ECOSOC's High-level segment to focus on integrated approaches to rural development

As part of the annual substantive session held every year by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), this year's High-level segment will focus on the importance of a coordinated UN system approach to rural development in order to meet the internationally agreed development goals such as those established in the 2000 Millenium Declaration.

This approach will then be translated into policy guidelines to achieve these goals as well as those that stem from various UN summits and conferences.

During the High-level segment to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 30 June to 2 July, National cabinet ministers, chiefs of international agencies and other high officials will discuss topics related to a theme of global significance. This year's theme is: "Promoting an integrated approach to rural development in developing countries for poverty eradication and sustainable development".

Heads of major UN agencies, Ministers of Rural Development and Development Cooperation will participate in three simultaneous Ministerial roundtable discussions on:

• Sustainable rural development and natural resources management for poverty eradication
• Integrated approach on implementation of MDGs in the area of rural Development
• Global Partnerships for rural development

Other Ministerial roundtable discussions will allow the participation of representatives of Member States and civil society to explore more in depth issues related to the theme of the segment.

In order to better achieve the objectives of the High-level segment a series of preparatory meetings were successfully held. These meetings included two dialogue sessions. The first held on 24 March, was a brainstorming session on rural sustainable development. The second, held on 30 April, included a series of 7 Ministerial roundtable discussions where UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes had the opportunity to discuss on themes of critical importance for achieving rural development. Attendance to this last preparatory session was high and the Rome-based United Nations food agencies (FAO, IFAD, WFP) as well as the World Bank had a highly visible and very well-received presence. The Network published an article in its last update on the preparatory meetings to the high level segment that can be read here.

For more information on the High-level segment please click here.