Pointing to climate change, inequalities and other serious challenges, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told a forum on Thursday Development that ¡°the clock is ticking¡± down, to making the??for Sustainable Development.
¡°Climate change is ravaging the planet¡ staggering numbers of children and youth ¨C especially girls and young women ¨C still lack access to basic education and healthcare services, [and] people in many countries are starved of economic opportunities, decent work and social protection measures¡±, she told the ?2019?, where governments, business representatives and other influencers met to discuss how partnerships can best advance and the 17 ().
Under the theme, ¡°Partnerships Driving Inclusive Implementation of the SDGs¡±, the Forum will capture key policy messages to inform the High-level Political Forum () in in September.
¡°Our task is immense, but many of the pathways to change are in plain sight¡±, she asserted, adding that while ¡°success is still possible¡±, it requires difficult conversations around ¡°the need to fill partnership skillset gaps, tackle financing shortfalls, and address data deficiencies¡±.
The economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development call for ¡°a fully integrated approach¡± that engages everyone.
¡°Partnerships are critical for achieving progress across the full agenda¡± stressed Ms. Mohammed, calling??on partnerships, ¡°the ¡®connective tissue¡¯ which will ensure an integrated and holistic approach to sustainable development¡±.
The deputy UN chief shared four points for discussion, beginning with a commitment between the UN, governments, private sector and civil society to work together in a more coordinated and integrated way.
¡°The transformation we need requires us to acknowledge that everyone is a development actor,¡± she argued. ¡°Governments alone cannot achieve the SDGs¡±.
Secondly, she pointed to the need to prioritize investments in platforms and coalitions that engage a larger ecosystem of partners.
¡°Investments in cross-cutting, high-return priorities have strong potential to unlock progress across multiple SDGs¡±, she stated, flaggin a range of areas, from quality education and health services to zero-carbon energy and environmental conservation.
Ms. Mohammad¡¯s third point focused on leadership, innovation and strategic collaborations ¡°at the local level¡±.
¡°We must draw on the knowledge and experience of local communities and actors on the ground to ensure that we replicate and scale up the most promising models¡±, she emphasized.
Ensuring that the process to socialize the SDGs and strengthen ownership is ¡°inclusive, transparent and accountable¡±, was her final point.
¡°All stakeholders, big or small should find a place to play their role and make their contribution¡±, she maintained.
She urged everyone to ¡°reflect honestly about where we are falling short, because those shortcomings are also where the opportunities lie to make a difference¡±.
¡°Only with this kind of pragmatic approach will we realize our aspiration of leaving no one behind¡±, said Ms. Mohammed, with the reminder that promoting equitable access and equal participation by all, including the most marginalized, ¡°is a fundamental ethic of the SDG era¡±.
Turning to capacity-building for vulnerable groups, she encouraged the forum to apply ¡°a lens of inclusion and empowerment¡± to ensure that they ¡°are put in the driver¡¯s seat for SDG implementation¡±.
Recalling that young people, particularly women and entrepreneurs, are at the forefront of SDG progress, the Deputy Secretary-General concluded: ¡°Let¡¯s make sure we listen carefully to their vision and draw inspiration from their determination and commitment to creating a better world¡±.
Source: UN News