BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a52acb20abca DTSTART:20220302T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20220302T160000Z LOCATION:Online\, SUMMARY:Consultative Group Meeting on national infrastructure for high qual ity sustainability reporting CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:UNCTAD organized a virtual Consultative Group meeting on 2nd an d 3rd of March 2022 to build on the work already accomplished with the dev elopment of sustainability/SDG reporting related tools and activities impl emented in the beneficiary countries of its technical assistance programme on Enabling policy frameworks for enterprise sustainability and SDG repor ting in Africa and Latin America and regional workshops held in Africa and Latin America. Experts from Africa\, Latin America and other regions shar ed their views and experience regarding their efforts to implement a susta inability reporting mechanism at the national level and provided comments and suggestions for the development of a policy recommendations document w hich will also contain main lessons learned and good practices in addressi ng practical implementation aspects pertaining to policymaking\, regulatio n\, and institutional and human capacity-building to establish and strengt hen the national infrastructure for high quality sustainability reporting.  \n\nDuring the discussions at the Consultative Group meeting\, experts h ighlighted that most countries are just starting their sustainability repo rting journey and they face constraints in terms of the resources availabl e at the national level to strengthen the sustainability reporting infrast ructure. Despite the challenges faced\, participants agreed on the importa nce of ensuring the quality of sustainability reporting and its reliabilit y\, relevance\, and comparability in order to avoid greenwashing and promo te sustainable behavior of companies.\n\nIn their efforts to establish and strengthen their national sustainability reporting infrastructure\, count ries face regulatory\, institutional and capacity building challenges.\n\n Key regulatory challenges include the need to move from voluntary to manda tory sustainability reporting and the fact that non-listed companies and S MEs represent the majority of companies in developing countries. Therefore : \n\n\nThey see a need to differentiate categories or segments of entiti es with corresponding requirements. In the case of SMEs\, a simplified sus tainability reporting framework or recommendations would be needed. \nThe y believe a transitional approach is necessary to allow countries and enti ties to get ready and start reporting. \n\n\nConcerning institutional cha llenges\, experts stressed the need:\n-    For an inclusive and collabo rative process at the national level with engagement of the public and pri vate sectors and leadership from the government. \n-    For countries to identify or establish an entity in charge of sustainability reporting.  \n\nFinally on the human capacity challenges\, experts underscored the n eed:\n-    To increase general awareness on sustainability topics\, inc luding stressing the importance of sustainability reporting to policymaker s.\n-     To build technical skills in the sustainability reporting are a for accountancy professionals\, students and regulators. In this regard\ , SMEs will require additional support.\n\nThe inputs received from partic ipants will be included in the policy guideline and will also feed into IS AR'\;s communication with the ISSB on key challenges for developing co untries in the adoption of international sustainability reporting standard s.\n<\;p>\;UNCTAD organized a virtual Consultative Group meeting on 2n d and 3rd of March 2022 to build on the work already accomplished with the development of sustainability/SDG reporting related tools and activities implemented in the beneficiary countries of its technical assistance progr amme on <\;em>\;Enabling policy frameworks for enterprise sustainabili ty and SDG reporting in Africa and Latin America <\;/em>\;and regional workshops held in Africa and Latin America. Experts from Africa\, Latin A merica and other regions shared their views and experience regarding their efforts to implement a sustainability reporting mechanism at the national level and provided comments and suggestions for the development of a poli cy recommendations document which will also contain main lessons learned a nd good practices in addressing practical implementation aspects pertainin g to policymaking\, regulation\, and institutional and human capacity-buil ding to establish and strengthen the national infrastructure for high qual ity sustainability reporting.&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;During the discussions at the Consultative Group meeting\, experts highlighted t hat most countries are just starting their sustainability reporting journe y and they face constraints in terms of the resources available at the nat ional level to strengthen the sustainability reporting infrastructure. Des pite the challenges faced\, participants agreed on the importance of ensur ing the quality of sustainability reporting and its reliability\, relevanc e\, and comparability in order to avoid greenwashing and promote sustainab le behavior of companies.