Third SDG Dialogue “Reflections on the outcome of the global SDG Summit 2023 and the role of Supreme Audit Institutions in SDGs implementation”

• United efforts, political will and firm actions are needed to advance concrete, integrated and targeted policies and actions towards a sustainable and resilient path that leaves no one behind by 2030.
• Under the Government leadership, all stakeholders, including Supreme Audit Institutions, international partners, private sector, civil society and academia need to work together to support the implementation of Azerbaijan’s National Commitments for accelerated progress towards SDGs.
• Supreme Audit Institutions can be instrumental in ensuring the accountability of public institutions on SDG implementation performance.
• Ensuring predictable, sustainable and sufficient development finance as well as its effective use are critical for the achievement of SDGs.

On 24 October 2023 the third SDG Dialogue “Reflections on the outcome of the global SDG Summit 2023 and the role of Supreme Audit Institutions in SDGs implementation” was held bringing together more than 150 participants from government agencies, the United Nations (UN), Supreme Audit Institutions, international financial institutions (IFIs), the diplomatic community, the private sector, civil society and academia.

The participants of the event organised by the National Coordination Council on Sustainable Development of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Economy, and the UN, exchanged information and discussed the outcomes of the Global SDG Summit 2023 and the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development.

The Government of Azerbaijan extensively supported the global discussions and the Political Declaration of the SDG Summit 2023, and was one of the 32 countries in the world that submitted its National commitment to SDG Transformation, which builds on the Strategy of socio-economic development for 2022-2026, the first State Programme “The great return to the liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan”, the national efforts on introduction of Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), the Sustainable Finance Roadmap of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, the outcome documents of the first and second SDG Dialogues on green transformation and inclusive growth, as well as the Declaration from the 2nd International Mine Action and SDGs Conference.

At the third SDG Dialogue, members of the delegation of Azerbaijan at the global SDG Summit briefed on the Summit highlights and shared the National commitment on SDG Transformation submitted by Azerbaijan. The discussions held during the SDG Dialogue touched upon the measures needed for SDG acceleration and financing in Azerbaijan.

Globally, public spending is said to carry a critical role in financing of SDGs given that state budgets are the main instruments of financing development needs. Increasing number of countries in the world are taking measures to improve the effectiveness of public spending on SDGs. Accordingly, the third SDG Dialogue also focused on reviewing the SDG financing trends in Azerbaijan and the role of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) in monitoring of the performance of Government institutions in SDGs implementation as well as the effectiveness of public expenditures on SDGs. It brought together the representatives of SAIs from other countries to share their experiences in performance audits and ensuring the effectiveness of public spending on SDGs.

Given that the SAI of Azerbaijan undertook performance audit on five SDGs in 2021 and 2022, the third SDG Dialogue facilitated a platform to share the early findings of these audit exercises with stakeholders and the broader audience. Performance audits conducted by SAI of Azerbaijan included:

1. An efficiency audit of the State Service for Development and Restoration under the Ministry of Culture, focusing on the effectiveness of the "2014-2020 State Program on the restoration and protection of historical and cultural monuments".
2. An evaluation of forest management under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, which highlighted deficiencies in the legislative framework, administrative activities, and forest restoration practices impacting the national SDGs implementation.
3. An audit assessing the new subsidy mechanism in horticulture, indicating shortcomings in administrative management despite efforts to create conditions for success.
4. Performance audits evaluating chronic kidney disease activities and the improvement of surface water supply for agriculture, both revealing inefficiencies in administrative management and insufficiently organized measures in achieving desired outcomes within specified timeframes.

Detailed reports of these performance audits are provided on the INTOSAI Atlas on SDGs.

Looking ahead

A whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is needed to ensure that all stakeholders, including Government institutions, Supreme Audit Institutions, UN, international partners, private sector, civil society and academia work together to implement Azerbaijan’s National Commitments for accelerated progress towards SDGs. The UN Family in Azerbaijan will continue to work side-by-side with partners to achieve inclusive sustainable development. In line with the SDG Summit commitment on enhancing SDG financing, the UN looks forward to further expand the collaboration with the Ministries of Economy and Finance on implementing Integrated National Financing Framework. Azerbaijan’s plan to submit the Fourth Voluntary National Review of SDG implementation in 2024 is also welcome and the UN will support this important exercise.