For the third year in a row, campaigners and advocates for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) gather at the SDG Global Festival of Action in Bonn to celebrate and showcase action for the SDGs.
Author: UN SDG Action Campaign
The SDG Global Festival of Action is almost here!
Join us to hear from 150+ speakers – High-level political experts, decision-makers, activists, thematic specialists, and sectoral giants – delivering keynote addresses, hosting expert panels and leading on more than 60+ interactive sessions, 25+ innovations, games, and exhibits, 20+ Film screenings and VR /AR experiences, 30+ SDG Studio Talks, Art and Musical performances…With the UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony and After Party, Networking Hours, and an SDG Procession to an evening of fun and music at the Rhine in Flames festival, the festival is THE meeting place for international SDG actors to build relationships, learn new skills and forge the much-needed coalitions to further SDG Action!
The top SDG campaigners, advocates and activists from over 130 countries have already signed up! Are you joining us?
The Festival Line-up
At this year’s SDG Global Festival of Action, we’ll be joined by high-level political experts and decision-makers, inspiring activists who let nothing stand in their way, thematic specialists and sectoral giants; we’ll see the new thinkers, new dreamers and new doers standing side by side with the household names and old friends joining in our quest to make the SDGs everyone’s Goals.
From Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary Secretary of State for Germany to Eddie Ndopu, the first disabled man going to space, from Juan Somavia, Former Director General of the International Labour Organisation to Inverse K, a technologist and spoken word poet, from Claire Melamed, CEO of Global Partnership on Sustainable Development Data through to Estevao Ciavatta, celebrated film director and producer; this year’s cast will inspire and intrigue you –
Dig deeper into our festival sessions and see who you can find!
Meet all#SDGglobalFest Speakers
Plan your Festival experience
Connecting Festival-goers
With our SDG Action Partner Unity Effect, we’re creating an interactive and real-time visualisation of the SDG Global Festival of Action, You’ll be able to see who else is working towards implementing the same SDG, or see with whom you are connected! Sign up to be part of it and experience the power of connections!
Be a sustainable participant
From the Festival App, virtual participation and vegan food options, to reusable water bottles, we want to make sure the SDG Festival has a minimum environmental impact. Read how we’re making this Festival sustainable and how to contribute
Unveiling the 21 Finalists of the 2019 UN SDG Action Awards!
The UN SDG Action Awards recognize individuals, civil society organizations, subnational governments, foundations, networks, and private sector leaders who are advancing the global movement for the Sustainable Development Goals in the most transformative, impactful and innovative way.
This year, the selection process has been harder than ever with more than 2000 excellent applications from 142 countries. Now a judging panel of + 20 leaders will select one winner per category out of the 3 finalists. You can have a role and like & share your favourites to win the People’s Choice Award
Meet the 2019 #SDGAwards Finalists!
VISUALIZERS
Using visual or creative representations of data to influence decision-makers and the public of the importance of the SDGs
Unequal Scenes — Cape Town, South Africa
A drone-based art project showing people the radical divisions that inequality engenders around the world
Safecity: Crowdmap for sexual violence — Mumbai, India
A platform that crowdsources personal stories of sexual harassment and abuse in public spaces to empower women and strengthen policing
SDG-Portal for Municipalities — Gütersloh, Germany
Visualising progress on SDGs in cities through easy to use indicators
STORYTELLERS
Capturing powerful human stories to help communicate the interconnectedness of the SDGs in people’s lives through different mediums
The owners of water — Lima, Peru
An investigative series that reveals the degree of inequality in both access and distribution of water within indigenous communities
The backway: from Africa to Europe — Barcelona, Spain
A visual transmedia project illustrating the main African migratory routes from West and East Africa to Europe
Humans & Climate Change Stories — Lausanne, Switzerland
