Non-state actors including non-government organisations (NGOs), think tanks, media and private sectors in developing countries, like Bangladesh, are playing an important role in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
They are also contributing to a country's journey to reach the goals through prioritising development agenda, implementing the targets, monitoring the delivery and ensuring accountability in the overall process.
Their contribution in the development discourse needs to be appreciated properly so that the governments and international development partners can forge a comprehensive strategy for SDG delivery, speakers observed at a dialogue in New York on Thursday, says a statement.
Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Concern Worldwide, Oxfam International and The Hunger Project jointly organised the dialogue titled 'Addressing an Understated Issue in the SDG Discourse: Contribution of the Southern Non-State Actors.'
The event was arranged to develop an improve understanding on the significant role played by the non-state actors of developing countries in implementing the SDGs.
It was organised during the meeting of the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2019 when all global and national stakeholders of SDGs were in New York.
The dialogue was participated by SDG experts and practitioners from various global and national development organisations.
Senior research fellow of CPD Towfiqul Islam Khan made the keynote presentation at the programme chaired by Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Convenor of Citizen's Platform and Distinguished Fellow of the CPD. Member of Parliament (MP) Md. Israfil Alam attended the programme as panelist from Bangladesh.
Israfil Alam said that the non-state actors in Bangladesh have been contributing in national development since the independence of the country.
He said the government is very willing to create more space and proper recognition of contributions made by the non-state actors.
Debapriya Bhattacharya said, there is a lack clarity about the role of non-state actors not only among the policymakers but also among the community of non-state actors.
While speaking as a panelist, Minh-Thu Pham, Executive Director, Policy, United Nations Foundation, focused on the access of non-state actors to the policymakers and international stakeholders.
Colleen Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Concern Worldwide US delivered welcome remarks as the host organisation of this event.
Peter Taylor, Ph.D., Director, Strategic Development, International Development Research Centre (IDRC); John Coonrod, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, The Hunger Project; Áine Fay, President, Concern Worldwide, US; Dipankar Datta, Ph.D., Country Director, Oxfam in Bangladesh and Shannon Kindornay, Director, Research, Policy and Practice, Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC-CCCI) delivered their remarks as panelists of the event.
Zakir Hossain, Chief Executive, Nagorik Uddyog; Nazmul Ahsan, Manager - A4I Project, ActionAid Bangladesh and Samia Afrin, Project Director, Naripokkho were present as representatives from Bangladesh.
