UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION

OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

PROMOTE PEACEFUL AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES, PROVIDE

ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND BUILD EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE AND
INCLUSIVE INSTITUTIONS

United Nations Development Programme

 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16
PEACEFUL, JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES AND ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS

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 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

A path towards global prosperity, human well-being and a healthy planet

The world has achieved remarkable gains in human development over the past two decades. Extreme poverty has
significantly reduced, access to primary education and health outcomes has improved, and substantial inroads have
been made in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. The pursuit of the eight Millennium
Development Goals has contributed to this progress and enabled people across the world to improve their lives and
future prospects. Yet, despite these significant gains, extreme poverty remains a key challenge, with more than 700
million people globally living on less than US$ 1.90 PPP (purchasing power parity) per day. Inequalities are either
high or widening, especially within countries. Unemployment and vulnerable employment levels are high in many
countries, particularly among youth. Unsustainable consumption and production are pushing ecosystems beyond
their limitsundermining their ability to provide services vital to life, development, and their own regeneration.
Shocks associated with macroeconomic instability, disasters linked to natural hazards, environmental degradation,
and socio-political unrest impact negatively on the lives of millions. In many cases, these shocks hold back, if not
reverse, progress already achieved in meeting national and internally agreed development goals. Preserving the
gains that have been made and addressing the current development challenges the world faces cannot be solved
by tinkering at the margins.

There is an imperative today to foster sustainable development. A vision for what this encapsulates is laid out in the
new sustainable development agenda that aims to end poverty by 2030 and promote prosperity and peoples well-
being while protecting the environment. As the UNs development arm, UNDP has a key role to play in supporting
countries to make this vision a reality putting societies on a sustainable development pathway, managing risk
and enhancing resilience, and advancing prosperity and well-being.

Building on its core strengths a large country network covering more than 170 countries and territories, a
principal coordination role within the UN Development System, and proven ability in supporting efforts to reduce
poverty, inequality and exclusion, and protect vital ecosystems UNDP has outlined a vision in its Strategic
Plan 20142017, focused on making the next big breakthrough in development: to help countries achieve the
simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion. While ambitious, this
vision is within reach.

In line with this vision, UNDP has worked with the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) in developing a
strategy for effective and coherent support in the implementation of the new sustainable development agenda
under the acronym MAPS (Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support). The Mainstreaming component of
MAPS aims to generate awareness amongst all relevant actors and help governments land the agenda at national and
local levels, and ultimately mainstream the agenda into their national plans, strategies and budgets. The Acceleration
component focuses on helping governments accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets,
by providing tools that will help identify critical constraints to faster progress and focus on those development
objectives relevant to the country context. The Policy Support component aims to provide coordinated and pooled
policy support to countries working to meet their SDG targets. In this regard, UNDP offers an integrated package
of policy support services that align with its programming priorities. These services, as outlined in this prospectus,
cover a wide range of areas: poverty reduction, inclusive growth and productive employment, gender equality and
the empowerment of women, HIV and health, access to water and sanitation, climate change adaptation, access
to sustainable energy, sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems, governance of oceans and promotion of
peaceful and inclusive societies.

Well equipped with this integrated package of policy support services, UNDP stands ready to support country
partners in effectively implementing the new development agenda and making long-term economic prosperity,
human and environmental well-being a reality.

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 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

PEACEFUL, JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES AND ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS

Why does this matter?

PEACEFUL, JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES AND ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS

