Not specific, take broad-based approach to help countries implement SDGs: UN to donors

The UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development says the new SDGs will require a broad-based approach from donors to make them inclusive.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 16 July 2016, 04:37 AM
Updated : 16 July 2016, 11:26 AM

Dr David Nabarro said in a video conference from New York that donors were generally “very specific” in choosing their areas of activity.

The SDGs would require a “more horizontal approach”, as donors readjusted their pattern of assistance in the post-2015 era, he said.

The video conference was organised for the ongoing high-level political forum on sustainable development in New York.

The July 11-12 meeting was the first of its kind since last year’s historic adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs.

bdnews24.com asked him about the trend of donors commitment so far to help countries achieve those tough goals.

Dr Nabarro said he was spending “quite a large amount of time” interacting with them to assess the extent to which they were changing the pattern of their assistance in line with the SDGs.

He said lot of donors were adjusting their programmes. “I am still seeing that there is full commitment to the SDGs.”

It was an “an emerging and positive trend”, he added.

He, however, encouraged discussions in Bangladesh, where, he said, there was a “strong” donor community.

Spotlight on SDGs efforts

The ten-day Forum in New York brought together representatives from countries, businesses and civil society to share and discuss sustainable development plans and best practices.

The UN said this was ‘critical’ to the successful implementation of the goals.

The High-level Political Forum, the essential global forum for guiding efforts on the implementation of the Agenda, is examining the scope of efforts that are being put in place since the SDGs were unanimously adopted by world leaders.

The goals are part of an ambitious global undertaking to end poverty, address inequalities and tackle climate change over the next 15 years.

It is also aimed at leaving no one behind.

The adviser, replying to another question, said a “strong” economic governance system was essential since the agenda stressed redistribution of wealth so that no one is left behind.

He also emphasised the building of institutional capacity to make the pursuit of the agenda possible.

He said the UN and other entities were ready to help Bangladesh and other countries to make this happen.

He also underlined the need for “desegregated data” such as sex, income group, and livelihood group for some of the SDG indicators to ensure no one is left behind.

The New York meeting gives the opportunity to foster the exchange of best practices, mobilise support, and enable countries to accelerate progress toward achieving the SDGs.

It will end with the adoption of a ministerial declaration, according to the UN.