Home ›› 09 Oct 2021 ›› Opinion
The UN-sponsored Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has conferred Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the “SDGs Progress Award” for Bangladesh’s steady advance in responding to the universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all. The event is a significant international acknowledgment of the country’s success in spearheading the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) after achievements in the fields of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Bangladesh has ranked 109th on the SDGs Index 2021, ahead of India (120th), Pakistan (129th), and Afghanistan (137th) in South Asia. In South Asia, Bangladesh ranked fifth with a score of 63.5 out of 100. The SDR 2021, including the SDGs Index and Dashboards, which was released recently, is a complement to the official SDGs indicators and the Voluntary National Review (VNR) published by Cambridge University Press.
East and South Asia have progressed more on the SDGs than any other region, since the adoption of the goals in 2015. However, the three individual countries that have progressed most on the SDGs Index score are Bangladesh, Ivory Coast, and Afghanistan. By contrast, the three countries that have declined the most are Venezuela, Tuvalu, and Brazil. Six significant challenges are facing the country with the goal of sustainable development. However, the SDGs dashboard indicates Bangladesh has achieved SDG-12 and 13. The SDGs, also known as Global Goals, were adopted by the UN in 2015 as a universal call of action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. However, the progress report on the SDGs said that the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide was hampering the achievement of the set development targets. In the meantime, Bangladesh has maintained a positive trend in many social indicators.
One of the goals of the SDGs is to eradicate poverty, ensure food security, ensure good health, improved education, and prevent gender inequality. Finland is in the best position on the list. The country’s score is 85.9 percent. The next four countries are Sweden (85.6 per cent), Denmark (74.9 per cent), Germany (72.5 per cent), and Belgium (72.2 per cent). The most backward Central African Republic has a score of 36.28 percent. Before that, there are South Sudan and Chad.
Bangladesh has already become an example in various social progress indices. Intensive management of natural disasters, use of microcredit and its role in poverty alleviation, tree plantation, positive changes in social and economic indicators, etc. have become examples for the rest of the world. Bangladesh’s success in education, women’s empowerment, reduction of maternal and child mortality and birth rates, provision of toilets and health facilities for the poor, and immunisation of children is indeed praiseworthy.
However, there is no reason to be complacent. In the country, 31 percent of children under the age of five are still underweight and 22 percent of children under the age of five are underweight. In the city - poverty, and overcrowding, in the CHT -remote areas, food shortages, lack of cropland, changes in diet due to cultural differences between different communities and in the garment industry- hard labour and lack of health awareness among the female workers, the nutritional situation has not improved much.
The SDGs emphasize women’s ownership of land and natural resources. Establishing women’s ownership or control over land creates food sovereignty for families and communities, eliminates malnutrition, and ensures sustainable agricultural systems. Land is not only a source of income; it is also associated with social and cultural rights.
Quality work environments and fair wages are also very important for women. In this case, Bangladesh is still lagging behind. Proper working environment and fair wages should be provided to women workers employed in various sectors including garments, agriculture, household, etc. We need a development strategy where the security of the worker, his family, and that community as well as the standard wages need to be set so that a worker can earn a living with dignity.
This requires ensuring women’s leadership and participation in decision-making at all levels. It has to start from the house. Women’s leadership and participation at the grassroots and national levels are prerequisites for ensuring women’s rights, gender equality and sustainable development.
It is important to remember that achieving the goals of the SDGs requires the participation and leadership of women in all spheres of society. If the political empowerment of women is systematically ensured, Bangladesh will go a long way in achieving the SDGs.
The status of a middle-income country requires a lot of investment, strong development assistance, thorough and effective reform initiatives, and an improved business environment, financial discipline, and a stable political environment. Above all, to succeed in achieving the SDGs, public-private initiatives and state-owned accountability, and good governance must be ensured.
Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic is somewhat hampering the government’s development activities and economic growth. However, the hope is that the government is taking appropriate plans and activities to deal with this situation. The political commitment of the government to implement the SDGs is highly commendable. Achieving SDGs will not be impossible if the government’s development activities accelerate in the post-COVID period.
The government of Bangladesh has adopted the SDGs in 2015. It has submitted its Voluntary National Review or VNR in 2020. Bangladesh has also participated in the third round of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process in 2018.
Bangladesh has adopted all 17 goals, 169 targets, and 247 indicators. In promoting peace, vital institution, and improved governance structure, SDG 16 has been translated by 12 targets, 24 indicators, and 22 providers, while in the case of SDG 17, there are 19 targets, 24 indicators, and 20 providers. For localisation of SDGs, mainly focused on the district and sub-district level SDGs implementation plan, Bangladesh has identified 40 priority indicators known as the 39+1. The additional (+1) local indicator reflects the “Leaving no one behind,” the vulnerable issue of lagging each district and sub-district.
A high-level national committee was formed for the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs. Bangladesh has done sector-specific assessments and integrated SDGs in our 8th Five Year Plan. Our Second Perspective Plan has also been aligned with the SDGs. It envisions transforming Bangladesh into an upper-middle-income country by 2031, and a high-income country by 2041. Mentioning that The Delta-Plan 2100 captures the SDGs vision and beyond it aims to create a prosperous and climate-resilient delta for our future generations. Bangladesh has set up a coordinated effort involving the government, the private sector, the civil society, and other stakeholders to ensure the “whole of social engagement”.
Bangladesh has initiated the localisation of SDGs, the introduction of the VNR and SDGs Implementation Report (SIR). Mapping of ministries, financing gap analysis, and data availability for informed decision-making are critical steps. Besides, SDGs focal points were appointed in each ministry and department, and the introduction of Annual Performance Appraisals (APAs) is key to fostering the progress.
Despite significant progress, the Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down the progress made during the past two decades and impacted life, livelihood, health and well-being. Despite the stimulus packages, the economy– both the formal and informal sector– has affected significantly, directly impacting SDGs. However, more emphasis needs to be be given to the SDGs localisation process in Bangladesh.
The writer is a Research Fellow, BNNRC