An immersive multimedia form of storytelling following the impact of Climate Change on 12 families’ lives in different countries over 10 years
MOBILIZERS
Mobilizing individuals, organizations or networks for collective action for the SDGs
Follow the Money — Abuja, Nigeria
An initiative that shows and tracks national governments’ and foreign assistance spending to empower citizens – including marginalized communities- to hold governments to account for their commitments
2030 Youth Force in the Philippines — Quezon, Philippines
A nationwide mobilization of thousands of young people, aged between 15 and 30, raising awareness on the Agenda 2030 whilst building the next generation of leaders for the SDGs
Sustainable Turn (VS) — São Paulo, Brasil
City-wide creative festivals for the SDGs (9 cities across Brazil) mobilizing 7.2 million participants and reaching out to more than 100 million people in 2018
CREATIVES
Harnessing artistic expression to spur SDG Action and awareness through creativity, empowering and connecting people
My Earth Songs: Songs for Children on Sustainability — Bangalore, India
27 SDG songs for children created by the Grammy Award Winner Ricky Kej and being used by thousands of schools reaching more than 5 million kids
Our Sustainability: A Reminder Through Interactive Experience -Subang Jaya, Malaysia
An interactive experience designed by the multimedia school The One Academy to bring the SDG awareness to commercial malls
Make Art / Stop AIDS: Youth — Zomba, Malawi
Youth theatre and poetry programmes addressing taboos on sexual and reproductive health in a country with extremely high HIV rates
INCLUDERS
Ensuring that excluded groups become part of the SDG dialogue and decision making in their community or at international levels. Leave No One Behind!
African Monitor: Citizen’s Report—Cape Town, South Africa
Youth groups capturing data to lead citizen monitoring initiatives and hold governments to account on SDGs progress
ALMAJIRI Child Education and Social Inclusion — Abuja, Nigeria
Breaking religious and cultural barriers to ensure inclusive education to millions of street children
Transforming Lives Make Senses for Everyone — United Kingdom
A campaign showcasing the transformative legacy of the London 2012 Paralympics:1 million more people with disabilities in Great Britain finding jobs
CONNECTORS
Engaging multiple stakeholders or building networks to generate the transformational change needed to make the SDGs a reality
The plastic bank — Haiti, Philippines and USA
IBM blockchain platform connects recycling entrepreneurs from amongst the world’s poorest to clean up ocean plastic, tackle poverty and advance circular economy
NYC Voluntary Local Review of the Sustainable Development Goals — New York, USA
The first city in the world to report to the UN on local progress on SDGs through a Voluntary Local Review (VLR)
Italian Sustainable Development Festival 2018 — Rome, Italy
A nation-wide movement across all sectors of Italian society, to disseminate a culture of sustainability through 800+ events in 17 days
CAMPAIGNERS
Local, national and international communications campaign to raise public awareness about the SDGs and people’s role in SDG action
A White Dress Doesn’t Cover the Rape #Undress522 — Beirut, Lebanon
A provocative national campaign that led to the repeal of Article 522, the infamous law allowing rapists to avoid prosecution by marrying their victims
The #RunningDry movement — Cape Town, South Africa
One woman takes on 100 marathons in 100 days for 1 reason: to win the global water crisis
Integrity Idol: “Naming and Faming” Honest Government Officials — Islamabad, Pakistan
Nationally broadcasted contests to identify and reward honest government officials as role models of integrity and personal responsibility
The 21 Finalists’ initiatives show how innovation, creativity and commitment can lead to impactful SDG actions around the world. These initiatives serve as an inspiration to the growing community of SDG change-makers and influencers taking action for the Goals. The winner of each category, along with the People’s Choice Award, will be announced at the SDG Action Awards Ceremony, on 2 May 2019 at 18:00 CET at the SDG Global Festival of Action.
Join the movement and watch the winners receive their prize in person on via live broadcast on UN WebTV: http://webtv.un.org/
Meet the 2019 #SDGAwards Finalists!
SDG Action Digest March!!🎉 Your monthly news from the #SDG global movement
ACTION OF THE MONTH:
Taking action in your community and/or workplace can be simple. Check out UN Women’s HeForShe Action Kit – to promote and support equality in your workplace.
