Summary of Informal Dialogue on the Report of the High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism
On 3 April 2023, the Present and Future Institute (PFI) and the Global Challenges Foundation (GCF) convened an Informal Dialogue on the report of the High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism (HLAB) at New York University School of Law.
In his report entitled “Our Common Agenda”, the Secretary-General called for strengthening international cooperation through effective multilateralism. He established a High-level Advisory Board (HLAB) that is tasked to provide independent advice that can assist UN Member States in preparing the 2024 Summit of the Future in New York. In support of this objective, HLAB has prepared an independent report, which is to be delivered to the UN Secretary-General on 18 April 2023.
At the Informal Dialogue, Permanent Representatives to the United Nations from the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the African Group had a unique opportunity to hear a briefing and discuss the main findings of the report with HLAB members - Dr. Anne-Marie Slaughter and Ms. Ilona Szabó de Carvalho, as well as members of the HLAB Secretariat, Dr. David Passarelli and Dr. Adam Day. The meeting facilitated an exploration of support for certain proposals of the High-Level Advisory Board relating to the six transformational shifts identified in the report, in advance of formal consultations at the United Nations.
At the opening of the event, H.E. Keisha A. McGuire, President and CEO of the Present and Future Institute, delivered remarks and underlined the importance of the briefing as a means of previewing and unpacking the findings ahead of the formal process of consideration of the report at the UN. Introductory reflections were provided by Ms. Anja Olin-Pape, Head of Strategy, Global Challenges Foundation. The first part of the Dialogue featured presentations on a general overview of the report, its underlying principles, as well as its focus on multilateral institutions. The first segment was moderated by H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the UN. The second part of the Dialogue included presentations on the Triple Planetary Crisis and Sustainable Finance, and was moderated by H.E. Thilmeeza Hussain, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the UN and Mr. Karmjit Sangha, International Fellow at NYU Law School and PFI Advisor. Following the discussion and Q&A section, closing reflections were provided by H.E. Mr. Akuei Bona Malwal, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Sudan and Chair of the Group of African States, and by H.E. Mr. Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Pa’olelei Luteru, Permanent Representative of the Independent State of Samoa and Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States.
The Informal Dialogue was held under the Chatham House Rule. A summary of the main points raised during the discussion follows:
The HLAB report is independent from the UN Secretariat. It is based on 21 roundtables and numerous consultations with experts and professionals conducted by the HLAB. Achieving the SDGs is the overarching purpose of all tracks identified in the report and serves as a theme and the broader context of the report. The HLAB identified ten principles of effective multilateralism that guide their recommendations, noting that the same principles can guide future multilateral processes and discussions.
The report proposes six transformational shifts, which are a set of recommendations aimed at making multilateralism more inclusive and effective. The proposals of the HLAB can be understood as stand-alone proposals or can work together as a package. They can also be linked to initiatives outside the HLAB's work, such as the Bridgetown Initiative.
The general timeline related to the HLAB report is as follows: it is to be delivered to the UN Secretary-General on 18 April. The President of the General Assembly plans to hold consultations on this report on 27-28 April. SG series of policy briefs are also scheduled in June 2023, ahead of UNGA Ministerial Summit of the Future meeting in September 2023 and the Summit of the Future in 2024.
Following the review of the report, interested Member States can take steps to advance HLAB recommendations, including by championing specific proposals, unpacking, and shaping recommendations, prioritizing topics and proposals, identifying linkages with other initiatives, and taking advantage of the general “chaos” of the recommendations to engage with the report and prepare for the “next San-Francisco Conference”, i.e., the Summit of the Future in 2024.
The UN system is at the core of global governance, and it must be people and planet-centered, with Member States representing the people who the UN serves. The UN system must become far more inclusive of all States, and it is argued also of different non-state actors at all levels of decision-making. Aided by digital technologies, networked multilateralism can connect multiple hubs to drive more effective multilateralism.
When the UN is often ineffective in addressing global issues, this can often be the result of the UN being circumvented and sidelined. The HLAB report suggests major reforms rather than a revolutionary approach to tweak the current global governance system to ensure its effectiveness for today’s world. The objective is to keep the UN as a center of global activity and to avoid its obsolescence.
Effective multilateralism requires rebuilding trust in the multilateral system. Measuring impact is possible by examining the impacts on people, gender equity, youth, representatives of future and current generations. Furthermore, global institutions must confront the notions of consensus and must derive legitimacy by allowing a representative majority to make decisions. Finally, the multilateral system needs to be future oriented.
Today we need a more open, more effective, and more connected multilateralism. Building an accountable multilateral system is necessary to strengthen international solidarity, which is a required pre-condition to address the complex and multi-faceted challenges of the 21st century, including addressing climate change, achieving the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda, advancing the implementation of, inter alia, human rights.
The six transformational shifts identified in the report are well-focused and inspiring for Member States preparations for the Ministerial meeting in 2023 and the Summit in 2024.
The report will allow the participants of the Summit to address cross-cutting issues to find solutions and turbo-charge existing mechanisms and commitments. The Summit will present an opportunity to make history or to miss it. There are the concrete actions that must be taken to achieve more equity, fairness, and effectiveness in multilateral decision-making processes.