Whilst the world in general has become more and public security, and there is rising disillusionment
prosperous and more peaceful in recent decades, with the responsiveness and inclusiveness of other state
inequalities are growing in many countries and there institutions and processes.
remain significant pockets of extreme poverty, violence,
exclusion and discrimination. Lessons learned from The largest generation of young people in history,
the implementation of the MDGs show that progress totaling 1.8 billion people worldwide, is at risk of being
towards achieving the MDGs was often hampered by marginalized and alienated if these youth are not given
conflict, a lack of rule of law and weak institutions. more opportunities to meaningfully participate in
social, political and economic activities and decision-
The adoption of the 2030 Agenda took place against a making.
complex and challenging global development context:
Inequality between women and men remains severe
New and protracted violent conflicts have remained and highly visible in positions of power and decision-
a major development challenge, leading to over 60 making. In most societies around the world, women
million people being forcibly displaced worldwide at hold only a minority of decision-making positions in
the end of 2014, the highest number since 1945.1 The public and private institutions. Advances over the past
displacement of refugees and migrants poses particular two decades are evident in all regions and in most
challenges for institutions in delivering essential countries, but progress has been slow.3
services, justice and transformative outcomes.
Laws giving individuals a legal right to access
Violence and violent deaths are not limited to conflict information are now in place in over 100 countries
affected regions, and in fact about 90 percent of globally. This right is a key part of the overall global
violent deaths in the world occur in non-conflict trend towards more transparent and open government,
situations. In 2014, half a million persons were victims including the protection of whistleblowers, open data
of intentional homicide.2 and asset declarations. Most new adopters are in Africa,
Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
Violent extremism is increasingly an issue of global,
regional and national concern. There has been a rise Institutions have become more accessible through
in the number of powerful, non-state, armed groups devolution to local governments, but with higher
possessing multiple agendas antithetical to peace and expectations placed on them, including for service
development and threatening the very existence of delivery and for defusing community tensions before
nation states. these escalate into violence. Meanwhile, local budgets
are an average of less than 5 percent in many developing
Varied forms of violence, a complex multi-dimensional countries. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa highlighted
set of drivers and an increasing number of non-state how the absence of strong institutions can allow an
actors using new technologies and social media and epidemic to proliferate rapidly.
with transnational connections, are changing the
nature of violent conflicts. Just as countries wrecked by conflict can slowly improve
over time, stable and prosperous societies can just as
In many countries, whether autocracies, countries rapidly unravel. As recent events have shown, fragility
in transition or democracies, civic space is being can affect any country or city, not just those traditionally
constrained, and defenders of human rights and considered fragile or conflict-affected. Locally confined
advocates for womens rights are being targeted both tensions can easily become regionalized, complex and
by state and non-state actors. In many countries, rule of costly. The simple dichotomy between conflict and
4 law institutions appear too weak to fully ensure justice non-conflict countries is blurring, and challenges the
 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

development community to rethink the traditional There is no single pathway to building resilience in the face of
humanitarian, peacebuilding and development fragility, conflict and violence. Ultimately, different societies
agendas, and to provide more integrated support. will adopt different trajectories in how they strengthen
state-society relations. However, while acknowledging
Institutions formal and informal require specific attention, the diverging pathways towards more inclusive political
given their direct impact on the resilience of societies and and economic institutions, there must be respect for
communities. On the one hand, there are many more all international norms and principles, in particular the
democratic countries in the world today 123 out of 193 human rights framework. Todays development challenges
compared to just 49 of the 158 states that existed in also call for a stronger integration of governance, conflict
1978.4 On the other hand, national governments, even in prevention and peacebuilding interventions.
functional democracies, are finding it increasingly difficult to
meet the expectations of their societies. In many countries, As a set of values and principles that prioritize respect for
north and south, the social contract a dynamic and human rights and fundamental freedoms, and promote
tacit agreement between states, people and communities the rule of law, accountability and transparency, democratic
on their mutual roles and responsibilities is unravelling. governance is a critical instrument for promoting social
Governments are also finding it difficult to deliver on their cohesion, preventing conflict and ensuring inclusive,
often unrealistic and politically opportunistic promises and safe and peaceful societies. Similarly, investments in
to maintain peoples trust in state institutions. At the national conflict prevention, dialogue and mediation and in the
and local levels, the presence of horizontal inequalities consolidation of sustainable peace should no longer
(economic, political, social and cultural) linked to a lack of be restricted to conflict and crisis situations, but need
identity and perceptions of injustice that can persist for to be institutionalized as part of the governance and
generations, are important drivers of violence. The risk of development initiatives.
violent contestation increases when some groups witness
inequality across different dimensions (political exclusion; Building on the outcome from Rio, The Future we want,6
lack of access to assets, land, jobs and social services; the Outcome Document of the UN Summit on the 2030
and discrimination when it comes to culture, religion or Agenda, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for
language).5 Hence, where social contracts are weak and Sustainable Development, now includes an emphasis
exclusive, prolonged tensions may arise, resulting in further on the importance achieving progress on peaceful and
polarization and potential radicalization that can lead to inclusive societies, access to justice and rule of law, and
violent conflict. effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. The
Declaration confirms that sustainable development
Resilient states and societies, on the other hand, are capable cannot be realized without peace, or without building
of respecting and promoting the rights of minorities, peaceful, just and inclusive societies, based on respect
marginalized and under-represented groups, especially for human rights, the rule of law and effective and
women and youth, indigenous peoples and ethnic groups. accountable institutions, and addressing factors such
There is now ample evidence of a statistically significant as corruption and poor governance which give rise to
association between national security and the security and violence, insecurity and injustice.7
safety of women. Similarly, the world is facing the largest
generation of youth in its history with a collective and
immense stake in shaping their future world. Therefore,
any attempt to build resilient governance must empower
young women and men as key agents of change in their
societies and communities. Resilient states and societies
also manage diversity and multicultural demographics
by strengthening inclusion and tolerance, and through
the peaceful management of conflict and differences in
opinions, lifestyles and beliefs.

