After two weeks of intense negotiations, Member States are set to agree the final post-2015 development agenda today in New York. This moment comes following three years of ongoing work to establish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and is the final step ahead of the UN Summit in September, when Heads of State will formally adopt the Agenda.

Sessions this week encouraged governments to resolve outstanding issues in several difficult areas, including the scope of the Declaration, addressing the means of implementation for the agenda, how to conduct follow up and review at all levels, whether or not to accept technical revisions to some SDGs targets, and finally, how to accommodate common but differentiated responsibility (CBDR).

Targets to reduce NCD mortality and promote mental health (3.4) and implement the FCTC (3.a) remain secure within the health goal (SDG 3), a landmark achievement for the NCD community.