SDG Global Goals Week 2021 Concludes on a High Note

SDG Global Goals Week 2021 Concludes on a High Note

SDG Global Goals Week 2021 Concludes on a High Note

SDG Global Goals Week 2021 Concludes on a High Note

KATHMANDU, September 28

Global Goals Week 2021 concluded in Nepal after several days of programs across the country. Various organizations and stakeholders organized programs from 17-28 September on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their indicators and themes.

The Global Goals Week which was inaugurated on 17th September concluded after 12 days on 28th September. On the final day of the campaign, the closing ceremony consisted of two sessions: first was a discussion on 'Youth in Sustainable Development Goals and Effect of Covid-19', and the second was the closing ceremony. As the secretariat of Nepal SDGs Forum, NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN) coordinated the Global Goals Week, which was observed to mark the 6th anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the second session, a declaration was issued urging the stakeholders for urgent actions to accelerate the implementation of SDGs, achieve the SDGs by leaving no one behind and consider the effect of Covid-19 while planning for recovering better by learning from the pandemic.

Baburam Dhungana of National Youth Council gave a presentation on the role of youth in achieving SDGs. Stating that education should be linked with entrepreneurship, he informed that the work done by the council has produced 75 entrepreneurial youths by imparting entrepreneurship training in different districts. 

Acting vice-president of National Youth Council, Madhav Dhungel, informed that the council has launched a program to mobilize the youth in programs such as conducting policy dialogues, modernization of agriculture and streamlining of CTEVT training. He said that the youths have set examples during the Covid-19 disaster through ways such as setting up an information center for Covid-19 and coordination for health services like ambulances.

In the second session of the program, a snapshot of the events organized by different organizations during the Global Goals Week was presented. Then, a declaration was issued by summing up particularly the civil society concerns to the implementation of the SDGs and the accountability, transparency, justice and inclusion by protecting human rights and democracy. The declaration stresses on participation, rule of law, data revolution, constructive involvement of all stakeholders, and realizing 'leave no one behind'. The focus has also been laid on the recovery from Covid-19. Roshana Khadka, President of COCAP, shed light on key points of the declaration.

Likewise, a report titled Inclusivity, Justice and Accountability: SDG 16 Report of Civil Society in Nepal was launched. The report was yet another in a series of publications by NGO Federation of Nepal. Notably, SDG 16 has been of particular concern to the civil society since institutions, justice, peace and governance are essential in implementation of any goals.

The event, which was conducted in a hybrid model, was attended by more than 60 participants from different districts.

NFN coordinated for the Global Goals Week in Nepal. It started with coordination and preparation meetings with government agencies, UN agencies in Nepal, Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries, National Cooperative Federation of Nepal, National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal, Municipality Association of Nepal, Federation of Nepalese journalists, and CSO networks and alliances. Many organizations including IM Swedish Development Partner, World Vision International, and Open Society Foundation supported for the campaigning.

NFN has been coordinating similar actions on the occasion of SDG anniversary. Civil society organizations, development partners and various stakeholders have come together under Nepal SDGs Forum to work for the SDGs in Nepal.