Where the 2023 SDG Summit ends and the 2024 Summit of the future starts is an important question to consider. In the past decade, there were several success stories of the multilateral system, including the 2030 Agenda, Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework. Their effective implementation is urgently needed to restore trust and strengthen multilateral cooperation. These negotiated documents are crystal clear on the steps to take to reform the financial architecture. However, whether this is an issue best addressed through the SDG Summit or the Summit of the Future, remains unclear. Similarly, the global digital compact is extremely important, and the emergency platform is also a matter of urgency. Clarity is on what actions need to be taken now to effectively address the current issues we face in the achievement of the SDGs remains of utmost importance.
For many Member States, especially for Small Island Developing States and for the African continent, effective multilateralism is about the achievement of the SDGs. It is a priority objective in terms of multilateralism. While there are new additional initiatives, for instance SG’s latest initiative on a rescue plan for people and the planet, with every new move we should make sure we are not losing sight of our previous commitments.
COVID-19 showed us that the international system needs to be changed in fundamental ways and perhaps we need a revolution, instead of reform, particularly in the context of Security Council reform. In terms of global governance, would a separate body that looks after non-military issues be a prudent development?
One of the challenges the multilateral system faces is that we often have extensive discussions on what needs to be done instead of doing it. Timing of those discussions is also very important. Our Common Agenda has shifted the focus from the SDGs. New and exciting ideas constantly redirect our efforts to effectively implement previous agreements. We require a more serious approach towards delivering on our promises and taking action to implement existing agreements rather than endless discussions on what we need to do.
There are several negotiation processes currently underway and working to manage all these simultaneous processes is a practical aspect of one of the challenges of how multilateralism works. If we can coordinate the processes we undertake to ensure they are aligned and informed, the resulting outcomes would be also stronger and more effective.
The linkage to the SDGs is the most critical. New promises and pledges should help us achieve the SDGs. We must respect the promises we already made in finance through the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the progress we made through the Paris Agreement in terms of linking climate finance and development. Keeping previous pledges and agreements in focus is important if we are not to be left behind with the new agenda.
Most Member States have more leverage at the regional level than at the UN. Therefore, reform and enhancement of regional organizations may be necessary to ensure they are fit for purpose. Africa has one of the most advanced peace and security architecture in the world and a significant number of its problems are solved on a regional level before reaching UNHQ, where they tend to become protracted and subject to political bargain. The emerging multi-polar order can result in new conflicts and dangers and therefore, regional initiatives will play an increasing role in resolving most peace and security issues before they reach the Security Council. Consequently, for Africa, it is important to see how this process going into the Summit of the Future makes regional multilateralism more effective. Otherwise, there will be a limited real difference on the ground.
It is interesting to learn what the Board found out to be the most challenging or difficult factor that prevents or makes it difficult to apply those 10 principles to current and future multilateral processes?
The concept of global governance is not new, but it causes considerable anxiety among many Member States, including the most powerful. Perhaps because in a system of global governance the power cannot be exercised in a traditional way. We need a UN system that is more agile and result oriented. When sovereign states are the sole primary actors, the results are often less satisfactory. The issue is in delivery for people and the planet. Outcomes are stronger when there is meaningful engagement of all relevant actors in the decision-making process.
In a more nuanced and “networked” multilateralism, the mechanisms of implementation and greater accountability, including for all stakeholders, such as private sector and NGOs, are the most important factors to making progress on any agreement. This requires the means to hold all actors accountable.
We need to drive urgent climate action and address disaster response and recovery by increasing the quantum of climate finance available, as well as improving access to this finance. Implementation of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) and other proposals is key in moving the discussions forward. Therefore, it is important to bring business and private sector representatives to the table and involve them in discussions on the best ways to move things forward.
The HLAB report and recommendations therein are useful for the framing of the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Ensuring a strong link between science and policy is of utmost importance. Overall, equity, focus on people, and common and differentiated responsibilities, are at the center of the HLAB policy recommendations. Specific proposals include a Pact for People and Planet with measurable and a time-bound set of commitments; a global decarbonization package to increase investments in green energy and to accelerate transition to post-fossil fuel era; reforms to increase access to knowledge, capacity, and technology; elevation of environmental issues in multilateralism to increase the focus on circular economy. All these efforts will require sustainable finance for achievement. According to the most conservative estimates, tens of trillions of dollars are needed to effectively meet climate mitigation and adaptation needs. In this regard, proposals for reforming the global financial architecture are key.
Significantly greater investment in a long-term vision of collective resilience is required to increase automaticity, sensitivity, fairness, and scale in addressing every global challenge.
Restructuring the global financial architecture requires a new vision and funding mechanisms to finance global public goods, extend debt relief measures, narrow the financing gap for developing countries and catalyze greater private investment and blended finance.
PFI has been requested to take next steps in mobilizing Member States based on collective wisdom and positions expressed at the retreat.
The report requires considerable political will to be implemented. Hopefully, Member States find and exercise the will and strength to follow the recommendations and take the necessary steps to make the Summit of the Future a real success.