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 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16
PEACEFUL, JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES AND ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS

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 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

What do we offer?

Building on its core strengths a large network in more Inclusive political processes to improve citizen
than 170 countries and territories, a principal coordination participation, voice and accountability through
role within the UN Development System and experience electoral processes, parliamentary and political
of supporting democratic governance initiatives and development, constitutional processes, civic
countries in transition UNDP has outlined a vision in its engagement, and womens political participation;
Strategic Plan (20142017) focused on helping countries
simultaneously eradicate poverty and significantly reduce Responsive and accountable institutions to deliver
inequalities and exclusion. UNDP has also accumulated equitable public services and inclusive development
considerable experience as a facilitator working with at the central and local levels, with a particular focus
Member States, UN agencies and civil society partners, on restoring core government functions in the
including women and youth organizations, in particular aftermath of crisis and attention to local governance
in the formulation and adoption of Goal 16 on peaceful, and local development.
just and inclusive societies.
Gender, youth and anti-corruption are priorities that
Goal 16 and the entire SDG agenda embrace the core cut across these four work streams. UNDPs work on
elements of a social contract between state and society youth empowerment for development and peace
as they seek to ensure a match between peoples supports youth as transformative agents of change and
expectations of what the state and other actors will as leaders, and promotes their political participation,
deliver (the services contained in the goals, as well as economic empowerment and role in resilience-
safety, rule of law and a fair justice system, legal identity, building and peacebuilding. UNDP provides advice
access to information and opportunities for participation) and technical support on reforms and policies related
and the institutional capacity available within the state to womens economic empowerment, political
and other actors to meet those expectations. participation and access to justice, with a focus on the
survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. UNDP
UNDP is uniquely placed to work on both sides of this also supports women peacebuilders and womens
critical equation: understanding peoples expectations networks through technical assistance, training and by
and matching them with institutional capacity while supporting networking and coalition building.
recognizing the specific socio-economic and political
realities of each development context. UNDP does this
by focusing on four interrelated areas of work:

Conflict prevention support for the development

and application of credible and inclusive national
and local capacities for the peaceful settlement of
disputes; the strengthening of social cohesion as
a deterrence to exclusion and violence, including
violent extremism; and the facilitation of consensual
approaches to critical development challenges
through multi-stakeholder dialogue;

Rule of law, justice, security and human rights to

ensure everyone has access to justice and remedies;
to strengthen national systems for the promotion
and protection of human rights and help Member
States meet their human rights obligations and for
people to realize their rights; and to build safe and
secure communities; 7
 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

It is important to emphasize that Goal 16 is not only UNDPs efforts focus on empowering national and
a valuable aspiration in its own right, it is also an local mediators and facilitators, also known as insider
important enabling goal for the entire sustainable mediators, to serve as credible intermediaries and
PEACEFUL, JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES AND ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS

