What needs to happen to ensure that these new Global Goals are achieved? What are the challenges ahead? This was the topic for a panel discussion hosted by CARE International UK during its 70 year anniversary week, and facilitated by Eliza Anyangwe, Freelance Writer and Commissioning Editor for the Guardian. The panel represented various actors that will play a role in the implementation of the Global Goals.
The debate in review
I'm with @careintuk at event asking 'global goals, what next?' #GlobalGoals#care70pic.twitter.com/Hucglmg9Wf
— Clare Spurrell (@clarespuz) October 23, 2015
Nelson Muffuh argued that there needs to be a shift towards a sustainability mindset. The Global Goals are universal, and therefore universally applicable. In other words, if the Global Goals are to be achieved all stakeholders need to be involved. This means that the UK government will need to report on its contributions towards the global goals both within and outside the UK borders. But only when citizens know their rights can governments be held to account for the delivery of the Global Goals. Nelson reminded participants: ‘the cost of not doing anything at all will be far greater than the costs of doing’.
We all need to play our part to "Transform our world by 2030". Why must we care? What must we do? @nmuffuh#SDGshttps://t.co/tpkMMHv8JD
— Amina J Mohammed (@AminaJMohammed) October 24, 2015
#care70#globalgoals universal no longer business as usual in international development, this involves all of us @nmuffuh
— Marta Roxberg (@CIUKMRoxberg) October 23, 2015
Serena Brown noted how the private sector has played a central role in the development of the Global Goals and it is crucial that they also need to be involved also in its implementation. KPMG together with the UN Global Compact has developed a Sustainable Development Goal Industry Matrix to inspire and inform greater private sector action on the Global Goals. However, civil society remains the glue that binds together the public and private sector to work better for the common good. Although the role of civil society is evolving, civil society still has a very important role.
From 'aid' to 'investment' #globalgoals, via @SerenaB2013pic.twitter.com/vU8AyoZ08b
— CARE InternationalUK (@careintuk) October 23, 2015
Civil society orgs like @careintuk have an important role to play with the private sector to meet #globalgoals#care70
— Ella Moffat (@EllaMMoffat) October 23, 2015
#GlobalGoals kpmg see civil society as the glue between private sector and government around achievement of SDGs #care70
— John Plastow (@JohnPlastow) October 23, 2015
David Hallam stated that the difference between the goals before and the goals now is the integrated approach and just how comprehensive they are. Governments in different countries will need to change their behaviour to deliver the Global Goals. The British government will need to work across different government sectors to ensure that the Global Goals are delivered and adequately funded. The UK government also has a role in making sure that companies pay tax in countries where they make a profit. The challenge is what to prioritise with limited resources available and the risk that some countries may prioritise goals over others as a result.
A: @DFID_David - On a personal level I will reduce food waste in my house to zero #GlobalGoals#care70
— CARE InternationalUK (@careintuk) October 23, 2015
Gaia Gozzo argued that the global goals need to be owned by the people. This is a political process. Politicians don’t always make evidence based decisions. Civil society has a role in collecting, compiling and using data to hold actors to account. CARE has a lot of experience in social accountability approaches such as the community score card. These tools can be adapted for citizen-data. The UN has called for a data revolution. The focus is, however, on building the capacity on national data monitoring. There seems to be an assumption that official data produced by the government is reliable and that unofficial data produced by citizens is unreliable. We need to build the credibility of citizen generated data, make sure that they are comparable and consistent. It is not only about producing data but civil society will need to use data to challenge and hold actors accountable. The data revolution will be a tool to empower people all over the world to question what progress their governments have made towards these commitments.
#datashift needed to strengthen citizen accountability for #globalgoals#Care70pic.twitter.com/Lh5KPEUVRZ
— KatherineNightingale (@kat_night) October 23, 2015
#care70 A big thanks to speakers on #GlobalGoals what next?panel today @DFID_David@SerenaB2013@gaiagozzo@nmuffuh and @ElizaTalks chairing
— Marta Roxberg (@CIUKMRoxberg) October 23, 2015
Personally, what I took from the discussion is that the Global Goals are interlinked and will require all actors involvement for them to be achieved. For example economic growth cannot be seen in isolation, but requires changes in consumption and production and the overall distribution of resources. The private sector cannot be profitable without addressing other issues. In the same way the current refugee crisis can no longer the responsibility of countries such as Greece, Turkey or Italy, but will require a joint effort. In the same way that we can all do something to respond to the current refugee crisis, we can do our part in making sure the Global Goals are met. And this is the exciting part, for the Global Goals has potential to become a useful universal tool to hold businesses, governments and civil society organisations to account; a tool to empower people all over the world to question what progress their governments have made towards these commitments.
