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Secretary-General Meets Heads of UN Regional Commissions

Secretary-General Meets Heads of UN Regional Commissions

Secretary-General António Guterres (centre left) meets with (left to right): Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA); Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE); and Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

21 February 2019

United Nations, New York

SG's Report on Regional Cooperation and the Surveys of the Regional Commissions


Report of the Secretary-General on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields and its Addendum.

The present report highlights the central role of the regional dimension in translating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into national sustainable development realities.

The report is structured in two main parts. The first part illustrates how the assets and core functions of the regional commissions are leveraged in an integrated manner and with the addition of value to support the efforts of Member States to implement the 2030 Agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals, through the provision of dedicated regional intergovernmental platforms with strong national ownership, such as the regional forums on sustainable development, the generation of multisectoral and policy-relevant knowledge and data, and the promotion of regional and subregional integration and cooperation.

The second part covers developments and outcomes in selected areas of regional and interregional cooperation, including policy matters addressed during the regional commissions sessions and other intergovernmental meetings and efforts to promote coherence at the regional level. The Addendum contains information on the resolutions and decisions adopted or endorsed by ECLAC, ECA and ESCAP at their Commissions’ sessions, that are calling for action by or are brought to the attention of the Economic and Social Council.

  • E/2018/15 (English)
  • E/2018/15/Add.1  (English)


    • Surveys of the Regional Commissions

    Overview of economic and social conditions in Africa, 2018

     Economic situation and outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean for the period 2017–2018
    Summary of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2018

    Economic and social developments in the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia region for the period 2017–2018

    Economic situation in the Economic Commission for Europe region (Europe, North America and the Commonwealth of Independent States), 2017–2018

    Regional Coordination Mechanisms

    The Regional Coordination Mechanisms (RCM) were mandated by ECOSOC resolution 1998/46 of July 1998 (Annex III, B para 13).

    The role and functions of the RCM in promoting coherence in policy and in regional and sub-regional programming are being reinvigorated within the new parameters and frameworks of UNDS strategic engagement in the regions. Its role is increasingly relevant in order to meet the integrated policy advice needs of the 2030 Agenda, strengthen the policy-operational linkage including in strategic planning and regional and subregional programming, avoid duplication and overlaps, and ensure a more coherent and robust accountability to ECOSOC and its oversight of the regional level results.

    All five RCMs have taken action to align with the 2030 Agenda and their work feeds into the Regional Forums for Sustainable Development. While their working arrangements as well as the level of interaction with the regional-UNDG (R-UNDG) vary from region to region, efforts are being made now in all regions to convene the RCM and R-UNDG jointly or back to back, pending a broader repositioning of the regional level to be proposed and decided upon by Member States as an integral part of the UNDS repositioning to support implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

    Please click below for additional information on the five Regional Coordination Mechanisms. ECA ECLAC ESCAP ESCWA UNECE

    Regional preparations for the global compact on migration as per resolution 71/280

    As per General Assembly resolution 71/280 (2017) which requests the regional economic commissions, in collaboration with other relevant UN entities especially IOM, to organize discussions among member states and other relevant stakeholders to examine the regional and sub-regional aspects of international migration and to provide inputs, in accordance with their respective mandates, for the preparatory process of the global compact, preparations are underway under the leadership of the regional commissions for the respective regional consultations and supporting knowledge products which will provide regional and subregional perspectives on the six themes elaborated in resolution 71/280.

    Attached is a living document reflecting the dates of the consultations and various knowledge products that the regional commissions will be producing in support of fulfilling the mandate in resolution 71/280. It will be continually updated as updates are available. For more information, please contact RCNYO at RCNYO1@un.org.

    Mapping of Preparatory Regional Events for the Global Compact on Migration (English)

    Please click HERE for information on all Regional Consultations on Migration

    What’s New

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    Regional Forums for Sustainable Development

    The United Nations Regional Commissions have a significant role to play in promoting sustainable development in their respective regions by promoting peer learning and cooperation, including South-South and triangular cooperation and effective linkage among global, regional, subregional and national processes to advance sustainable development.

    Regional Commissions convened Regional Forums for Sustainable Development in the regions which support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, including its follow-up and review process, and provide regional inputs to the High Level Political Forum (HLPF). Sessions of the Regional Commissions also provide inputs into the HLPF, support implementation, peer learning and review of the 2030 Agenda.

    ESCAP: Sixth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development: Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality 27-29 March 2019, Bangkok, Thailand

    UNECE: Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region 21-22 March 2019, Geneva, Switzerland

    ECLAC: Third Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development 22-26 April 2019, Santiago, Chile

    ESCWA: The Arab Forum for Sustainable Development 2019 9-11 April 2019, Beirut

    ECA: Fifth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development 16-18 April 2019, Marrakech

    Sessions of the Regional Commissions

    52nd Session of the Commission, Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development 20-26 March 2019, Morocco

    68th session of UNECE 9 - 10 April 2019, Geneva

    75th Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific 27-31 May 2019, Bangkok, Thailand

    THE UN REGIONAL COMMISSIONS