Mobilize
The SDG Global Festival of Action program is LIVE! Panel discussions on the roadmap towards the achievement of the SDG, interactive sessions, inspirational keynotes, workshop, SDG Action trainings, SDG games, performances and more to step up SDG Action. Secure your place at the Festival to join the conversation and the SDG community.
Only 5 weeks to go before the SDG Global Festival of Actionstarts. We’ve got a packed program with high level panel discussion on the transformative changes required to make the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development a reality, workshops, interactive sessions, SDG actions training, exhibits. There will also be an SDG Action Studio, an SDG Film selection and other creative initiatives to inspire citizens’ action for the SDGs… Be part of the #SDGglobalFest-ival!
Connect
5 inspiring stories behind the ASEAN MY World 2030 Programme
A group of young SDGs Advocates in the ASEAN region share their experiences promoting the MYWorld survey to raise awareness on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Their stories will be featured at the upcoming ASEAN Summit (27 – 29 March) on the last day of the Sixth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. Discover how thehave impacted their communities!
MYWorld 360 community continues to grow, learn and create. Submit by 1 April!
These are the last days to submit your MY World 360° media (in any language) and be part of the Global Festival of Action in Bonn, Germany. Students and creative change-makers from all over the world have been working together to share ideas, human stories on the Story Pitch Forum and Rough Cut Forum in the MY World 360º Educator Community.
Inspire
10 initiatives to advance #GenderEquality
For International Women’s Day, we have highlighted 10 initiatives from the SDG community that are empowering girls and women to action and make the Sustainable Development Goals a reality. Read more and share their successful stories.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?
SDG Action in Brussels with the Young People Programme
To show their local leaders what was needed to make their city safer, 14 teenagers took to the streets of Brussels with cameras to highlight how lack of both gender equality in public spaces and safety at night were tangible concerns. Their work was showcased by Plan International in Belgium through the Young People Programme. Read about the “Our safe cities” project.
Ocean Film Tour 6th Edition #Act4SDGs
The International Ocean Film Tour partnered with the SDG Action Campaign to feature the most inspiring ocean adventures, water sports activities and environmental movies of the year, aiming at raising awareness on the SDG. Find out more about the festival!
Highlights from the SDG Action Campaign team
The SDG Action Campaign team is getting ready for the Festival!
Passionate and committed volunteers have joined the team to help us in the final preparatory phase towards the Global Festival of Action for Sustainable Development. You’ll meet them soon!
Find out more stories of @SDGAction and share yours with the SDG Community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagra
Help us scale up, broaden and sustain the global movement of action to transform the world!
5 stories behind the ASEAN MY World 2030 Programme
A group of young SDGs Advocates in the ASEAN region share their experiences being volunteers for the MYWorld survey to raise awareness about the 2030 agenda. Their report and achievements will be presented at the ASEAN Summit on the last day of the Sixth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development.
Youth advocates from Cambodia, Brunei, Thailand, Singapore, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia take action for the SDGs! Between June 2018 and March 2019, a total of 60 local events were organized in 9 countries, reaching over 10,000 people. Students, youth, volunteer-based organizations, representatives from marginalized groups and at-risk populations had their say on the SDGs.
These unstoppable SDG Advocates dedicated between 100-120 hours/month organizing SDG workshops and Youth Forums on SDGs, partnering with their universities and inviting students, academia and civil society to their events in their countries.
Meet the inspiring stories of their journey being a MYWorld volunteer in their local communities!
Dina and “MY Action For SDGs”
“MY Action For SDGs” is a campaign which aims to raise awareness of the SDGs, particularly among youth and children in Brunei Darussalam. Behind the campaign is Dina, who has collected 581 votes so far for MYWorld survey. She also represented Brunei at the ASEAN Women’s Leadership Academy in Jakarta, after being nominated by the Young Southeast Asian Leaders (YSEALI) programme in April 2018. Currently, she is involved in Global Shapers Bandar Seri Begawan and WeCare whose overall aim is to shape employability and provide humanitarian aid respectively. Read Dina’s blog about her experience
Nen & Ky in Cambodia
There are 8 SDG Advocates in Cambodia. They are located in several cities in Cambodia, and together they collected more than 3,000 votes. Among them, Nen Neou has a special characteristic: he was raised in a Buddhist family and he has been a Buddhist monk in Theravada tradition for 7 years.
