‘Put people first’ in the drive to realize Sustainable Development Goals
UN Photo/Loey Felipe. Lachezara Stoeva, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 2023 Session.
Global economic growth’s current downsides require ‘Put people first’. That means bringing opportunities for young people to accelerate knowledge and skills applicable to the labor market through training, education, and early work experience. Among multiple global interconnected crises, upgrading efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development depends on providing people with the tools needed to form resilient economies and societies. To approach the halfway point in the 2030 deadline for all the SDGs, Member States are mainly responsible for the transition to low-carbon and environmentally friendly societies and communities. Industries and workers need strong support as they are facing the greatest challenges in the transition to a green economy. A reliable policy is required to facilitate the reallocation of displaced workers to assist with flexible learning courses, transition incentives, and employment programs. Investing in human capital is crucial for the future demands of the job market, already affected by external factors such as digital transformation and climate change.
The exhibition showcases millets as ‘smart food’, rich in heritage and full of potential
UN News/Sachin Gaur. Different varieties of millet grains are on display at the exhibition.
During the International Year of Millets, the exhibition was launched by India’s mission to the UN. It showcases different kinds of millets grown in India, various health benefits, and nutritional value. The special exhibition can help for awareness raising on the virtues of the millets to solve food insecurity and support the transition of the worldwide food systems. Furthermore, millets can be integrated into an existing pattern across cultures of different nations and preferences. Among the plants, millets were the first ones to serve as a traditional staple crop for millions of farmers in dry zones of Africa and Asia, with India being the top producer followed by Niger, Nigeria, and China. They are climate resilient and adaptable to different production environments without high pesticide or fertilizer needs. The international year of millets contributes to alleviating hunger and moving forward in all areas of the 2030 sustainable development agenda. Furthermore, millets can be integrated into an existing pattern across cultures of different nations and preferences.
Education: More investment in school health, and nutrition, will realize childhood potential
WFP/Hugh Rutherford. Children eating lunch at a primary school in Burundi.
It is estimated that some 584 million children have no or limited access to basic drinking water services at school. According to a study by UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP, and UN Education, nearly half live in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the report, school meals can raise the attendance and enrolment rates by 8-9% respectively. In addition, there is a 50 percent less chance to skip school when the learning environment is free from violence. In low-income countries, absenteeism is decreased when encouraging handwashing, especially for girls during menstruation, when hygiene, water, and sanitation are improved. As a result, the lives of children and adolescents are improved with benefits extending to the whole community. For instance, every $1 invested in school feeding programs can create $9 in returns. At the moment, 90 percent of countries worldwide invest in school nutrition programs and one in two primary school children gets school meals the majority of countries include education for well-being and health in the curriculum. However, there are unequal investments from region to region and insufficient compared to the needs. Commitment from governments with interventions from the international community is required to include the provision of school meals and safe and inclusive learning environments that promote well-being.
SDG stimulus could unlock $148 billion in debt savings: UNDP
UN News. Students in Tanzania hold Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) posters.
The UNDP has called for action to protect developing countries from the impact of today’s overlapping crises with the aim to finance and support an inclusive and equitable global transition. 52 low and middle-income developing economies are either at high risk of debt distress. As a group, they account for over 40 percent of the world’s poorest people. According to the UNDP, 25 developing countries are currently under external debt payments with over 20 percent of total revenue. These countries are being battered by multiple other crises and are mostly affected by the economic impact of COVID-19, climate change emergency, and poverty. As a challenge, developing economies will not be able to fund progress on the climate commitment goals if they borrow at up to 14 percent while paying back above 20 percent of revenue for debt servicing.
