Overview of PrepCom I decisions with regard to the outcomes of the Summit
In accordance with decisions of the first meeting of CSD10 action as the Preparatory Committee for the WSSD two types of outcomes are expected from the Johannesburg Summit and its preparatory process.
The first type would be in the form of documents to be negotiated by all States in the global Preparatory Committee:
The first draft document would assess overall progress achieved since Rio, identify major constrains and suggest measures to overcome these constraints. This document is also expected to address ways of strengthening institutional framework for sustainable development. Preparations of this document will take place during the second and third PrepComs.
The second draft final document is expected to reinvigorate political commitment to sustainable development and address new challenges and opportunities within the framework of Agenda 21. (preparation would start at the fourth PrepCom to be held in Indonesia at the Ministerial Level)
The second type of outcomes would consist of a series of commitments, targets and partnerships made by individual governments or groups of governments, at the regional and/or inter-regional level, as well as with involvement of or among major groups. Such commitments and partnerships would be announced during the partnership events scheduled to take place during the official meetings of the Summit and would be released as part of the Summit's outcomes.
Overview of PrepCom I decisions with regard to contributions from major groups to the Summit and its preparatory process
The PrepCom underscored the need for active involvement of major groups in the sessions of the Preparatory Committee and the Summit, and encouraged further initiatives by major groups, particularly those types of initiatives, which would result in new partnerships and commitments to sustainable development.
It was decided that contributions from major groups to the PrepCom, would be organized, inter alia, in the form of Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue Segments to be held during its second and fourth sessions. The focus of such Segments would be aligned with the issues to be dealt with by respective preparatory sessions. As for the Summit, it was decided that involvement of major groups would be organized, inter alia, in the form of a series of partnership events involving major groups as part of Plenary sessions to take place during the first week of the Summit and of a short multi-stakeholder event.
Modalities for major groups involvement in the meetings of the PrepCom aimed at ensuring their effective input to the expected outcomes of the Summit
Multi-Stakeholder dialogues organized as part of the second and fourth PrepComs need to produce results, which would effectively contribute both to the negotiated outcomes of the Summit (see "first type of outcomes” above) and to the "new partnerships and
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commitments" (see "second type of outcomes” above). This means that organization of work during the dialogues and the contents of discussions must create an environment, which leads to such desired outcomes.
a. Inputs to negotiated outcomes
In order to make a meaningful contribution to the "first type of outcomes" Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues need to result in inputs from major groups on:
(During the Second PrepCom) Assessment of the progress achieved, lessons learnt, identification of major constrains and suggestions with regard to measures to overcome such constraints.
(During the Fourth PrepCom) Ways of reinvigoration of political commitment to sustainable development and addressing new challenges and opportunities.
Such inputs from major groups would be brought to the attention of the intergovernmental process and considered in accordance with the rules of procedure and established practice.
b. New Partnerships and Commitments
In order to make a meaningful contribution to the "second type of outcomes" work on these outcomes should be seen as part of a continuing process which in many ways has already started and which will culminate during the Summit.
During the Second PrepCom: the dialogue sessions should provide an opportunity to share information on the on-going work and generate opportunities for new partnerships and commitments in the lead to the Summit.
During the Fourth PrepCom: the dialogue sessions should provide an opportunity to take stock of the results in fostering new partnerships and commitments (already developed and to be launched at the Summit). This would allow to decide which of such partnerships and commitment would be announced and discussed during the Summit, and how partnership events involving major groups, as well as the multi-stakeholder event during the Summit will be organized.
An important challenge here is to ensure that such "commitments and partnerships" are be tangible, measurable and time-bound, and not limited to "statements of good intentions".
The new format of the Segment determined by the Bureau- namely plenary sessions in the beginning and at closure and two simultaneous dialogue sessions in between - is designed in order to facilitate that the Segment results in inputs from major groups for both "types" of outcomes of the Summit.