SDGs: Building a sustainable, resilient world

Even though Bangladesh has made big strides forward towards poverty alleviation, many challenges still remain. These challenges include, among other things, natural, political, or economic threats which are constantly impeding higher growth. Additionally, in a country where more than 60 million people live below the poverty line, the uncertain impact of globalisation and an increasingly competitive international trade environment stand in the way to achieving higher growth rates. Furthermore, structural changes in rural Bangladesh have spurred rapid economic migration which is pushing up urban poverty rate, shrinking employment opportunities and leading to congestion and limited shelter in urban areas. The country thus faces considerable challenges to sustain and build on the achievements made over the last decade, and to remain on track to strike its targets under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Considering the steps taken to further reduce poverty, enhance education, improve health care, it can be safely predicted that achieving SDGs will not be too difficult a task.
The incidence of extreme poverty in Bangladesh has declined from around 50 per cent of the population in 2000, to about 12.1 per cent . Broad improvements in social welfare have been made. This has been possible as Bangladesh has been consistently mindful of the poor and the disadvantaged. In addition, Bangladesh's abundant supply of inexpensive labour, and successful government policies on macroeconomic stability have largely contributed to growth achieved. With the global economic recovery, favourable demographics and improving investor confidence, growth may further accelerate above its current trend rate of 6.0 per cent in the coming years.  
Economic and social changes will gather momentum in the coming years. Fundamental forces are at play in Bangladesh, involving rapid industrialisation, structural change in the economy, and substantial rural-urban migration. These processes however have created a host of developmental pressures. Chief among these is a range of potential inequities. As the country moves to middle-income status, the differences in income and living conditions among its people have tended to widen. It is vital that these inequalities are narrowed down if poverty is to be further reduced.
Environmental pressures created by climate change, remain as a significant challenge which could easily worsen if remedial measures are not undertaken. While the population is expected to stabilise at around 200 million, growing wealth and migration will place further strain on ecosystems and the living environment.
Bangladesh's commitment to social solidarity and progressive development agenda is deep-rooted. Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets, in areas ranging from poverty reduction to infant mortality, have been secured. The government also showed its ability to recognise delivery weaknesses and marshal resources accordingly. This is most clear in the case of maternal mortality, where Bangladesh successfully overcame a significant challenge, securing a 30 per cent reduction in deaths during child birth over the last decade. This bodes well for future interventions to capitalise on MDG successes, to further improve access to healthcare and schooling.
Besides, the ongoing government programmes to build up disaster preparedness and recovery have been largely successful. Bangladesh's vulnerability to disasters is significant, but the country's track record has been exceptional in improving human security and saving lives. While natural disasters still result in some deaths, numbers have fallen drastically. This provides a sound foundation for delivering the SDGs by addressing other pressing questions of environmental sustainability.  
But finance being a key component, lot depends on receipt of financial assistance to successfully deliver the SDGs. Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing (ICESDF) estimates that achieving the SDGs in all countries will call for additional global investments in the range of $5.0 trillion to $7.0 trillion per year up to 2030.
Three energy goals to be achieved by 2030, are (i) universal access to modern energy services, (ii) doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and (iii) doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix - the average annual additional investment requirement is about 3.0 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in Bangladesh.
Budgetary allocation on social security hovered around 2.0 per cent of GDP during FY2010-2015 period which is even lower than the target of 3.0 per cent envisaged in Sixth Five-year Plan. Average share of health in total public expenditure stagnated at 0.7 per cent of GDP during FY2003-2014. WHO stipulates that the allocation should be 5.0 per cent of GDP.
Education budget (both financial allocation and expenditure) hovered around 2.0 per cent of GDP during FY2003-2014. UNESCO stipulates that the allocation should be 6.0 per cent of GDP. Budgetary allocation on gender is increasing steadily over the years from 2.6 per cent of GDP in 2007 to 4.4 per cent of GDP in 2015.
Expenditure on agriculture and food security has been declining consistently both as a share of GDP and also of the total budget in last 5-6 years. Average share of agriculture and food security in total budget was 10.3 per cent, while it was around 1.3 per cent of GDP during FY2010-2015.
One of the weaknesses of MDG implementation was absence of dedicated
institutional mechanism for implementation. Attainment of SDGs will therefore require a strong and effective institutional mechanism involving all stakeholders including public representatives, bureaucracy, private sector, civil society, knowledge community, and development partners.
An inter-ministerial body may be constituted under Prime Minister's Secretariat and the government may form a set of task forces involving both government and non-government experts.
Attainment of 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by leaders of 193 countries a year ago before the 2030 target period will be one of the most ambitious tasks ever undertaken by the global community. But if people are at the centre of all actions, if the commitment of stakeholders is firm and if the spirit of partnership prevails, achieving success in the next 14 years shall not be a difficult task.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been hugely successful in galvanising focus and resources to help eradicate poverty, reduce child mortality and combat diseases. For a government to plan and monitor the impact of its policies, it must be able to benchmark data and see year on year progress. Comparing progress across countries is important. Shared indicators and statistical frameworks will help countries see how they are doing in comparison with others.
Considering all these indicators, one can be truly optimistic of achieving the goals because of the nature of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Goals are based on four powerful principles. First, they are connected and indivisible, linking development, human rights, peace and security. Second, they are universal. They apply to every person everywhere. Third, they are to be implemented through inclusive participation of all in the society. Fourth, as they are implemented, no one should be left behind or out. The SDGs have generated a common purpose for the well-being of coming generations and for a planet that suits our future. This is why we have seen a fast, strong, and urgent shift by all sectors towards more sustainable practices and policies.
Already hundreds of cities and municipalities of different countries are pursuing their own plans for attaining SDGs. At the same time thousands of communities from different sectors of a society have accelerated their efforts under the SDG banner. All these steps have built a momentum to limit climate change, advance gender equality, mitigate natural disasters, address mass migration, and reduce inequality.
In this first anniversary, that is, "SDG Year 1", more than 50 governments, and numerous businesses, scientists and civil society organisations have stepped up their efforts to make the SDGs a central framework for their policies and actions, and have increased their focus and investment on data collection and analysis to guide decisions. This will help ensure that actions are aligned, programmes work in synergy and financing is used as efficiently as possible. This means that development cooperation is aligned with the SDGs.
It is clear that enormous strides have been made, yet, much more is to be done to implement the SDG plan. Public support and public pressure will be essential for transforming the SDGs from aspiration into reality.
The first anniversary of the adoption of the SDGs is an opportunity to celebrate all the achievements made and resolve to make SDGs a reality. If all the relevant stakeholders continue to work together towards building a sustainable and resilient world, achieving the SDG targets in the next 14 years is a feasible objective.  
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