Sector: #cofog0132 - Overall planning and statistical services (CS)
The Guide provides a framework for:
- Operationalizing the LNOB pledge to leave no one behind using a step-by-step approach;
- Adapting and employing relevant tools from across the UN System to assess who is left behind and why; sequencing & prioritizing solutions; tracking and monitoring progress; and ensuring follow-up and review;
- Integrating this methodology into UN programming and policy support for Member States
Part II on Operationalizing LNOB presents a methodology with a set of five steps for LNOB analysis, action, monitoring, accountability and meaningful participation. The guidance is applicable to the diversity of planning and programming contexts that the UN System leads or supports. A gender perspective should be applied throughout all steps. Women and girls are often some of the most deprived and disadvantaged within groups in marginalized situations. The steps are:
- STEP 1: Who is being left behind? Gathering the evidence
- STEP 2: Why? Prioritization and analysis
- STEP 3: What? What should be done
- STEP 4: How? How to measure and monitor progress
- STEP 5: Advancing accountability for LNOB
- Cross-cutting guidance: Meaningful participation
Part III is on Integrating LNOB into UN programming and UN support to national development planning processes.
To support national partners, UN programming should reflect the LNOB pledge in three main ways:
- Who is to benefit: In keeping with the individual mandates of UN entities; furthest behind populations (identified in Step 1) should be consistently prioritized as beneficiaries of programming. They may benefit directly from UN support, particularly in humanitarian contexts, or indirectly from “upstream” support designed to ultimately benefit the furthest behind. Although efficiencies should be sought, programming should not solely target the largest possible number of people, given the track record of improving “averages” without benefiting the furthest behind. Success should rather be determined by SDG progress that improves lives, particularly among the furthest behind.
- What to do: UN programming should seek to address the immediate and structural causes that most particularly affect the furthest behind in their local contexts (assessed in Steps 1 and 2) in line with a human rights-based approach. LNOB suggests prioritizing UN support to combat discrimination and inequalities; meeting essential needs and fighting extreme poverty; and enabling voice, participation, equitable and inclusive decision-making. This focus applies to all thematic areas. The LNOB mandate is as relevant to UN efforts on peace, climate change and biodiversity as it is to health, gender equality and inclusive growth.
- Whom to work with: The UN should promote and support broadly inclusive and transparent processes to localize SDG targets consistent with the LNOB commitment, agreeing on national and local action to speed up progress among the furthest behind. To be effective, such action must necessarily be informed by and responsive to the priorities and know-how of the people who are being left behind. UNCTs should enable meaningful engagement by working with community groups trusted by and inclusive of target beneficiaries, including groups in marginalized situations. Informal feedback loops established by UNCTs (in Step 1 or for post2015 consultations, for example) should be connected to institutionalized channels, such as parliamentary oversight committees, SDG advisory bodies, national planning and reporting processes, etc.
UN Sustainable Development Group
Source and further details: Leaving no one behind: a UNSDG Operational Guide for UN Country Teams (Interim Draft)
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