Joint SDG Fund begins work in Namibia

The Joint SDG Fund taskforce of Namibia is comprised of specialized UN Agencies, as well as of the public and private sectors. The Government of Namibia participants include the Ministries of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation; Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare; and Finance, as well as the Namibia Statistics Agency, and the National Planning Commission. The group deliberated on multi-faceted, integrated, and holistic approaches that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and maximise their impact on the ground with local partners between 2020 and 2021.

The SDGs address the most urgent challenges worldwide, and are a call for action by all countries to achieve sustainable solutions by the year 2030. They target the world’s biggest concerns, ranging from poverty and gender to climate change, inequality and closing the finance gap.

Namibia remains committed to the realisation of the SDGs and will continue to invest resources to ensure that targets, as set for the specific goals, are achieved. Through the Joint SDG Fund, the UN is collaborating with the Government of Namibia, along with other key actors, to help it accelerate its progress towards the SDGs and to deliver on the commitment of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind. The UN uses its technical expertise to champion and support interventions aimed at addressing economic and social inequalities in the country, thus contributing to prosperity, dignity, peace and the full realisation of human rights.

The working group discussions have centered on issues critical to the future of Namibia and on the achievement of the SDGs in the country. Employment was one of the main concerns identified by the group, as it is essential for the economic growth of Namibia. In order for it to be effective, investment needs to result in job creation. In addition, it was agreed that a gender perspective needs to be included across all activities of the Joint SDG plan. This is why some of the employment goals will be targeted to women. Given employment disparities affects women more than men, and given the budget process is the gateway for resource allocation and a key determinant to ensure impact on gender-responsive public governance, the budgeting process needs to be skewed towards women to achieve gender balance.

Following the conclusion of discussions, participants agreed that the objective of implementing the Joint SDG Fund has to have a whole of society approach, which aligns with the leave no one behind global vision. Citizens and civic organizations are the main drivers of change and progress on the SDGs and this includes the participation of government, private sector, individuals, non-profits, academia, organizations, development partners, etc.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a global blueprint for dignity, peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and in the future. Focusing on a purpose that is rooted in creating value for the Namibian people, UN Namibia aims to increase its ability to create sustainable value for all - in a balanced and integrated manner.