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Since its creation in 1992, the CSD
has provided generous access to
major groups, and is at the forefront of experimentation in this domain.
The first multi-stakeholder
dialogue segment was introduced in 1998, as a unique participatory mechanism enabling direct
interaction between major groups and governments on specific
topics.
The 2002 World Summit on
Sustainable Development (WSSD) succeeded in integrating major groups
even further into the intergovernmental process through new approaches and
formats for participation.
With the increasing recognition of the essential role played by major groups as
key partners in the WSSD follow-up, new formats for major groups
participation in CSD continue to be developed, aimed at stimulating more productive dialogue
and inspiring collaborative efforts among governments, major groups and the UN
system, building on lessons learned from past traditions and practices.
At the Earth
Summit+5, the UN General Assembly
deliberated
that the CSD should conduct “a high-level policy debate aimed at
consensus-building on sustainable development.” As an integral part of that
effort, it was agreed that the CSD should “strengthen its interaction with representatives of
major groups, including through greater and better use of focused dialogue
sessions, and round tables.”
The Program of Work for CSD-6 through the WSSD (1998-2002) translated the above
decision decision by pioneering multi-stakeholder engagement through
multi-stakeholder dialogues, which have informed the deliberations of the
Commission on different topics since 1998.
Multi-stakeholder dialogues helped to promote meaningful participation
among major groups and governments in the intergovernmental decision-making
process. The
dialogues emerged as a significant component of the official meetings, and
grew to become accepted as part
of the process, rather than as an ancillary event
taking place on the margins of negotiations.
The preparation for the dialogues was itself a multi-stakeholder process,
involving a steering group of organizing partners from each major group.
The content of the dialogue was determined in consultation with the CSD Bureau
and the organizing partners facilitated by the CSD secretariat. The organizing
partners engaged in consultations with their major group to draft a 'dialogue
starter paper' (a position paper) and determine who would speak for the group
during the dialogue. The dialogue papers were released as part of the official
documentation in languages without editing the content.
The Chair's Summary of the multi-stakeholder dialogue segments reflected the areas of discussion covered during the dialogues and
highlighted recommendations
made by the major groups. Chair's summaries were included in the official report of
each meeting, and can be accessed using the links on the right side of this
page.
The WSSD succeeded in integrating major groups fully into the
intergovernmental process, continuing the tradition of the multi-stakeholder
dialogue and going further to establish the presence of major groups in
high-level roundtables, expert panels, and partnerships for sustainable
development.
Click
here to access the analytic study of CSD experience with multi-stakeholder
dialogues.
Currently the post-WSSD phase builds on the multi-stakeholder dialogues
experience and provides innovative formats for interactive participation aimed
at
stimulating more productive dialogue and inspire collaborative efforts among
governments, major groups and the UN system.
Major groups are now integrated in the various activities planned
throughout the official CSD sessions, including thematic discussions, expert
panels, interactive discussions within
the Ministers during the High-level Segment. Major groups contribute their expertise to technical
discussions on thematic issue areas and offer solutions for furthering
implementation of sustainable development.
As part of the preparatory work leading up to the CSD meetings, the CSD Secretariat collaborates closely with key major group networks from a
coordinating group of organizing partners, made of credible networks who are invited by the
Bureau to facilitate the engagement of their major group sector and are
trusted by their group in this role.
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