development agenda. Achieving SDG 16 will require confidence builders to improve relationships, reduce
linking UNDPs work on all SDGs across economic, mistrust in institutions, and facilitate collaboration
social and environmental spheres. To this end, UNDPs and coordination among polarized groups and
work on governance and peacebuilding is already sectors. Women have increasingly played key roles as
closely aligned with that of other UNDP teams insider mediators.
leading on climate change and resilience, sustainable
development, health, HIV/AIDS and development and UNDP has developed a comprehensive Conflict and
gender. Development Analysis (CDA) tool to guide Country
Offices and practitioners in conducting conflict
UNDPs integrated approach allows its various clusters analysis and applying the analysis towards the
to work with one another, with their partners within design of conflict sensitive programming, strategic
the UN system and with NGOs to address not only positioning, and supporting early warning early
governance, peace, and justice and human rights issues response mechanisms
in the other SDGs but also to lay the ground for the
implementation of the entire 2030 Agenda. The existing UNDP conflict-related risk assessment
tool, is currently being expanded to form an
In partnership with a wide range of actors, UNDP offers integrated conflict-disaster risk assessment
the following services to countries: framework, which will be applied on an ongoing
basis to track, monitor and manage risks, pertaining
Conflict prevention to both conflict and natural disasters. Application
of the integrated conflict-disaster risks assessment
UNDP supports Member Statesboth governments framework will allow for enhanced risk governance
and civil societyas well as wider civic, religious and in programming thus strengthening the conflict-
political leaderships to develop and apply national disaster interface and the overall impact of UNDPs
infrastructures for peace, or credible and inclusive support. Strengthening national capacities for the
policies, institutions, and mechanisms for the design and implementation of an integrated conflict-
peaceful settlement of disputes, early warning and disaster risk assessment is a crucial component of the
response to emerging tensions, and the promotion broader multi-dimensional approach promoted by
of dialogue and the building of consensus around UNDP and its partners.
contested issues to help prevent or de-escalate
conflict. Such initiatives include enhancing the UNDP is addressing the global challenge of violent
coordination of local, national and regional peace extremism through initiatives focusing on inclusive
groups, providing advice and support for the and participatory development, the governance
establishment of government departments and of diversity and multicultural societies and the
institutions responsible for national peacebuilding, promotion of tolerance. As a follow-up to the Amman
dialogue and mediation, and assisting governments Youth Declaration and the new UN Security Council
in designing policies and regulations that support Resolution on Youth, Peace and Security, UNDPs
the establishment of peace infrastructures. UNDP approach to Preventing Violent Extremism will also
also advocates for the active participation of women promote the positive role of young peacebuilders
and youth, as well as marginalized groups, in national and call for enhanced support to the meaningful
and local peace infrastructure and initiatives. participation of young people in peacebuilding
processes, social cohesion and the prevention of
UNDP supports government and key actors in conflict and violent extremism.
their efforts to prevent violence, manage conflicts
constructively and develop effective responses during
8 political transitions and periods of rapid change.
 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

Rule of law, justice, security and human rights womens political participation and leadership in
sectors such as justice and security, and economic
UNDP supports governments in developing the recovery; providing services for survivors; tackling
capacity of justice, security and human rights impunity in cases of sexual and gender-based
institutions and enhancing service delivery and violence; and engaging people at the community
protection, especially of vulnerable groups, in order level in awareness-raising and prevention activities.
to nurture public trust and confidence. Aspects
of rule of law work include assistance with security UNDP provides significant support to governments
sector reform, policing, armed violence reduction for different measures that offer redress to victims
and citizen security; systematic strengthening of for past violations of international humanitarian
the justice chain including legal reform, sectorwide law. UNDP offers victim-centred approaches to
planning and oversight, legal aid systems, womens development of transitional justice processes
access to justice and engagement with informal including for the national prosecution of crimes falling
justice providers; addressing the legacy of mass under the Rome Statute,20 delivery of reparation
human rights abuses and strengthening human programmes using development methodology and
rights protection systems. resources, inclusive truth-seeking processes and
long-term development measures for prevention and
UNDP helps in developing a culture of respect for rule non-recurrence. The transitional justice processes
of law related to security providers by means such as are underpinned by facilitating the participation
creating civilian oversight mechanisms, improving the of victims in multi-stakeholder consultations at the
quality of police services and community outreach, national and local level.
curbing the proliferation of small arms and light
weapons, and working with communities to develop UNDP also provides substantive support to
their own measures to make their members feel safer. strengthening integrated UN efforts on rule of
UNDP supports national efforts to tackle sexual and law at the national level through the arrangement
gender-based violence by, for example, increasing of the Global Focal Point for Rule of Law in post-

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 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

conflict and other crisis situations. Led by UNDP and Inclusive political processes
the Department for Peacekeeping Operations, this
arrangement allows the UN system to streamline UNDP works to promote resilient state-society
PEACEFUL, JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES AND ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS

