European Economic
and Social Committee
Portugal
National Strategy / Action Plan
There is no National Strategy / Action Plan in Portugal
CSO platform(s)
Lead Government Body
national ESC(s)
SD council or equivalent
Performance
There is no Performance in Portugal
Summary
- Each specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has been allocated to a coordinating Ministry responsible for its implementation, monitoring and review
- Civil society organisations have been very active in contributing to the implementation of the SDG but unclear how it is involved in monitoring.
- Conferences organised by the national Economic and Social Council (nESC) on the issues of water and climate change, natality and adult education in 2018.
Description of the initiative
Actors
Actors
Institutional framework
Institutional framework
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was responsible for coordinating the national position for the drafting of the 2030 Agenda. However, its implementation at the national level required changes to be introduced in the institutional coordination among the different ministries involved.
In this regard, a first internal guideline for the 2030 Agenda implementation was prepared on February 2016. In order to align the two lines of actions of the Agenda 2030 (the internal and the external ones).The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assumed the overall coordination, together with the Ministry of Planning and Infrastructures.
Additionally, the Interministerial Commission for Foreign Policies (CIPE) acts as the headquarters and forum for interministerial coordination, both for the SDG implementation and for the preparation of the reports that will support national, regional and global monitoring processes.
Moreover, the Portuguese Environment Agency is responsible for promoting the implementation of public policies promoting SD and plays a relevant role in disseminating information on the matter.
The National Sustainable Development Strategy was adopted in 2007.
The Portuguese Environment Agency published in 2015 the policy orientations for promoting Sustainable Development at national level.
In order to promote its implementation, each specific SDG has been allocated to a coordinating Ministry responsible for its implementation, monitoring and review. In parallel, constant dialogue with other ministries and stakeholders is promoted with a view to implementing the Agenda in an integrated and inclusive manner. In this regard, a network of focal points from different government departments has been established to better coordinate and ensure an efficient exchange of information between ministries.
New measures are being taken to implement the SDGs. For instance in August 2018 a new National Strategy for Education for Development was adopted with the specific aim of integrating the SDGs into policies, processes and actions.
Role of civil society
Role of civil society
A public consultation (involving more than 130 organisations) was organised on the 2030 Agenda implementation at the national and local levels in 2016. This process was led by a group of non-governmental organisations from Portuguese civil society to prepare for the operationalisation, evaluation and monitoring of the Agenda.
In March 2017 a seminar with civil society representatives was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The aim of the event was to present the inter-ministerial work, provide information about the methodology used for drafting the Voluntary National Review report and the next steps to be taken in preparation for the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
The Alliance for SDGs Portugal, coordinated by UN Global Compact Network Portugal, brings together personalities and organisations from different sectors to support the implementation of the SDGs. Its purpose is to raise awareness, inform, implement, monitor and evaluate the contribution of the private sector and other civil society partners to the SDGs at national level.
The Entrepreneurial Council for the Sustainable Development is a platform representing private sector companies committed with sustainable development that supports the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
There is also a National Platform of NGOs for development (ONGD).
SD council or equivalent
SD council or equivalent
CNADS was set up by decree law n. 221/97 and reformed by the decree law 136/2004.
CNADS aims at advising Government members responsible for the environment and the sustainable development, public entities and NGOs on all matters associated with the environment and sustainable development. It is also a forum for the design and implementation of environmental and sustainable development policies.
The CNADS, by its own initiative or by request of the members of the Government responsible for the environment, public authorities or environmental organizations, develops sustained analysis and recommendations/reflections on issues related to the environment and sustainable development Policies and Laws.
CNADS is an independent body that has 36 members (designated by central and regional governments and more than 2/3 designated by civil society, including NGO, local communities, universities, business and trade unions).
The President of the CNADS is appointed by the Council of Ministers and empowered by the Prime Minister.
To highlight the independent character of the Council, once appointed to a three-year term mandate, the President or the members of the CNADS are irremovable and independent.
Since its creation, CNADS has issued a total of 135 advises, reflections and recommendations.
CNADS, once issued an Analysis or Reflection, transmits it primarily to the Government, Presidency of the Republic and Parliament. Following the document is released to stakeholders and public in general through media, thus contributing to the debate and public awareness.
CNADS is also frequently called to the Parliament to participate in hearings of parliamentary committees of Environment and Land Use Management, Agriculture and Sea and Economy, among others.
CNADS has been formally responsible for monitoring of the National Strategy for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity and the National Strategy for the Environment and Sustainable Development.
CNADS is in charge of the coordination of SDG local a dynamic, technology-based online tool that allows municipalities to monitoring, analyzing, visualizing and communicating their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and targets.
-NADS also organises events in relation to Sustainable Development.
National Economic & Social Councils
National Economic & Social Council
The role of the nESC is described in the Portuguese Constitution (article 92) which grants the ESC two types of competencies, one consultative and the other of social concertation.
The ESC work is carried out by its bodies, namely the Chairman, Plenary, the Specialised Standing Committee on Social and Economic Policy, the Specialised Standing Committee for Regional Development and Land Planning, the Coordinating Board, the Administrative Board and the Social Concertation Standing Committee, which works independently of the ESC, which is tasked with providing the former with logistic and administrative support.
This mainly involves issuing opinions on legislative or policy drafts and fostering social dialogue and negotiation between the Government and Social Partners.
The nESC is not involved in the drafting of a long-term national plan or sustainable development strategy.
The nESC has issued several opinions and reports on matters related to SD for instance a recent one on the water challenges for the Portuguese society
The nESC confirmed that the CSOs have been very active in contributing to the implementation of the SDG.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Monitoring & Evaluation
UN SDSN SDG Index Country Profile
Portugal ranks 26th in the SDG global ranking of 2019.
The Sustainable Development Indicators (SDI) have been used as a tool to monitor the National Strategy for Sustainable Development. The nationally developed indicators can be consulted in the following link.
Portugal carried out the Voluntary National Review in 2017.
Civil society organisations were not involved in drafting the Review, but being aware of the holistic and inclusive nature of this exercise, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised, on 29 March 2017, a multi-stakeholder seminar bringing together representatives of civil society. The purpose of this event was to present the inter-ministerial work, provide information about the methodology used for drafting the present report as well as the next steps be taken in preparation for the UN High-level Political Forum, and hear the participating organisations’ views on how the 2030 Agenda has been Integrated into their own activities.
Portugal's Voluntary National Review can be accessed here.