UNDP SDG 16 delivery: Peaceful Societies, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Peaceful societies, access to justice, and accountable institutions are the cornerstones of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16). The adoption of SDG 16 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a recognition by 193 UN member states that peaceful societies and sustainable development are mutually interdependent. SDG 16 can only be advanced through a sustained engagement of development actors in order to address the root causes of conflict and violence in fragile- and conflict-affected contexts. UNDP has several comparative advantages to help contribute to the realisation of SDG 16:

• Its long-standing field presence in and in-depth knowledge of all fragile contexts, as well as strong relationships with partner governments;
• Its unique mandate on democratic governance as well as state- and peacebuilding, including the rule of law;
• Its key role in the Resident Coordinator System, which increases the UN’s collective impact at country-level;
• Its role as a bridge-builder between humanitarian, development and peacebuilding actors.

Support UNDP’s efforts to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16 in all of its three aspects: peaceful societies, justice, and strong institutions.

Authorities and vulnerable persons in fragile and conflict-affected contexts; UNDP country and regional offices; United Nations Resident Coordinators; United Nations country teams; Department of Political Affairs; Department for Peacekeeping Operations, Peace Building Support Office.    

Outcome 1: National capacities in conflict prevention strengthened;

Outcome 2: System coordination in conflict prevention strengthened;

Outcome 3: Governance and the Rule of Law in fragile- and conflict-affected countries strengthened;

Outcome 4:  Timely and relevant development responses to crisis strengthened.

Erwartete Resultate:  

• Mechanisms enabled for consensus-building around contested priorities, and address specific tensions, through inclusive and peaceful processes;
  
• Functions, financing and capacity of rule of law institutions enabled, including to improve access to justice and redress;
  
• Functions, financing and capacity of institutions enabled to deliver improved basic services and respond to priorities voiced by the public;
  
• From the humanitarian phase after crisis, early economic revitalization generates jobs and other environmentally sustainable livelihoods opportunities for crisis affected men and women;
  
• Resident Coordinators and other senior UN officials have improved their conflict prevention and mitigation skills (Montreux retreats);
  
• Joint UN conflict analysis tool developed and endorsed by the UN system.
  

Resultate von früheren Phasen:  

• 45 countries have built national capacities on conflict prevention; some have reduced the likelihood of conflict (e.g. elections in Nigeria).
  
• Almost all of the UN Rule of Law actors have moved towards joint programming and in some cases joint teams (e.g. Somalia). This has improved efficiency and coherence, and it has leveraged additional funds.
  
• UNDP contributed to rapid and relevant development responses in many situations of armed conflict or natural disasters, enabling early recovery and in some cases the return to more sustainable development. (e.g. Central African Republic).

Lessons learned:

• Proof of concept of joint programming: With the evident need for more coherence and efficiency within the UN system, joint programs – such as the Joint UNDP – Department of Political Affairs (DPA) Program on Conflict Prevention or the country programs initiated under the Global Focal Point for Police, Justice, and Corrections – have shown to be effective tools to bring the UN system to work closer together.
  
• UN resident coordinators and UNDP are still considered honest brokers in many contexts (e.g. Balkans, Colombia, Philippines, Nigeria, Tunisia) and help maintain space for peacebuilding and development.
  
• UNDP has recognised the need to work more proactively on the political aspects of rule of law.
  
• Capacity to quickly respond to changing circumstances in crises has proven critical for the UNDP to remain agile and relevant in fragile situations.
  

Swiss level: Bi-lateral cooperation in fragile contexts; engagement on illicit financial flows and asset recovery; support to the Human Rights Up Front; engagement in the New Deal of OECD.

International level: UN Development System; UN Department of Political Affairs; UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations; Peace Building Support Office; World Bank; like-minded member states.

Phase 5 01.07.2016 - 30.03.2020   (Completed)