and enhance justice assistance delivery through relations, by addressing both sides of the relationship
joint assessment, planning and implementation in in both crisis and non-crisis settings.
complex national contexts. This arrangement also UNDP supports constitutional reform processes and
aligns peacebuilding and development trajectories, provides advice to national partners on substantive
which strengthens the effectiveness of the UN constitutional issues such as power-sharing,
systems justice assistance. federalism and decentralization, human rights,
gender equality and public accountability.
UNDP supports engagement with the international
human rights machinery such as the Universal UNDP provides global leadership, advocacy and
Periodic Review (UPR) process of the Human Rights capacity development in the field of electoral cycles,
Council. In many countries in which UNDP works, including strengthening the capacities of Electoral
it assists governments in the collection of relevant Management Bodies. UNDPs participation in the
information and the development of periodic reports Inter-Agency Coordination Mechanism on Electoral
to fulfill their obligation towards the UPR mechanism. Assistance puts it at the forefront of an innovative
agenda of policy development, including policy
UNDP supports over 100 national human rights directives on electoral violence, out-of-country
institutions, ombudsman institutions, equality and gender voting, and technology and electoral assistance.
bodies and other independent oversight institutions
in developing their capacities and enhancing their role UNDP supports parliaments in the better discharge
as the cornerstone of national human rights systems. of their constitutional law-making, oversight and
A human-rights-based approach to development representation mandates, as well as in increasing the
programming, which is an engagement principle for capacities of civil society actors to act as intermediaries
UNDP globally, builds the capacities of both duty-bearers in political advocacy. UNDP supports the advancement
and rights-holders. It enables a better understanding of of womens equal participation and decision-making in
the situation of excluded and marginalized groups and political processes and institutions, with a special focus on
individuals within complex power dynamics. supporting legal, policy and programmatic frameworks
and approaches. Parliamentary strengthening work
occurs in partnership with the Interparliamentary Union
and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

10
 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

UNDP focuses on strengthening the capacities of civil UNDP supports public service reforms to supplement
society actors and expanding and protecting spaces the focus on political processes and security and leads
for peoples participation in political and public life, initiatives to support public service reform in transitions,
with a special focus on groups experiencing significant promoting new and more inclusive social contracts in
marginalization, including persons with disabilities, which the public service has a key role to play.
LGBTI and indigenous peoples. UNDP places critical Responsive and accountable institutions imply
importance on the development of partnerships with collaboration between governments and civil
civil society organizations throughout its work, at the society actors. As a multilateral partner of the Open
country level as well as the global level. UNDPs Civil Government Partnership, UNDP helps build bridges
Society Advisory Committee, created in 2000, is the between the state and citizens.
main formal mechanism for dialogue between global
civil society leaders and UNDP senior management. UNDP together with other partners engaged in local
governance and local development is in the process
As part of its efforts to promote the full and meaningful of developing a toolkit for localizing the SDGs.
participation in political and public life of selected
groups experiencing significant exclusion, UNDP UNDP addresses the consequences of corruption
hosts the Technical Secretariat of the UN Partnership and ensures that public resources go to the most
to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and vulnerable, by helping countries develop pro-
that of the UN Indigenous Peoples Partnership. poor policies, supporting participatory planning,
monitoring and decision-making and mainstreaming
Responsive and accountable institutions anti-corruption measures throughout the planning
and budgeting cycle.
UNDP supports local governance and local develop-
ment with 274 ongoing programmes (2014) in UNDP is a global knowledge leader in the field of
around 80 countries. UNDP helps countries develop anti-corruption and works with governments around
an effective local governance and local development the world to tackle corruption and its consequences.
agenda and supports a range of efforts in a variety Through the Global Anti-Corruption Initiative, UNDP
of contexts (rural, urban, stable and crisis-affected focuses on strengthening systems, institutions and
environments). It helps countries establish structures civic engagement to combat corruption and to better
and systems for multilevel governance through manage and deliver public resources. To address
policy, institutional and capacity development the consequences of corruption and to ensure that
and the development of systems for the delivery public resources go to the most vulnerable, UNDP
of services. Also, it advocates a territorial approach helps countries develop pro-poor policies, support
and facilitates development cooperation among
territories to enhance local capacity for development.

UNDP supports core government functions, particularly

in post-conflict and fragile contexts, as a priority focus
to meet long-term state-building, institutional capacity
and national development objectives. This helps
governments in fragile settings to gain control of the
recovery process, deliver essential services and support
peacebuilding processes.

