UNITED NATIONS HLPF 2023: GHANA'S ROLE IN ADVANCING SDGS AND ACCELERATING PARTNERSHIPS
The United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development met on 18-19 September 2023 at the level of heads of state and government under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.  
The 2023 gathering, also known as the SDG Summit, is the second after the 2030 Agenda was adopted.
The SDG Summit, which marked the mid-point in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, conducted a comprehensive review of the state of the SDGs, responded to the impact of multiple and interconnected crises confronting the world, and provided high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to the SDGs' 2030 deadline for achievement.  
Prior to the HLPF, member states have organised additional activities to examine ideas and creative practises for achieving the SDGs.
Other countries and organisations invited Ghana to participate in a series of side events at the summit to share its rich experiences and innovative practices in attaining the 2030 Agenda.

SDG Action Weekend Side Event
On Sunday, September 17, 2023, the government of the Republic of Egypt, in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organised a side event under the theme "Financing Localisation or Localising Finance" as part of the SDG action weekend side event.
The side event highlighted country's experiences in financing the implementation of the SDGs at the National and Local levels and the global efforts and contributions of Development Partners and Financial Institutions towards the implementation of the SDGs.

Ghana, through the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), joined other experts to share their valuable experiences that could be instrumental in accelerating the path toward the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.  

The Director General of NDPC, Dr. Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, in his address stated that Ghana’s government is obligated to distribute 5% of national revenue to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies MMDAs to support sub-national development.
Accelerator Actions and Partnerships for SDG Delivery by 2030
The Governments of Ghana and Uganda on Monday, September 18, 2023, organised a side event to share experiences on the effect of partnerships on the implementation of both countries' SDGs as well as identify key accelerators for enhanced delivery of the SDGs. 
Dr. Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, Director General of NDPC, in his remarks, noted that Ghana’s experience focused on the pillars for accelerating partnerships, namely, development logic, legitimacy, ownership, and inclusiveness. 
He emphasised the integration of the SDGs into development plans and long-term frameworks as well as the existence of a well-structured coordination architecture that ensures a whole-government and whole-society approach to delivering the SDGs. 

Dr. Mensah-Abrampa underscored efforts by the Government to address data gaps and the seeming need to strengthen the use of the data to influence, review, and shape policies. 
The event also highlighted the need to foster effective collaborations and partnerships, enhance means of implementation of the SDGs, address gender inequality, prioritise the interventions with the most impact, and create the necessary environment to draw partnerships, especially, from Civil Society Groups (CSOs). 
The event witnessed participation from key partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, Copenhagen Consensus Center, Reality of Aid Network, and the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC). 

By: Doris Adjetey, PIO, NDPC Comms