Dear Chairman Mr. Ashimbayev,

Members of Parliaments,

Distinguished Guests, 

UNDP is honored to participate in this high-level meeting on “Sustainable Development of Central Asia: The Role of Parliaments and Local Representative Bodies”, organized under the auspices of the Parliamentary Commission on Monitoring the Implementation of National Sustainable Development Goals and Objectives.

As we gather to discuss the collective pursuit of sustainable development, it is vital to recognize the unique and indispensable role that national parliaments play in the realization and achievement the Sustainable Development Goals.

While the primary mandate for implementing the SDGs lies with the executive branch of government, parliaments have a crucial responsibility in ensuring that this process is not only just but also representative of all voices. 

The 2030 Agenda explicitly underscores the significance of parliaments in paragraph 45, stating:

"We acknowledge also the essential role of national parliaments through their enactment of legislation and adoption of budgets and their role in ensuring accountability for the effective implementation of our commitments."

This recognition underscores parliaments' crucial role in advancing national SDG agendas.

Through their legislative, budgetary, and oversight functions, parliaments embody these principles, acting as pillars of accountability and inclusivity in governance. 

As a trusted partner, UNDP collaborates with over 65 parliaments worldwide to strengthen their capacity to fulfill institutional roles and engage effectively with ministries, local governments, oversight bodies, and civil society. UNDP's parliamentary support focuses on improving parliaments to be more representative and accountable, training parliamentarians on legislative scrutiny, gender equality, human rights, and sustainable development, and enhancing transparency with technology, data tools, and improved financial capacities.

Parliaments, by virtue of their unique mandate as elected representatives of the people, hold the potential to be true "game-changers" in translating our shared commitments into tangible actions.

In a fast-paced world, many citizens feel unheard and disconnected from political decision-making, highlighting challenges for parliamentarians in representing marginalized voices in SDG implementation. Growing global pressures demand stronger connections between parliaments and the public, as citizens increasingly look to them as stabilizing forces.

Spain’s “Parlamento 2030 initiative” offers an inspiring example. It documents all SDG-related activities in both parliamentary chambers in an accessible format for civil society. The platform tracks parliamentary actions and individual MPs' contributions, enabling stakeholders to monitor progress and hold Parliament accountable. In France, parliamentarians established a group called “Parliament and Citizens”. This initiative provides a platform for members of civil society to submit their opinions and suggestions directly to Parliament through an online portal.

Digital platforms are not just about the efficiency of communication but also about promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. By doing so, we can create a new model for governance that reflects the diverse voices of the people it serves.

The government holds primary responsibility for implementing the SDGs, but parliamentarians have a crucial role in ensuring sustainability is embedded in our legal framework.

Parliaments can assess and analyze laws for their compatibility with the SDGs. Ideally, we should conduct impact analyses for new laws, considering both sustainable development and human rights. 

To effectively integrate SDGs into legislation, consistent cooperation between parliamentary committees focused on sustainable development and the government is essential.

Parliaments in their work should address the interlinkages between SDGs, capitalizing on synergies while balancing trade-offs. One solution is appointing a rapporteur in each committee to coordinate cross-cutting issues, ensuring no legislative proposal contradicts the SDGs.

Countries take varied approaches to creating inter-parliamentary structures for advancing legislation towards the SDGs. In Malaysia, the All-Party Parliamentary Group unites members from different political backgrounds for joint efforts on sustainability. In India, parliamentary forums foster bipartisan collaboration on legislative initiatives aligned with the national SDG agenda.

These structures are more than mechanisms for discussion. They are platforms for dialogue, tools for accountability, and efficient legislative process. 

It is evident, that today many parliaments lack formal mechanisms to align national budgets with the SDG. Establishing sustainable budgeting is vital to ensure funds are directed toward priority areas, supporting both SDG implementation and strategic national aims.

To achieve this, it is essential to conduct a thorough analysis of the budget. Take, for example, the Austrian Parliament, where the budget office regularly assesses the budget’s effects on the SDGs, ensuring that financial resources are channeled effectively toward sustainable development goals.

Supreme audit institutions are key to assessing SDG implementation. In many countries, they provide detailed reports to Parliament, offering insights that shape budget and legislative priorities. In Finland, the National Audit Office collaborates closely with Parliament, presenting annual recommendations to strengthen SDG efforts. Similarly, Italy’s Court of Audit provides comprehensive reports, integrating monetary and non-monetary indicators for a holistic evaluation.

By harnessing the expertise of audit institutions, Parliament can align government actions with SDGs, ensuring public resources achieve maximum impact. As we move forward, we must consider how we can integrate such practices into our own budgetary processes, ensuring that our national budgets are not only financially sound but also aligned with our broader sustainable development commitments.

Dear Participants,

Globally, parliamentarians are coming together more often to share ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen governance through collaboration. And today’s regional meeting is a shining example.  

For Central Asia, it is particularly important that our parliaments unite around a shared SDG agenda. Enhanced partnership will ensure that our policies and actions are aligned to serve the best interests of our people and the region as a whole.

A unified SDG agenda will enable us to tackle urgent issues—such as climate change, economic growth, gender equality, and poverty reduction—in a coordinated and effective manner.

In conclusion, to strengthen the role of parliaments in advancing the SDGs, UNDP recommends the following:

First, build MPs’ capacities to promote SDGs locally through regional bodies, fostering grassroots support and implementation.

Second, mandate SDG assessments for all draft laws in parliamentary rules of procedure.

Third, enhance government collaboration by ensuring parliamentarians deeply engaged into SDG implementation national monitoring processes.

Fourth, adopt digital tools to engage citizens and gather feedback on SDG-related issues through efficient communication strategies.

Thank you for your attention!