Non-Aligned Movement has reiterated its commitment to the effective realizations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). NAM has recognised that recognized that the full implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda is critical for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets. The Addis Ababa Agenda, adopted by 193 UN Member States, provides a foundation for implementing the global sustainable development agenda, and marks a milestone in forging an enhanced global partnership that aims to foster universal, inclusive economic prosperity and improve people’s well-being while protecting the environment. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda includes important policy commitments and key deliverables in critical areas for sustainable development, including infrastructure, social protection and technology.

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda also established a Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) based on a multi-stakeholder collaboration between Member States, civil society, private sector, scientific community, United Nations entities and other stakeholders and will be composed of: a United Nations Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs, a collaborative Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs and an on-line platform. The TFM was officially launched in UN General Assembly resolution 70/1 in September 2015, which called on the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to convene the STI Forum once a year to discuss cooperation on STI around thematic areas for the implementation of the SDGs.

The TFM has three components: 1) The United Nations Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs: This aims to promote coordination, coherence, and cooperation within the UN System on STI related matters, enhancing synergy and efficiency, in particular to enhance capacity-building initiatives; 2) A collaborative Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum): The objective of this STI forum is to provide a venue for facilitating interaction, matchmaking and the establishment of networks between relevant stakeholders and multi- stakeholder partnerships in order to identify and examine technology needs and gaps, including on scientific cooperation, innovation and capacity building, and also in order to help facilitate development, transfer and dissemination of relevant technologies for the SDGs; 3) An online platform as a gateway for information on existing STI initiatives, mechanisms and programs: The online platform has been designed to facilitate access to information, knowledge and experience, as well as best practices and lessons learned, on STI facilitation initiatives and policies as well as dissemination of relevant open access scientific publications generated worldwide.

NAM has reiterated that TFM should address gaps throughout the full technology cycle – research, development, demonstration, market formation and diffusion – as well as all the steps involved in technology transfer, notably: (a) identification of the need and the technology of interest; (b) the potential sources, costs and negotiations for access; (c) the actual transfer of technology; (d) adaptation and learning to operate and maintain the technology; and (e) use and further upgrade of the acquired technologies.
NAM has also welcomed the convening of the multi- stakeholder forums on science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the mapping exercise carried out by the United Nations inter-agency task team on science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals.

NAM Member States have actively participated in the TFM. During the Fourth Annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals held on 14-15 May 2019 at UN Headquarters, New York, many NAM Member States outlined the SIT initiatives undertaken in their national capacity. Ecuador mentioned that the country developed regional hubs to break down silos between universities, and organizes competitions for research projects as a way to stimulate creativity and bring people together. Barbados said that it had created a Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Smart Technology, and outlined the challenges that the country faced, such as its sensitivity to external shocks, and the need to import key commodities. Egypt reported of hosting a UN Technology Innovation Lab.