[Dhaka, 14 October 2015] Speakers emphasized the importance of implementation of the `Transforming our World – The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG)’ that has been adopted by the United Nations Member States in 25-27 September 2015 in New York through UN’s 70th General Assembly. A Meet-the-Press event was held at the National Press Club today jointly organised by VOICE, a development research organisation, NOW SDGs and Beyond 2015, a global civil-society platform advocating for sustainable development goals. Reading out the key note paper, Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, executive director of VOICE told that political will is indispensable to start implementation of the 2030 Agenda at national, sub-national and local levels, including introducing clear plans and timelines for participatory implementation at national and local levels.
Ahmed Swapan further mentioned to formulate a national sustainable development strategy for SDGs implementation through a participatory process, including people experiencing poverty and marginalization. This strategy should make meaningful, measurable commitments on the progressive realization of all the SDGs. The Government must ensure that national and local resources are allocated to the implementation of the SDGs and Governments must prioritize sustainable development investment, especially in pro-poor infrastructure and utilities, which starts with the needs of the poorest and most marginalized people, ensuring that program success indicators are linked directly with positive and measurable impacts.
Ahmed Swapan urged to the Government to form a national coordination committee and to commit to establish inclusive national baselines, national data collection and management systems, participatory and inclusive monitoring and reporting mechanisms for the implementation of the SDGs as well as to agree to public, inclusive and participatory national review mechanisms. He further emphasized that the government should reaffirm the universality of the Post-2015 agenda and align it with 7th Five-Year Plan in Bangladesh that must be consulted with people at all stakes for the ownership of the development plans and projects.
Shamsuddoha, executive director of CPRD said governments must commit to create opportunities for real dialogue between people about the implementation of the Post-2015 agenda, especially marginalized and excluded groups, and authorities at the local and national levels by institutionalizing dialogue structures, such as inclusive and open debates – at parliamentary and local government level, and at community level.
Aminur Rasul, executive director of Unnayan Dhara Trust told that meaningful participation is necessary for the realization of sustainable goals while stakeholders at all levels including local elected bodies, private sector, media and CSOs can play vital role along with the government agencies.
A national Watch Group called ‘NOW SDGs’ comprising civil society members, professional bodies, academicians, rights groups etc, has already been formed to monitor and look after the progress of the implementation and monitoring activities on SDGs said the organizers.
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