The meeting of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, holds July of each year; including a three-day ministerial meeting of the forum. Effective implementation of Agenda 2030 and the SDGs will require access to knowledge and information, not only for policy makers and leaders to design well-informed and effective policies and strategies, but also for committed and engaged individuals around the world to guarantee that no one is left behind.
Each year during the High Level Political Forum, the Division for Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA/DSDG) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office co-organise the SDGs Learning, Training & Practice – a series capacity building, networking and experience-sharing learning sessions, featuring high-level speakers and experts from a number sectors on crucial topics related to the implementation of the SDGs under review in the HLPF.
The SDGs Learning, Training and Practice sessions aim at providing space for governments, academic institutions, think tanks and other stakeholders to offer learning and training sessions on sustainable development implementation during intergovernmental meetings at the United Nations. It also provides an opportunity for HLPF participants to acquire practical knowledge, information, skills, training as well as exchange of views on lessons learned, experiences and best practices to find effective sustainable solutions to challenges in their countries, communities, cities, villages and/or neighbourhoods.
Learning objectives:
- Knowledge and skills acquisition
- Networking
- Sharing experiences and peer to peer collaboration
- Learning about practical actions and best practices
- Capacity-building
- Practical policy integration and coherence
2026 SDGs in Practice
Since its introduction in 2016, the series has convened more than 100 training and learning sessions, delivered by a broad range of partners from across the United Nations system, governments, academic institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector. These sessions have sought to equip policymakers, practitioners and stakeholders with practical tools, methodologies and collaborative approaches to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 2026 edition builds on the decade of learning while responding to the growing urgency to accelerate progress as we approach the 2030 Agenda deadline. The 2026 edition of the SDGs in Practice series was be designed as a moment for reflection, consultation and forward-looking exchange on the capacities most needed to support implementation in the remaining years to 2030 and beyond.
The 2026 edition of SDGs in Practice was held fully virtually, enabling broad participation from stakeholders globally and ensuring accessibility for participants from all countries and diverse stakeholder groups.
More information on the 2026 session and the full recording is available here: 2026 SDGs in Practice
2025 SDGs Learning, Training, and Practice
UN DESA
The 2025 HLPF took place from 14 to 23 July 2025, under the auspices of ECOSOC, under the theme of “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind”.
The 2025 HLPF conducted in-depth reviews of the following SDGs:
SDG 3: Health and well-being
SDG 5: Gender Equality
SDG 8: Economic Growth and Decent Work
SDG 14: Life Below Water
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals)
All materials that are related to each session can be found here: 2025 SDGs Learning, Training, and Practice
All recordings for the sessions can be found below:
Session 2: Accelerating progress on SDG 5
Session 3: Green Growth and Resilience Building
Session 4: A Sustainable Blue Planet: Protecting, Innovating and Educating
Session 5: Inclusive Policies and Stakeholder Engagement for the 2030 Agenda
Session 6: Building country capacity for multi-stakeholder partnerships
Session 7: Strategic Foresight for Sustainable Development: Future-Proofing Policy and Partnerships
Session 9: Investing in multi-stakeholder Partnerships for the SDGs
Session 10: Digital Platforms and Data Innovation for SDG Implementation and Monitoring\
Session 11: Advancing Inclusive Data Systems: Strengthening Citizen Data for Impact
2024 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice
UN DESA
The 2024 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) was held 8-17 July 2024 under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The series brought together experts and practitioners to share knowledge, practical tools and experiences related to implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The sessions addressed topics including education and artificial intelligence, partnership building, national transformations, climate change and biodiversity, jobs and social protection, SDG monitoring and citizen-generated data.
The following SDGs were under review at the 2024 HLPF:
SDG 1: No poverty
SDG 2: Zero hunger
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 16: Justice and Strong Institutions
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
All materials that are related to each session can be found here: 2024 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice
All recordings for the sessions can be found below:
Session 2: Future of Education and Artificial Intelligence
Session 3: Partnership Building and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement
Session 5: Climate Change, Biodiversity loss and Pollution
Session 6: Jobs and Social Protection
2023 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice
The 2023 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) was held from Monday, 10 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2023, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The theme for the HLPF 2023 was “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”. In the forum, participants discussed the effective and inclusive recovery measures to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and explored actionable policy guidance for the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs at all levels.
The HLPF in 2023, without prejudice to the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the SDGs, reviewed the following SDGs in-depth:
- SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
- SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
- SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
All materials that are related to each session can be found here: 2023 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice
All recordings for the sessions can be found below:
Session 2 Accelerating SDG 6 implementation: Water Action Agenda and interlinkages with other SDGs:
Session 5 SDG Synergies: a tool to support decision making in implementing the 2030 Agenda
Session 7 Accelerating resilient recovery: Role of Infrastructure Sector and Entrepreneurship
Session 8 Enabling effective multi-stakeholder partnerships: for the Sustainable Development Goals
2022 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice
The 2022 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) was held from Tuesday, 5 July, to Thursday, 7 July, and from Monday, 11 July, to Friday, 15 July 2022, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The theme for the HLPF 2022 was “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The forum took into account the different and particular impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across all Sustainable Development Goals and the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the Goals.
The following SDGs were under review at the 2022 HLPF:
- SDG 4: Quality education
- SDG 5: Gender equality
- SDG 14: Life below water
- SDG 15: Life on land
- SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals
The 2022 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice special sessions were held in hybrid format: Opening Session and Session 1 was held in-person with webcast from UNTV, and Session 2-10 were fully virtual. Please find the recordings of all sessions below.
Session 5: Protecting our ocean: SDG 14 and its interlinkages
Session 6: Achieving gender equality: measuring progress and advocating for systems change
Session 10: Building strong and global partnerships to achieve the SDGs
More information on the 2022 session is available on the Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2022 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice webpage, including the event's Final Report and programme.
2021 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice
The 2021 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) was held from Tuesday, 6 July, to Thursday, 15 July 2021, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The theme for the HLPF 2022 was “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”.
The following SDGs were under review at the 2021 HLPF:
- SDG 1: No poverty
- SDG 2: Zero hunger
- SDG 3: Good health and well-being
- SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
- SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
- SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals
Please find the recordings of all sessions below.
Session 1: Opening Session: SDGs Learning and Training
Session 6: Mainstreaming SDGs 16+ in VNRs and national development planning
Session 8: Accelerating progress towards the SDGs through education
Session 10: Nuclear Disarmament and Our Sustainable Future
More information on the 2021 session is available on the Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2021 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice webpage, including the event's Final Report and programme.
2020 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice
The 2020 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) was held from Tuesday, 7 July, to Thursday, 16 July 2020, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The theme for the HLPF 2022 was “Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”.
In the 2020 HLPF, participants debated where we stand on the SDGs in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. They reflected on how the international community can respond to the pandemic in a way that puts us back on track to achieve the SDGs and accelerate progress during the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.
Please find the recordings of all sessions below.
Session 1: Opening of the SDGs Learning and Training for SDGs implementation in the COVID-19 era
Session 2: Developing transformational partnerships to catalyse SDGs implementation
Session 4: Food systems and nutrition patterns: biodiversity, resilience and food security
Session 8: Urban and peri-urban development: tools for SDGs localisation
More information on the 2020 session is available on the Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2020 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice webpage, including the event's Final Report and programme.
2019 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice
The 2019 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) was held from 9–18 July 2019, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The theme for the HLPF 2022 was “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality".
The following SDGs were under review at the 2019 HLPF:
- SDG 4: Quality education
- SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
- SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
- SDG 13: Climate action
- SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
- SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals
More information on the 2019 session is available on the Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2019 SDGs Learning, Training and Practice webpage, including the event's Final Report and programme.