The HLPF Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) Coordination Mechanism represents an evolution of the “model” of participation that was defined in the context of the Agenda 21, the United Nations action plan on sustainable development agreed at the Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro, 1992). It is a model that recognizes the need to different societal constituencies to engage and speak on their own terms without being conflated under a homogenizing umbrella, being that of civil society or non-state actors. This means that, while MGoS often aim to speak with a common voice, the process must be based on the distinct articulation in key social groups, with special focus on rights-holder constituencies.
The start of the implementation phase of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development also witnessed the establishent of the MGoS Coordination Mechanism, with an expansion from the original 9 Major Groups into a facilitation platform composed of 18 legitimate and inclusive societal constituencies, namely rights-holder groups and other key societal constituencies, regional engagement mechanisms organized to interact with the Regional Sustainable Development Fora, and thematic mechanisms that interface main thematic platforms related to the 2030 Agenda.
The MGoS Coordination Mechanism operates in accordance to the following terms of reference, which were last revised in March 2018, after the experience of the first two years:
MGoS Coordination Mechanism 