SIOP United Nations Committee Attends the 2025 High-Level Political Forum

Submitted by SIOP United Nations Committee Chair Sara P. Weiner and SIOP United Nations Committee Student member Serena Zhou

In 2025, the SIOP United Nations Committee Chair Sara Weiner represented SIOP at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) (July 14–23, New York City).

The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in July 2025 offered a panoramic view of global and individual country progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Government representatives, UN agencies, economists, youth delegates, and civil-society groups gathered to review progress and identify collective gaps (United Nations, 2025).

There is a natural alignment between the UN SDGs and industrial-organizational psychology in the areas of good health and well-being (SDG 3), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10), among others. As SIOP is an Economic and Security Council (ECOSOC)-approved Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) providing consultative assistance to UN Staff, the HLPF offered the opportunity to identify additional ways in which SIOP could leverage the expertise of our members to assist the United Nations in achieving the SDGs.

Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs)

Thirty-five countries presented Voluntary National Reviews, outlining national strategies that intersect directly with workforce readiness, digital transformation, and decent work. I-O psychology’s expertise has global relevance in helping to achieve the SDGs: workforce development, leadership, gender equality, job quality, data-driven decisions, and organizational capability-building.

Here are just a few examples:

• Bangladesh: Technical and entrepreneurial skill development for youth
• Finland: Gender equality in managerial roles; and novel forms of work to support sustainable economic growth
• Lesotho: Economic inclusion for at-risk households through business support and financial products targeting women and youth
• Nigeria: Availability of timely, reliable, and disaggregated data to inform responsive policymaking

A Call for Accelerated Action

The Forum concluded with a Ministerial Declaration reaffirming global commitment to the SDGs and emphasizing the need for accelerated progress. Several persistent challenges emerged:

• A global annual SDG financing gap of ~$4 trillion
• Climate impacts outpacing mitigation efforts
• Inequalities in health, education, and economic opportunity
• Record levels of displacement and conflict
• The need for science-based, evidence-driven policy solutions

Speakers highlighted that sustainable development delivers not only social benefits but also substantial economic gains.

Why This Matters for I-O Psychology

For SIOP members, the key takeaway is that I-O educators, researchers, practitioners, and students can help design the systems, structures, and leadership practices that enable progress.

The SIOP United Nations Committee and SIOP member volunteers will continue to offer research, tools, and insights to the United Nations to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Reference

United Nations. (2025). 2025 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development: Ministerial declaration and proceedings. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.