Introduction

 Governance plays a key role in achieving sustainable development through promoting accountability, transparency, efficiency as well as ensuring the rule of law at all levels. In addition, good governance allows for effective management of human, physical and financial resources to achieve equitable and sustainable development, while ensuring the engagement of civil society and the private sector in decision-making processes. Indeed, the latest developments in the international and regional arena have produced a number of key issues related to governance and its importance for achieving sustainable development. In this regard, the Institute of National Planning is organizing a specialized international conference on "Governance and Sustainable Development", which will be held in Cairo during June 3-4, 2023.

Themes

The research papers that will be presented in the conference and its panel discussions address a range of topics and issues on the role of governance in supporting the ability to achieve sustainable development in its three economic, social and environmental dimensions. These topics are addressed through reviewing global, regional, or national experiences and expertise, at both the macro and sectoral levels. The topics presented at the conference are classified into five main themes, each of which discusses a range of issues as follows:

• First Theme: Conceptual and Methodological Issues on the Relationship between Governance and Sustainable Development

1. Theoretical and conceptual framework of the relationship between governance and sustainable development
2. Governance applications in the areas of public planning and public policymaking to achieve the goals of sustainable development
3. Methodological issues on how to measure the relationship between governance and sustainable development
4. Interdimensional and multidimensional impacts of governance reforms on sustainable development, for example:

• The impact of governance on poverty, social justice and economic growth
• The impact of governance of health and education systems on economic growth
• The impact of public budget governance on social justice

5. Impact of governance on the progress in achieving the sustainable development goals: empirical studies using international indicators
6. Applications of smart/digital governance to support sustainable development
7. Data management governance to support sustainable development
8. Governance and the Fourth Industrial Revolution
9. Good governance for promoting the transition to a green economy and supporting sustainable development
10. Governance of the SDGs in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era
11. Governance and global crisis management
12. Global opportunities and challenges in employing governance to serve the SDGs

• Second Theme: Approaches to Strengthening Governance Mechanisms for Achieving Sustainable Development

1. Quantifying the risks, causes and effects of corruption and studying anti-corruption mechanisms to support sustainable development
2. Pioneering international and regional experiences in promoting accountability mechanisms, the rule of law, political participation and ensuring rights and freedoms in order to serve sustainable development
3. Updating and improving the quality of legislative frameworks as an entry point to governance systems that support sustainable development
4. Transparency and freedom of information as a pillar of governance systems that support sustainable development
5. Governance of local administration to support sustainable development
6. Decentralization as an approach to strengthening governance and supporting sustainable development: international and regional experiences
7. Challenges and mechanisms of governance of the state’s administrative apparatus
8. Prerequisites of governance reforms and the determinants of their success
9. Global challenges to the development of governance systems
10. International and regional cooperation for developing the governance systems

• Third Theme: Role of Governance in Supporting the Economic Dimension of Sustainable Development

1. The role of governance in increasing employment opportunities and providing decent jobs
2. The relationship between governance, economic growth and economic development
3. Governance and foreign direct investment
4. Governance and efficiency of institutions to support the business environment and the competitiveness of the economy
5. Applications of governance in the domain of government budget for improving fiscal performance and fiscal sustainability:

• Governance for improving the efficiency of government spending
• Governance of tax administration systems
• Governance of public debt management
• Budgetary institutions (i.e., fiscal rules, fiscal transparency, budget comprehensiveness and credibility, financial controls, internal and external audit) and their role in improving the country’s fiscal performance

6. Governance applications in public-private partnership (PPP) projects
7. Governance applications to enhance the performance of the financial sector (i.e., banking and non-banking financial institutions) and achieving financial inclusion
8. Governance of public utilities and infrastructure for sustainable development
9. Governance for improving the effectiveness of economic reform programs and improving the quality of public policy reforms
10. Governance and the effectiveness of grants and foreign aid programs
11. Governance for promoting the transition towards a digital economy
12. The quality of legislations that govern investment, public planning and public finance to maximize their economic impact
13. Economic impacts of implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles

• Fourth Theme: Role of Governance in Supporting the Social Dimension of Sustainable Development

1. The relationship between governance and equity in the distribution of income, within or between countries
2. The role of governance in poverty reduction
3. Governance and gender equality
4. Governance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their activities to support sustainable development
5. The quality of legislations governing non-governmental and civil society organizations (NGOs & CSOs) to maximize their social impact on development
6. The relationship between governance, human development, social capital and social cohesion
7. Social impact of implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) mechanisms
8. Applications of governance in social services sectors:

• Governance for improving the effectiveness of social protection programs, including the protection of the rights of children, people with disability and vulnerable groups
• Governance for better education for all
• Governance for promoting well-being and good health for all
• Governance of the media, social media, and cultural systems
• Governance of the youth and sports sector

Fifth Theme: Role of Governance in Supporting the Environmental Dimension of Sustainable Development

1. Governance for strengthening the capacity to address environmental and climate challenges:

• The role of governance in reducing environmental pollution and improving environmental quality
• The role of governance in enhancing resilience to the challenges of climate change
• Modern tools and applications for environmental and climate governance
• Governance of green finance for sustainable development

2. Governance for supporting the sustainable use of natural resources:

• Governance and the efficient pricing of energy and water resources
• The role of governance in facing global challenges of water and energy security
• Governance for promoting the transition to new and renewable energy sources
• Governance of land use

3. The quality of environmental legislations and strengthening their role in achieving the environmental goals of sustainable development
4. Analyses of the environmental impact of fiscal policies and the design of green fiscal reforms
5. Assessments of the environmental and social impacts of public policies and government investments
6. The role of community participation in supporting governance mechanisms in the environment sector
7. Governance applications for supporting sustainable patterns of production and consumption