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;In their efforts to es tablish and strengthen their national sustainability reporting infrastruct ure\, countries face regulatory\, institutional and capacity building chal lenges.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;Key regulatory challenges include the ne ed to move from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting and the fa ct that non-listed companies and SMEs represent the majority of companies in developing countries. Therefore:&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;ul>\ ;\n<\;li>\;They see a need to differentiate categories or segments of entities with corresponding requirements. In the case of SMEs\, a simplifi ed sustainability reporting framework or recommendations would be needed.& amp\;nbsp\;<\;/li>\;\n<\;li>\;They believe a transitional approach is necessary to allow countries and entities to get ready and start repor ting.&\;nbsp\;<\;/li>\;\n<\;/ul>\;\n\n<\;p>\;Concerning ins titutional challenges\, experts stressed the need:<\;br />\;\n-&\;n bsp\;&\;nbsp\; &\;nbsp\;For an inclusive and collaborative process a t the national level with engagement of the public and private sectors and leadership from the government.&\;nbsp\;<\;br />\;\n-&\;nbsp\;& amp\;nbsp\; &\;nbsp\;For countries to identify or establish an entity i n charge of sustainability reporting.&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p> \;Finally on the human capacity challenges\, experts underscored the need: <\;br />\;\n-&\;nbsp\;&\;nbsp\; &\;nbsp\;To increase general awareness on sustainability topics\, including stressing the importance of sustainability reporting to policymakers.<\;br />\;\n-&\;nbsp\;&am p\;nbsp\; &\;nbsp\; To build technical skills in the sustainability rep orting area for accountancy professionals\, students and regulators. In th is regard\, SMEs will require additional support.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p> \;The inputs received from participants will be included in the policy gui deline and will also feed into ISAR'\;s communication with the ISSB on key challenges for developing countries in the adoption of international sustainability reporting standards.<\;/p>\;\n\n\nView meeting on uncta d.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/consultative-group-meeting-national-infr astructure-high-quality-sustainability-reporting DTSTAMP:20260711T205058Z END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a52acb20ac21 DTSTART:20220303T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20220303T160000Z LOCATION:Online\, SUMMARY:Consultative Group Meeting on national infrastructure for high qual ity sustainability reporting CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:UNCTAD organized a virtual Consultative Group meeting on 2nd an d 3rd of March 2022 to build on the work already accomplished with the dev elopment of sustainability/SDG reporting related tools and activities impl emented in the beneficiary countries of its technical assistance programme on Enabling policy frameworks for enterprise sustainability and SDG repor ting in Africa and Latin America and regional workshops held in Africa and Latin America. Experts from Africa\, Latin America and other regions shar ed their views and experience regarding their efforts to implement a susta inability reporting mechanism at the national level and provided comments and suggestions for the development of a policy recommendations document w hich will also contain main lessons learned and good practices in addressi ng practical implementation aspects pertaining to policymaking\, regulatio n\, and institutional and human capacity-building to establish and strengt hen the national infrastructure for high quality sustainability reporting.  \n\nDuring the discussions at the Consultative Group meeting\, experts h ighlighted that most countries are just starting their sustainability repo rting journey and they face constraints in terms of the resources availabl e at the national level to strengthen the sustainability reporting infrast ructure. Despite the challenges faced\, participants agreed on the importa nce of ensuring the quality of sustainability reporting and its reliabilit y\, relevance\, and comparability in order to avoid greenwashing and promo te sustainable behavior of companies.\n\nIn their efforts to establish and strengthen their national sustainability reporting infrastructure\, count ries face regulatory\, institutional and capacity building challenges.\n\n Key regulatory challenges include the need to move from voluntary to manda tory sustainability reporting and the fact that non-listed companies and S MEs represent the majority of companies in developing countries. Therefore : \n\n\nThey see a need to differentiate categories or segments of entiti es with corresponding requirements. In the case of SMEs\, a simplified sus tainability reporting framework or recommendations would be needed. \nThe y believe a transitional approach is necessary to allow countries and enti ties to get ready and start reporting. \n\n\nConcerning institutional cha llenges\, experts stressed the need:\n-    For an inclusive and collabo rative process at the national level with engagement of the public and pri vate sectors and leadership from the government. \n-    For countries to identify or establish an entity in charge of sustainability reporting.  \n\nFinally on the human capacity challenges\, experts underscored the n eed:\n-    To increase general awareness on sustainability topics\, inc luding stressing the importance of sustainability reporting to policymaker s.\n-     To build technical skills in the sustainability reporting are a for accountancy professionals\, students and regulators. In this regard\ , SMEs will require additional support.\n\nThe inputs received from partic ipants will be included in the policy guideline and will also feed into IS AR'\;s communication with the ISSB on key challenges for developing co untries in the adoption of international sustainability reporting standard s.\n<\;p>\;UNCTAD organized a virtual Consultative Group meeting on 2n d and 3rd of March 2022 to build on the work already accomplished with the development of sustainability/SDG reporting related tools and activities implemented in the beneficiary countries of its technical assistance progr amme on <\;em>\;Enabling policy frameworks for enterprise sustainabili ty and SDG reporting in Africa and Latin America <\;/em>\;and regional workshops held in Africa and Latin America. Experts from Africa\, Latin A merica and other regions shared their views and experience regarding their efforts to implement a sustainability reporting mechanism at the national level and provided comments and suggestions for the development of a poli cy recommendations document which will also contain main lessons learned a nd good practices in addressing practical implementation aspects pertainin g to policymaking\, regulation\, and institutional and human capacity-buil ding to establish and strengthen the national infrastructure for high qual ity sustainability reporting.&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;During the discussions at the Consultative Group meeting\, experts highlighted t hat most countries are just starting their sustainability reporting journe y and they face constraints in terms of the resources available at the nat ional level to strengthen the sustainability reporting infrastructure. Des pite the challenges faced\, participants agreed on the importance of ensur ing the quality of sustainability reporting and its reliability\, relevanc e\, and comparability in order to avoid greenwashing and promote sustainab le behavior of companies.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;In their efforts to es tablish and strengthen their national sustainability reporting infrastruct ure\, countries face regulatory\, institutional and capacity building chal lenges.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;Key regulatory challenges include the ne ed to move from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting and the fa ct that non-listed companies and SMEs represent the majority of companies in developing countries. Therefore:&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;ul>\ ;\n<\;li>\;They see a need to differentiate categories or segments of entities with corresponding requirements. In the case of SMEs\, a simplifi ed sustainability reporting framework or recommendations would be needed.& amp\;nbsp\;<\;/li>\;\n<\;li>\;They believe a transitional approach is necessary to allow countries and entities to get ready and start repor ting.&\;nbsp\;<\;/li>\;\n<\;/ul>\;\n\n<\;p>\;Concerning ins titutional challenges\, experts stressed the need:<\;br />\;\n-&\;n bsp\;&\;nbsp\; &\;nbsp\;For an inclusive and collaborative process a t the national level with engagement of the public and private sectors and leadership from the government.&\;nbsp\;<\;br />\;\n-&\;nbsp\;& amp\;nbsp\; &\;nbsp\;For countries to identify or establish an entity i n charge of sustainability reporting.&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p> \;Finally on the human capacity challenges\, experts underscored the need: <\;br />\;\n-&\;nbsp\;&\;nbsp\; &\;nbsp\;To increase general awareness on sustainability topics\, including stressing the importance of sustainability reporting to policymakers.<\;br />\;\n-&\;nbsp\;&am p\;nbsp\; &\;nbsp\; To build technical skills in the sustainability rep orting area for accountancy professionals\, students and regulators. In th is regard\, SMEs will require additional support.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p> \;The inputs received from participants will be included in the policy gui deline and will also feed into ISAR'\;s communication with the ISSB on key challenges for developing countries in the adoption of international sustainability reporting standards.<\;/p>\;\n\n\nView meeting on uncta d.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/consultative-group-meeting-national-infr astructure-high-quality-sustainability-reporting DTSTAMP:20260711T205058Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR