On March 3, 2020, the Joint SDG Fund, the European Union Delegation to the International Organisations in Vienna, the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens and the OPEC Fund for International Development came together for a joint event and an interactive panel discussion on “Mobilising to Advance the SDGs”. The joint event was hosted by the EU and the European Commission in the prestigious Europe House in Vienna with the participation of more than 100 invited guests from the Vienna diplomatic community and civil society.
European Union and Joint SDG Fund join with institutional partners in Vienna "Mobilising to Advance the SDGs”
The welcoming remarks were delivered by H.E. Ambassador DDr. Stephan Klement, the EU Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation in Vienna, and DDr. Wolfgang Bogensberger, Deputy Head of the EC Representation in Austria. They emphasized that successful implementation of SDGs requires effective multilateralism and a rules-based international order which defends universal values. They also highlighted the fact that the EU and EU Member States were leading contributors to the Joint SDG Fund and encouraged others to contribute to the Fund.
The former President of the Republic of Austria and Co-Chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre, H.E. Dr Heinz Fischer, delivered the opening remarks. Moderator, Ms. Mona Ali Khalil, an international consultant and former UN official, opened the panel and led the interactive dialogue and welcomed the emerging partnership between the Joint SDG Fund, EU, OPEC Fund and BKMC in Vienna as an embodiment of SDG 17.
The Panelists - Ms. Katrin Harvey (BKMC), Dr. Walid Mehalaine (OPEC Fund) and Mr. Gautam Babbar (UNOV/UNODC) described the impacts their respective organizations were working towards in advancing the SDGs on the ground. On behalf of the Joint SDG Fund, Mr. Babbar described the Fund’s efforts to end poverty through integrated strategies that build economic growth, mainstream human rights, and address social needs including education, health, social protection and job opportunities while, protecting the environment and tackling climate change. He reported that the Joint SDG Fund aims to mobilize $290 million and has competitively chosen 36 joint programmes which are being implemented by 16 UN entities, in partnerships with 616 organizations; with the support of 41 private sector organizations; and 33 investments of international financing institutions.
