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As the world shifts focus to the newly proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that take over from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ending this year, there has been skepticism as to how the UN development agenda post 2015 seeks to address and with what success, that which its predecessor failed to overcome.
The 8 Millennium Development Goals, formed the thesis on which UN member states would work towards achieving since their adoption in 2000, with a 15 year span but most of the countries particularly developing economies in Africa have not met most of the minimum standards.
The MDGs have been criticized for not addressing the key enablers of what they sought to attain and their biggest undoing which ascertained doom from the onset was overlooking the economic aspect.
MDGs did not promote economic growth for signatories and for most developing countries they appeared as mere handwritten proposal waiting funding from developed nations, overlooking the economic enablers that would capacitate nations in achieve the set goals.
Firstly, the MDGs were crafted by global leaders at the UN forums without wider consultations by governments through civic organizations and other stakeholders of the key issues that should have been prioritized; secondly, the developed countries were then able to finance the project as they were enjoying economic prosperity and thirdly, the extent of poverty and stunted economic growth in developing countries mostly in Africa was in dire need immediate assistance in form of donor funding than they are now where economies have now begun modernization, becoming efficient and sustainable.
Despite a few MDGs success stories being told across the African continent especially on having achieved universal primary education, reduction in child mortality and promoting gender equality, most of the goals remain elusive as the economy, which is the key enabler was not given strategic space.
The SDGs come at a time when a paradigm shift for developing nations is not an option but a necessity. Whereas developing economies were content with receiving huge chunks of donor funding, it is now time for self sustainability in the “new normal’.
In the wake of negative trade balances, stunted economic growth, ballooning external and internal debts, most developing countries need to strategise means of survival.
“The new economic normal” or just “new normal,” is a term that emerged from the global economic crisis post 2008, popularised and profoundly adopted in the developed countries as the best practice for governments in the contemporary global economy.
Although it remains subject to contention, struggling economies in the EUROZONE such as Spain and Greece are in a catch-22, whether to opt for bailout which has future costly consequences or to adapt to the new normal of cutting jobs and spending.
The new normal entails government to adopt austerity measures, thus cutting spending and creating fiscal space for development projects and living within the means.
Ironically, the new normal will mean more job losses, increase in taxation and a decrease in government spending which will compromise services delivery, all this will transcend and impede on some SDGs.
On evaluating the prospects of realizing the SDGs by 2030, UNDP Advisor Mr Amarakoon Bandara recently told stakeholders in Harare that it demanded pragmatic business solutions to prosper under the new order as the rich economies that were crucial in financing MDGs through donor institutions are not producing much surplus like they used to.
He further highlighted that it is under this background that nations will have to come up with solutions to self fund developmental project and not rely on the weakening donor assistance especially taking cognizance that the SDGs (17) are double the number of MDGs (8).
“When the Millennium Development Goals came into being one has to be cognizant to the fact that most of the Western countries were in a position to fund developmental projects and they managed doing so for a significant length of time until the global recession.
“We have to look at it this way, member states have the obligation to self fund these Sustainable Development Goals by finding space within their tight fiscal allocation than wait for donors to do it for them because those countries that used to do it for the world no longer have surpluses,” he added.
The SDGs have made provisions which seek to promote economic growth and these have been put in goals (8) decent work and economic growth, (9) industry, innovation and infrastructure, (11)sustainable cities and communities and (16) Peace, justice and strong institutions.
Also key to the realisation of global economic growth and uplifting of livelihoods will be how to address the widening gap between the rich and the poor.
President Mugabe addressing joint committees of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Summit ahead of the general assembly in Washington said, “The uneven progress made within, among countries and among regions has widened inequalities and in some cases deepened poverty”.
However analysts say it is not all gloomy as prospects of realizing the SDGs are very much at our disposal.
Mr Bandara says, while the traditional strong markets have been struggling and having little to spare they remain very competitive and strong and there has been a positive trend from emerging markets such as those in the BRICS and MINT countries who will be crucial in complementing the traditional markets .
The BRICS New Development Bank that will provide an alternative from the US-dominated World Bank and IMF will provide large opportunities for developing countries to access concessionary loans for development. The private sector is also expected to play a crucial role.
“The development agenda will not solely lie in the hands of governments as private sector is expected to play a huge complimentary part. Private Public Partnerships will be critical,” Bandara adds.
Private sector contributes over 60% of global employment and will be expected to mitigate unemployment challenges, poverty reduction and infrastructural developments.
The success of the SDGs will largely depend on economic cooperation and a peaceful environment in achieving global economic prospects and building of sustainable livelihoods if they are to surpass what the MDGs attained.
Online Reporter