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 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

participatory planning, monitoring and decision- UNDP takes a four-pronged approach to youth empower-
making, and mainstream anti-corruption measures ment:
throughout the planning and budgeting cycle.
PEACEFUL, JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES AND ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS

UNDP supports the implementation and monitoring Support: Capacity development of young people
of anti-corruption targets of Goal 16 and will roll out and youth organizations, including youth caucuses
programmes to improve transparency, accountability in government, parliament or other representative
and integrity in infrastructure and service delivery. bodies;

Youth empowerment for development and Engage: Outreach, advocacy and mainstreaming of
peace youth issues in all spheres of development planning;

Worldwide, young people face myriad challenges in Influence: Thought leadership, inclusion in global
terms of access to equal opportunities to jobs and having policy debates and networks that include the voices
a voice in decisions which affect their lives. In response of marginalized youth, and build on improved data
to their call for meaningful civic, economic, social and collection to monitor the post-2015 development
political participation, including in recent consultations process;
around the 2030 Agenda, UNDP offers forward-looking
support for youth empowerment in development and Sustain: Support for national policy, more effective
national governance and peacebuilding in particular. strategies to protect young men and women from
UNDP supports advocacy, policy and programming discrimination and marginalization, and support for
aiming to ensure that youth are informed, engaged their informed and active participation in all spheres
and empowered to contribute to sustainable human of society.
development and the resilience of their communities.

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 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

Follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda/ Goal 16 is not only a valuable and important aspiration in
Goal 16 its own right, it is also an important enabling goal for the
entire sustainable development agenda. UNDPs work on
UNDP provides support in the mapping of needs for governance and peacebuilding is already closely aligned
statistical capacities and data analysis on governance with other UNDP teams leading on climate change and
and peacebuilding issues within government and resilience, sustainable development, health, HIV/AIDS and
other stakeholders. development and gender. This leaves UNDP strategically
placed to ensure good links between the targets included
UNDP supported the creation and launch of the in Goal 16 and other parts of the 2030 Agenda, including,
Praia Group on Governance Statistics which will work especially, Goal 1 on poverty, Goal 3 on health, Goal 5 on
under the auspices of the UN Statistical Commission the empowerment of women, Goal 10 on equality, Goal
to develop methodologies and approaches to 11 on urbanization, Goal 13 on climate change and Goal
measuring progress on governance. 17 on means of implementation.

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 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

UNDP IN ACTION In 2013, UNDP supported two African consultations

with representatives from national governments and
As part of its work on governance in the UN Development civil society from countries across ECOWAS and SADC,
PEACEFUL, JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES AND ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS

System, UNDP has already begun assisting Member together with the AU, which resulted in the adoption of
States prepare for the delivery of Goal 16 in a number regional declarations on the establishment of national
of important ways: by facilitating implementation infrastructures for peace.
dialogues on strengthening capacity and building
effective institutions and on localizing the SDGs; by Since 2004, UNDP has worked closely with the UN
piloting approaches to governance in the context Department of Political Affairs, and increasingly the
of the SDGs with a selection of Member States from Peacebuilding Support Office, through the Joint
Africa, Asia and Europe; by hosting a Virtual Network of Programme on Building National Capacities for
experts on indicators for peace, justice and institutions; Conflict Prevention. The partnership facilitates the
by supporting the launch and creation of the Praia provision of joint support to UNCTs and national
Group on Governance Statistics; and by supporting stakeholders in complex political situations, often
the development of the African Unions Strategy for involving the deployment of a Peace and Development
the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA).social Advisor to ensure sustained analytical capacity and
inclusion. accompaniment. As of January 2016, 39 PDAs are
deployed globally, with the partnership providing
support to a total of 45 countries on issues related to
Conflict prevention conflict analysis, support to national dialogue and peace
processes, and other efforts geared towards developing,
UNDP provides national and local actors with advice, applying, and sustaining national capacities for conflict
training and support for the analysis of issues, trends prevention.
and patterns that may lead to violence. Countries which
have received support from UNDP in establishing Formal and informal spaces for dialogue are also
national infrastructures for peace include Ghana, established and convened with UNDP support. These
Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Tunisia and Uganda. forums aim to establish inclusive and participatory

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 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

