocean Governance

  1. Preservation of outstanding marine and fisheries resources, along with biodiversity, requires bold action and political commitment at all levels (local, national, and regional), including grassroots engagement through NGOs and global partnerships. Strong partnerships are essential to support marine resources and community initiatives.
  2. An effective Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system is essential to determine the most practical governance structures and track progress toward regional and national goals. Local capacity for strategic data collection, storage, and alignment with regional and national plans is often weak, requiring coordinated efforts, such as through the Local Government Network (LGN) and Women Leaders Forum (WLF) within the Coral Triangle Initiative framework.

Action Points of Ocean Governance

  1. Ocean governance management must be integrated into national planning systems, as it connects policies and approaches with socio-economic development and poverty reduction, while addressing threats to the oceans.
  2. M&E should focus on outcome and impact indicators to measure the status of coastal and marine environments, fisheries resources, and economic contributions to coastal communities. Collective efforts must be aligned with regional and national plans and with SDG No. 14 for sustainable ocean use.

CTI-CFF Executive Director at UNIDO EGM

CTI-CFF Executive Director, Widi A. Pratikto, representing CTI-CFF during the Expert Group Meeting at UNIDO Headquarters

Other panelists included Mr. Mark Gaffigan, Managing Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office, USA, and Ms. Biliana Cicin-Sain, President, Global Ocean Forum, and Director of the Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy, University of Delaware.

The three-day meeting, jointly organized by UNDESA and UNIDO, was attended by high-level invitees including the UN Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, the Director General of UNIDO, the President of the UN General Assembly, the President of ECOSOC, ministers from various countries, and representatives from UN Member States, international organizations, academia, and other non-state actors.