Strong IOE Participation at 2023 HLPF

Business needs to be more involved for States to deliver on the 2030 agenda - highlights of IOE and IOE members’ contribution to the 2023 HLPF.

The International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and its global network of 150 Employer and Business Organisations representing some 50 million enterprises showcased at the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York the importance for States and all stakeholders to engage with business at the global, regional and national levels.

The week began with IOE taking part in a unique side event at the Consulate of India related to the B20 India on inclusivity and diversity and ended with a high-level exchange with European Commissioner for International Partnership and the Commissioner for Economy.

IOE members from Ecuador, Fiji, Djibouti and Portugal joined in person the IOE delegation, participating in numerous events and providing policy inputs on subjects ranging from just transition to Least Developed Countries path to SDG achievement, and private sector participation in SDG advancement. Members from Mali and Madagascar were featured panelists during the virtual session of the SDG Business Forum. These impressive spokespersons conveyed the IOE’s global network concerns, ideas, and proposals on the way forward.

IOE members were also part of official delegations to the HLPF as contributing representatives to their Voluntary National Review (VNR) processes. The business input to this critical international monitoring process is vital to ensuring a balanced assessment of progress and to advocate for an enabling environment for business as one of the key paths to SDG advancement. IOE encourages Governments to involve business and other stakeholders in the preparation of their VNRs and broadly to move forward with the 2030 Agenda.

Separately, IOE and Deloitte hosted a business dialogue on steps needed to catalyse new partnerships to achieve the SDGs with a focus on SDGs 9 and 17. Representatives from the UN Industrial Development Organization and UN Development Programme joined the conversation. Silvia Machado, Senior Adviser on Climate for CIP Portugal shared her views on how companies mainly SMEs in her country are and will continue to expand local efforts to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change in the country.

IOE partnered with Konrad-Adenauer Foundation and Africa Centre for Economic Transformation for a dialogue on Charting the Pathway towards Accelerated Digital Transformation in Africa. Hasna Barkat Daoud, from the Dijoubti employers’ organisation – an IOE member, articulated many of the African employers’ views when she stressed the importance of developing digital skills for young people in Africa.

Global Compact hosted a meeting with the IOE delegation of employers’ federations together with the UN Development Coordination Office looking at how to strengthen collaboration with Resident Coordinators and the UN at the local level on projects and partnerships. Also discussed was the input from the Global South to the survey on SDG stock-taking on business activities to be presented at the SDG Summit at UNGA in September. 

IOE member, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), organised several events with the participation of the IOE international delegation. From an in-depth panel conversation entitled Moving the Needle to a reception for high-level business leaders and government officials including the US Ambassador Chris Lu.

IOE is co-Chair of the Business and Industry Major Group and acts as Secretariat of the Employers at the International Labour Organisation, also made of Governments, and Workers.

Go to IOE’s Flickr page to see the forum’s highlights.

Go to IOE’s YouTube channel to view videos featured at the HLPF.