mechanisms to address conflict around contested Since 2008, UNDP has supported access to justice
issues and build consensus around constitutional or through the creation of a mobile court system in Somalia.
governance reforms. These capacities are integral parts As of 2013, these 13 mobile courts had adjudicated
of a nations Infrastructures for Peace, the network of approximately 10 percent of all court cases annually.
structures, resources, values and skills which contribute
to a nations internal ability to prevent conflicts and UNDP has supported over 90 National Human
build peace. Over the past 10 years, UNDP has provided Rights Institutions around the world since 2008. In
such support in nearly 50 countries. Mongolia, UNDP supported a Capacity Assessment of
The National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia
In the aftermath of the 2011 political transition in (NHRCM) which highlighted the need for increased
Tunisia, UNDP was invited to assist with the national attention to new and emerging human rights issues,
consultative process. By supporting insider mediators, such as economic and social rights in the context
key Tunisian stakeholders were assisted in the design of the mining industry, rights of LGBT people and
of a locally specific and locally led model for social the NHRCMs responsibilities under the Mongolian
dialogue to underpin the transition process. Gender Equality Act. The capacity assessment report
and recommendations served immediately as the
UNDP supported the Central African Republic, basis for developing a new strategic plan for the
Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar, NHRCM from 2012 to 2014 and, most significantly,
Honduras and Niger, among others, to undertake the NHRCM successfully used the report and other
various forms of in-depth conflict analysis. The relevant recommendations from international
findings have been integrated in strategic country- human rights bodies to obtain resources for the
level planning processes, and conflict sensitivity has establishment of full-time NHRCM officers in all 21
been integrated across all levels of programming. aimags (provinces) of Mongolia.

Rule of law, justice, security and human rights Inclusive political processes

In addressing the negative impact of small arms and UNDP has provided constitutional support across the
light weapons, UNDP in 2014 supported Kenya in world, in countries with UN Missions such as Liberia,
arms marking in an area deeply affected by armed Libya and Somalia, as well as in non-mission settings
violence, cattle rustling and border conflicts. The arms such as Bolivia, Fiji, Kenya, Nepal and Sierra Leone.
marking exercise aimed to ensure legal weapons were
easily distinguished from illicit weapons, and 4,062 UNDP is providing electoral assistance to about 60
state-owned arms were marked and catalogued. countries a year, including countries in sensitive
political transition and post-conflict settings. It
In Central America, UNDP, in partnership with national supports democratic systems to become more
and local government officials, has supported inclusive and accountable and able to meet
community security programmes to reduce violence. In expectations for participation, services and security.
Honduras, these efforts have contributed to a notable In 2014, UNDP programmes strengthened electoral
reduction in homicides between 2012 and 2014. processes around the world and helped register 18
million new voters.
UNDP provides a platform for engagement between
the COMMIT Youth Forum (Coordinated Mekong In 2014, UNDP supported an international audit of
Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking, which voter ballots after allegations of fraud during the
includes Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, latest elections in Afghanistan. Within 10 days,
Thailand and Viet Nam) and policy makers involved UNDP deployed over 125 auditors in Kabul and
in COMMIT both nationally and regionally. in cooperation with the UN Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan, set up a system to assist the Independent
Electoral Commission in recounting and verifying
23,000 ballot boxes. 15
 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

Through Building Resources in Democracy, Governance UNDP assistance was vital in the development of a
and Elections (BRIDGE) trainings, UNDP helped the plan to restore the government-controlled areas of
League of Arab States lay the foundations for an the eastern region of Ukraine. UNDP coordinated
PEACEFUL, JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES AND ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS

electoral roster. UN support for a Recovery and Peacebuilding

Assessment, in partnership with the Government of
In Iraq, UNDP supported training for parliamentarians Ukraine, European Union and World Bank Group.
on preparing and overseeing the national budget, and
assisted in establishing the first Budget Oversight Office. Building on its extensive experience working with
local governance systems in fragile and conflict-
Responsive and accountable institutions affected settings, UNDP developed a handbook to
guide local governance interventions in post-conflict
UNDP rolled out an emergency public sector environments. The handbook emphasizes the need
payments programme for Ebola-affected countries, to secure a strong social contract at the local level.
ensuring timely payments to nearly 50,000 Ebola
response workers in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra UNDP has developed a toolkit, Assessing the Respect
Leone to keep health services running despite for Rule of Law Principles in Public Administration.
enormous pressures. It provides government agencies with an easily
applicable method to assess their relations with
Mandated by the UN Secretary-General to lead the the societies they serve. Countries involved in this
UN System on support to core government functions, initiative include the Philippines, Sierra Leone and
UNDP has developed jointly with the World Bank Ukraine.
the first ever diagnostic assessment tool on core
government functions in the aftermath of conflict. With the launch of the Gender Equality in Public
The diagnostic tool was piloted in the Central African Administration (GEPA) Global Report in 2014,
Republic. UNDP cemented its ongoing engagement in the
under-examined field of womens participation
and leadership in public administration. Countries
involved in this initiative include Bangladesh,
Colombia, Jordan, Romania and Somalia.

In China, a UNDP partnership with the Chinese

Academy of Governance developed a corruption risk
assessment programme for use by universities, where
students were engaged in developing ideas to stop
corruption. It became the basis for the integration
of integrity and anti-corruption training into the
national civil service training programme, reaching
over 7 million civil servants nationwide.

