In her talk, the Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) emphasized how the 2030 Agenda has provided a framework the world can engage with, but that transformation is necessary in order for us to succeed in promoting sustainable development.
From fluff to policy impact
While the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) focused mainly on the social aspects of development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) take a wider approach to ensure that this development is also financially and environmentally sustainable. A holistic approach requires new forms of approaches and collaboration, and Ms. Mohammed therefore warned against continuing to do what she referred to as "MDGs plus". "We must stop treating development in silos", she argued, also referencing the ongoing reforms in the UN which are designated to address the need for new ways of responding to the global challenges we face.
Remembering her time as the Special Advisor on the MDGs to the Nigerian Government, Ms. Mohammed claimed that policy instruments must be put in place to reflect the goal indicators:
We must push ambitions to come up with new financing for sustainable development. In Nigeria, policy instruments reflecting the MDGs was what showed real impact. That’s when it got into the working processes of the IMF, who previously saw the MDGs as fluff.
- Not our saviors
The 2030 Agenda calls for unprecedented investments in social goods, such as education, health, poverty and inequality reduction, as well as physical infrastructure, energy and innovation across the globe. These investments, however, must not only be socially sustainable, but also financially and environmentally sustainable and relate to our planetary boundaries. While the private sector has been highlighted as a key actor in the 2030 Agenda, some are wary of businesses’ motives and ambition, as they proudly flag their commitments to sustainable development. When asked by moderator Dan Banik if not the private sector will in fact come to be our saviors, as some seem to argue, Ms. Mohammed rejected the prediction, while still recognizing the important role businesses will play in achieving the 2030 Agenda.
"We need to challenge them", the DSG urged, calling for inclusive profits and a greater willingness to take risk among businesses. She continued, arguing that while it is important for the UN and other actors to get the private sector on board to invest also in emerging markets, i.e. through risk minimizing incentives, companies must also be willing to take the risk. "There is no free lunch, and entering these markets also give the highest return".
- Highly important to talk with the youth
Ms. Mohammed further recognized the importance of youth involvement, but admitted that the UN had not done a good job at securing youth a spot at the table. With the UN reporting an average entry age of 45, a youth envoy is hopefully only the beginning to youth gaining impact in the organization. The launch of a new youth strategy later this fall is meant to further empower youth, who as pointed out by the DSG is in fact the largest cohort and deserve to be heard.
- Multilateralism under siege
Turning to the bleaker side of reality, Ms. Mohammed acknowledged the increasing undermining of human rights and multilateralism and a “globalization of ignorance”. She pointed to challenges of globalization, such as inequalities, migration, extremism and xenophobia, and highlighted that “conflict holds back development and stunts opportunities”.
- The problem that is not yours will get you, globalization is real. When we see rhetoric trying to undermine human rights and multilateralism, supporters of these values must speak even louder. Show more courage, dig deeper, encourage the debate and face uncomfortable truths and elephants in the room, she encouraged.
- Helps us organize for solutions
The DSG claimed that our greatest challenge is closing the gap between the reality and expectations of those who live it, and the aspirations we hold for promoting development; the reality based on evidence and facts and the expectations of those that have to make choiceless choices. - The SDGs can help organize our thinking, investments and conversations when looking for solutions.
The Oslo SDG Initiative will be announcing several exciting seminars and guest lectures throughout the year on our website.
Contributors:
The Deputy Secretary General was welcomed by University of Oslo Vice Rector Professor Åse Gornitzka and Dr. Endre Stiansen at the UNDP Oslo Governance Center, with Prof. Dan Banik moderating the session. The lecture was jointly organized by the Oslo SDG Initiative at the University of Oslo’s Centre for Development and the Environment and UNDP Norway.