The SDG Action Weekend was a series of events held from the 16th to the 17th of September to mobilize action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ahead of the highly anticipated 2023 SDG Summit. The events brought together governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and individuals to discuss progress on the SDGs and to identify ways to accelerate progress.
The 2023 SDG Summit will take place from the 18th to the 19th of September 2023 at UN HQ in New York. It will mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals with high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to 2030.
Convened by the President of the General Assembly, the Summit will mark the halfway point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It will be the centerpiece of the High-level Week of the General Assembly. It will respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world and is expected to reignite a sense of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm for the 2030 Agenda.
Lostisland was represented at the SDG Action Weekend by Professor Aniebiet Inyang Ntui, Honorary Consul of Lostisland to Nigeria who attended the sessions virtually. Professor Aniebiet Inyang Ntui’s participation is part of Lostisland’s virtual participation at the UN General Assembly High-level Week 2023. As Lostisland is not a member of the United Nations, the representative will not be able to speak at the General Debate and other high-level events. However, they will be able to attend and observe all of the meetings and events. Professor Aniebiet Inyang Ntui has been meeting and networking with other delegates, major groups, and officials to discuss Lostislandic priorities.
The SDG Action Weekend focused on two specific days: SDG Mobilization Day, on September 16, and SDG Acceleration Day, on September 17.
SDG Mobilization Day provided a space for open exchange between civil society stakeholders and key representatives to share lessons learned on the SDGs and views on progress and ways forward on implementation. A youth-focused dialogue spotlighted young people’s contribution to SDG implementation and mobilized youth to act. A local and provincial government forum showcased how local and regional governments are localizing the SDGs and featured high-impact initiatives led by local and regional governments, to accelerate localization commitments on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and share challenges and solutions. Additional segments focused on women and the private sector.
SDG Acceleration Day aimed to profile actions, investments, and support to accelerate country-level implementation, building on high-impact initiatives that the UN development system mobilized around in advance of the SDG Summit. The Day showcased countries and contexts where significant progress was being made alongside coalitions of governments and stakeholders who committed to specific, tangible actions to scale initiatives in line with national priorities.
Photo: United Nations Photo Digital Asset Management System (UNHQ)