To promote transparency in Costa Ricas water

sector, UNDP helped develop an online database that
collects all management and financial information in
a central national repository.

16
 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16

Youth In Brazil, UNDP has promoted mentorship programmes

for young women to connect with political leaders.
UNDP, in line with the UN System-Wide Action Plan on In Palestine, UNDP has engaged young people
Youth and its first Global Youth Strategy, Empowered in assessing the performance of public services as
Youth, Sustainable Future 20142017, has harnessed part of local youth councils. In Colombia, UNDP has
its unique role and added value to prioritize youth supported the inclusion of young people in the peace
empowerment and inclusive youth participation process. In the Asia-Pacific, UNDP supported the Purple
in the definition, implementation, monitoring and my School campaign to promote safe spaces for LGBTI
accountability of the SDGs, particularly of Goal 16. UNDP students. UNDP recently hosted a Global Forum on
has supported global, regional and country activities Youth, Peace and Security in Jordan, which led to the
(advocacy, policy and programming, networking, Amman Youth Declaration and the adoption of the
youth mainstreaming, standalone activities on the first Security Council resolution on Youth, Peace and
empowerment of young women) which recognize and Security (resolution 2250 passed in December 2015)
promote the role of youth in governance, economic recognizing for the first time the positive role young
life and resilience-building. Besides the role of youth people play in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and
in the SDGs, particular focus has been placed on the the prevention of violent extremism.
most marginalized, and the role of youth in preventing
conflict and violent extremism. In Bangladesh, UNDP supported the establishment
of a National Youth Parliament to empower active
citizens and provide an opportunity for youth to
engage in dialogue with parliament about the
national youth policy.

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 UNDP SUPPORT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 16
PEACEFUL, JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES AND ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS

18
1. UNHCRs annual report for 2014, World at War: Global Trends Forced Displacement in 2014, puts the figure at 59.5 million
forcibly displaced at the end of 2014.
2. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Global Study on Homicide 2013: Trends, Contexts, Data, available at https://www.
unodc.org/documents/gsh/pdfs/2014_GLOBAL_HOMICIDE_BOOK_web.pdf.
3. The Worlds Women 2015, Power and decision-making, http://unstats.un.org/unsd/gender/chapter5/chapter5.html.
4. Economist Intelligence Unit, Democracy Index 2014, available at http://www.sudestada.com.uy/Content/Articles/421a313a-
d58f-462e-9b24-2504a37f6b56/Democracy-index-2014.pdf.
5. F. Steward, Horizontal inequalities as a cause of conflict, Centre for Research on Inequality, Human Security and Ethnicity
(CRISE), 2010. Steward describes culture (ethnicity, religion, language) as that which binds people together as a group. Cultural
inequalities can therefore increase the salience of group identity. There are three important elements involved in cultural status:
treatment with respect to religion and religious observation, language recognition and respect for ethno-cultural practices.
6. Available at http://www.uncsd2012.org/thefuturewewant.html.
7. Available at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld.
8. World Bank 2011 World Development Report
9. OECD 2015 Report States of Fragility
10. World Bank 2011 World Development Report
11. Oxfam/IANSA/Saferworld 2007 Africas Missing Billions
12. Chalmers, Malcolm 2007 SPENDING TO SAVE? THE COSTEFFECTIVENESS OF CONFLICT PREVENTION
13. Working for the few, Oxfam briefing paper, 20 January 2014
14. Transparency International 2014 Corruption Perception Index
15. IEP 2015 Global Terrorism Index
16. IEP 2015 Global Terrorism Index
17. UNDP 2015 Human Development Report
18. Marie OReilly, Andrea Silleabhin, and Thania Paffenholz 2015 Reimagining Peacemaking: Womens Roles in Peace
Processes
19. UNFPA, the state of world population, 2014
20. For information on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, see http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/
Pages/InternationalCriminalCourt.aspx.

Photo credits:

Page 5: UNDP/PAPP and Sharek Youth Forum Page 13: UNDP

Page 7: Noeman AlSayyad Page 14: Aude Rossignol/UNDP
Page 9: Lingaraj Panda/UNDP India Page 16: Morgana Wingard/UNDP
Page 10: UNDP Page 17: Purple My School/UNDP Thailand
Page 11: UNDP Turkmenistan 19
Page 12: Alistair Lyne/UNDP Somalia
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