The United Nations high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) in 2022 will be held from Tuesday 5 July to Thursday 7 July, and from Monday 11 July to Friday 15 July 2022, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. This includes the three-day ministerial segment of the forum from Wednesday, 13 July, to Friday, 15 July 2022, as part of the high-level segment of the Council.
The theme for the HLPF 2022 will be “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The forum will take into account the different and particular impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across all Sustainable Development Goals and the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the Goals.
The Division for Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA/DSDG) and the New York Office of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), are organizing the 2022 edition of the SDGs Learning, Training & Practice – a series of capacity building and knowledge learning sessions held as a Special Event to the HLPF, featuring speakers and experts from many sectors on crucial topics related to the implementation of the SDGs under review in 2022 HLPF.
Theme
The 2022 SDG Learning, Training and Practice Special Event will align with the 2022 HLPF theme: "Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ". It will also be closely connected with the following SDGs to be reviewed at the 2022 HLPF:
SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
Format
The 2022 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice Special sessions are envisioned to be held in both in-person (TBC) and virtual format, offering both in-person (TBC) and virtual participation for registered attendees, subject to the final format established for the 2022 HLPF.
Ten learning sessions will be organized and distributed during the first five days of the HLPF (5, 6, 7, 11 and 12 July).
Each session will be 90 minutes long, to be organized by national governments and relevant stakeholders selected through an open application process.
For online sessions, UNITAR and UNDESA will provide the online platform access, coordinate participants registration, outreach and reporting. If in-person sessions are held, guidance will be provided to organizers accordingly.
Output
The 2022 SDGs Learning, Training & Practice workshops aim to advance:
Knowledge and skills acquisition
Networking
Sharing experiences and peer to peer collaboration
Learning about practical actions and best practices
Capacity building
Practical policy integration and coherence
All virtual sessions will be livestreamed, recorded, and open to all interested participants. A dedicated page will be set up at the 2022 HLPF website to promote information about the different sessions.
[Format of in-person sessions will be defined at appropriate stage.]
A summary report will be produced by UN DESA and UNITAR.
Open call for Learning Sessions proposals
National governments and stakeholder organizations interested in organizing a SDGs Learning, Training & Practice session may submit one learning session proposal.
The application form for submission of proposals can be accessed on the HLPF website at: to be set up. Only submissions in English will be considered. Applicants will be asked to indicate their preference for virtual or in-person sessions.
The selection of learning sessions will be based on the quality of proposals, relevance to the HLPF theme and focus of the 2022 SDG Learning, Training and Practice priorities (as indicated above), the expertise of the organizers, and willingness to produce the desired output. There is no fee for submission or approval of proposed courses.
Efforts will be undertaken to accommodate as many proposals as possible within the limited timeslots available. However, in the event that a high number of proposals are received, some submissions addressing similar themes might be grouped in the same session. Organizers will be notified accordingly. Additionally, only one course proposal will be considered per organization.
Course proposals should be submitted no later than 25 March 2022. The application form can be accessed through this link. Organizations of selected course proposals will be notified by 30 May 2022.
For additional information, please, check the flyer here.
Logistical arrangements
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and in order to accommodate as many participants as possible, the majority of 2022 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice sessions will be delivered in a virtual format. UNDESA and UNITAR staff will host the meetings and manage digital logistics to ensure their smooth operation.
A few sessions may be held in-person, pending official guidance related to the organization of the 2022 HLPF.