Webinar 2 – Measuring SDGs Performance: Progress and Barriers to Achievement | Thursday 15 October 2020, 5-6:30 PM (CEST)
Register here: https://ruc-dk.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_k0hcNfvLS22ilBpoi-D-Ow
Measuring SDG performance in Latin America and the Caribbean
Felipe Castro, Acting Director of The Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Latin America and the Caribbean (CODS) of the University of the Andes
The 2019 SDG Index for Latin America and the Caribbean is the first tool that makes it possible to measure progress in the fulfillment of the SDGs across 24 countries in the region. The report has been prepared by The Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Latin America and the Caribbean (CODS) and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Felipe Castro will share the experiences of measuring the SDGs in Latin America and the Caribbean reflecting on the methodologies applied, results and trends from the newly published 2019 Index. The fulfillment of the 17 Goals by the countries of the region is far from being expected five years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is severely affecting SDGs implementation leading to a severe economic and social crisis in the region.
Attainment of SDGs in India: Policies, measurement, and concerns for natural resources and marginalized communities
Manish K. Jha, Professor at Centre for Community Organisation and Development Practice, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India
Measuring progress towards the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) fundamentally depends on how a particular country performs in the implementation of targets under the goals. The target is often set in the milieu of socio-political, economic and cultural context. A country as diverse and complex as India is, the challenges are far greater. In the backdrop of social hierarchy, caste and community cleavages, I examine how the country with its economic potentialities are moving ahead to accomplish SDGs and what are the faultlines and challenges ahead. To eradicate poverty and reducing multidimensional poverty, a range of policies and programmes are either strengthened or initiated in India so as to meet the goals. India’s planning think tank, Niti Aayog, has measured the progress on SDGs and indicated the progressive sign concerning more extensive coverage of goals, targets and indicators, and alignment with the National Indicator Framework (NIF), which serves as the backbone of SDG monitoring in the country (MoSPI 2019). The policies of the programme of right to work, food security, income transfer to farmers, crop insurance, health insurance, labour reform, sanitation programme and many more have influenced in moving ahead to meet the goals.
While the efforts are identifiable, there has been parallel processes under a neoliberal economy that pushes for resource extraction, state’s withdrawal from welfare services, weakling of affirmative action policies and natural resource appropriation that might turn out to be a stumbling block in achieving the SDGs in India. Structural inequality and insecure livelihood for people in informal work present itself a major concern. Moreover, some data governance makes it difficult to have a precise measurement of achievements so far and assessment for times ahead. Despite having an advanced system of data gathering, management and statistical analysis in India, somehow the data deficiency and lack of data transparency is making the measurement further complicated and confusing. The data gap issues with SDGs can be filled with the contribution of various stakeholders, such as states, civil society organisations, institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The SDG Index India Report, 2019 identifies the role of states towards localisation in terms of power and responsibilities on programme and policy design, implementation and monitoring (NITI Aayog 2019). However, the structure and role of local governments at the district level, such as municipalities, panchayats, blocks need strengthening in terms of resources and institutional power. Higher education institutions like universities have the potential for substantive contribution; however, its potential is not harnessed well. Universities like TISS with its academic expertise, advocacy and networking potential, trained human resources and research facilities are trying its level best to contribute.
The present situation of attainment of SDGs will be reviewed through government policies and practices; the issues and concerns with measurement and data reliability; and the influence of neoliberal policies that raise concerns for natural resources, rights and justice issues for the marginalised community. The presentation will situate the discussion in the contemporary context of COVID-19 pandemic, nationwide lockdown and its consequences for meeting the target and attaining the goals.
Recommended reading and viewing
The 2019 SDG Index – Latin America and the Caribbean. https://cods.uniandes.edu.co/indice-ods/#entry-content ;
https://cods.uniandes.edu.co/indice-ods/
Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2020. https://www.unescap.org/publications/asia-and-pacific-sdg-progress-report-2020
SDG Index India 2018. https://niti.gov.in/sdg-india-index