Another part of the SDG jigsaw is now in place with the announcement of the 10 stakeholder representatives of the support group for the Technology Facilitation Mechanism. Another advancement of stakeholder engagement in the UN and inline with the approach taken during the SDG process.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015, which was held from 25 to 27 Sept.
of the Agenda launches a “Technology Facilitation Mechanism which was established by the Addis Ababa Action Agenda in order to support the Sustainable Development Goals”. This paragraph was already contained in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda which was adopted at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development held in Addis Ababa from 13 to 16 July 2015.
The present document lays out terms of reference for this United Nations 10-Member Group to support the Technology Facilitation Mechanism – henceforth referred to as “10-Member Group”.
To provide briefings and other inputs to the high-level political forum on sustainable development, or other relevant UN fora, as requested.
innovation and sustainable development. They shall serve in their personal capacity and not as a representative of a Government, corporation or organization. The Group shall comprise distinguished experts drawn from civil society, the private sector, and the scientific community, as mandated. Those may thus include representatives of academia, philanthropic, non-governmental organizations, and other individual experts.
The Group’s members shall serve in their personal capacity and not as a representative of a Government, corporation or organization. They can hold employment with an NGO, a private sector entity, or Government provided they are working closely on issues related to science, technology and innovation. Government employees with a largely political role, however, shall not be qualified for appointment to the Group.
Members of the 10-Member Group shall “…be appointed by the Secretary-General, for periods of two years” and serve at the Secretary-General’s discretion.
technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, in line with UN rules and regulation.
The Secretariat of the IATT shall provide Secretariat functions for the meetings of the 10-Member Group. The full membership of IATT is expected to provide additional support, as the need arises.
The 10-Member Group will meet at least once or twice each year. The frequency of meetings can be adjusted by the Group as the need may arise.e.g., current chief scientists do not qualify for appointment, but academics in government-run laboratories do.
Communications shall be through a secure website, as appropriate. The Secretariat shall support communications within the 10-Member Group, between the group and the IATT and between the group and the High-level Political Forum as needed.
The 10-Member Group shall agree by consensus on two co-chairs who will represent the Group for the period of one year at a time. The appointment of co-chairs can be changed by consensus at any time.
The 10-Member Group shall strive to make its decisions by consensus. In case no consensus can be reached, decisions can be made by simple majority of its members in which case the IATT will be notified that the decision was reached by voting.
The meetings of the 10-Member Group shall be closed unless it decides otherwise.
The 10-Member Group may operate, even if there are vacancies in its composition.