Nen collected 2,068 online votes and 137 offline votes among religious communities. As a Buddhist monk himself, he visited several Buddhist high schools in August 2018 to raise awareness for the SDGs and collect MYWorld 2030 votes, including offline in Khmer language.
Ky Veasna is also an SDG Advocate in Cambodia and the president of the ASEAN Youth Leaders Association. He led an introduction session for students on MY World 2030 and the SDGs at the University of Cambodia (September 2018). In collaboration with several NGOs such as WaterAid Cambodia and government representatives from the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry for Tourism, he also moderated a panel discussion on young people’s roles on SDG Goal 6 for Clean Water and Sanitation. This discussion kicked off a 3-day camp and the launch of a campaign in Cambodia focused on sanitation, called “Saart Cheanich” (Always Clean).
Currently, he has been leading two projects on Water and Sanitation and Combatting Trafficking in Persons in eight provinces across Cambodia. He works with international and local NGOs, governments, young people and local communities.
Nur & her experience with the SDGs and the Indonesian Television
There are currently 8 SDG Advocates who have collected more than 8,000 votes in Indonesia. One of the Indonesian SDG Advocates, Nur Hayyu Supriatin, promoted the SDGs and the ASEAN MYWorld 2030 initiative on the famous Indonesian Broadcasting System or RRI (Radio Republik Indonesia) Sorong. She also organized a public discussion on “Improving Human Development Index in West Papua with SDGs” with the support from the Youth Changemakers Sorong organization located in West Papua. Her work as a MYWorld volunteer has contributed to creating a meaningful dialogue between citizens and their local government representatives. Nur is a journalist that also writes a storybook for Kasimle’s village children to increase their reading interest.
Read more about her experience here!
Singapore and the food waste campaign
There are many ways to raise awareness about the SDGs and one of the ASEAN SDG Advocates in Singapore used his creativity to reach his community. Shafkat Fahmid Sifat created “Choices and Habits Reducing Food Waste in Singapore” an advocacy video in Singapore about SDG 12 on sustainable consumption. The video was shared widely among young people in Singapore and beyond.
Shafkat was also the President of Migrant Workers Awareness Week 2016, one of the biggest events to raise awareness on migrant workers’ issues in Singapore. He is also one of the co-founders and a foreign delegate of Youth’s Voice, a registered NGO in Bangladesh, where he is involved in fundraising, especially in relation to the assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and for raising awareness on menstrual hygiene.
Taking action with MYWorld 2030 Advocates Programme
Dina, Nen, Kyn, Nur and Shafka are part of the ASEAN MY World 2030 Advocates Programme that was set up in June 2018. Under the leadership of the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub and the UN SDG Action Campaign, they have the opportunity to take a leadership role and carry out a series of advocacy activities in all 10 ASEAN countries. They were selected based on gender/ thematic area/ geographic criteria. Currently. there are 21 men and 29 women, professionals in education, climate change and social entrepreneurship areas.
The program encourages them to place a strong emphasis on marginalized and vulnerable groups: children, women and girls, economically-disadvantaged people, persons with disabilities, LGBTI+ groups, indigenous people, refugees and stateless persons. and marginalized groups. This way, they can really “leave no one behind”.
The results of their effort in local communities
All of the volunteers are doing a great job spreading awareness on their communities about the SDGs. The stories of the SDG Advocates can inspire a whole community to take action. Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam have tailored MYWorld 2030 programmes to implement them this year. Strategic partners, such as the ASEAN Foundation, several universities and regional civil society partners and youth networks, such as 2030 Youth Force, AIESEC and JCI, are involved in promoting the survey at the local level. All the efforts are needed to get everybody in the ASEAN region aware of the Sustainable Development Goals also needs the compromise of everybody. Keep the work up!
Finally… the SDG Global Festival of Action program is out!
We are only 6 weeks ahead of one of the most inspiring and energising SDG moments of the year! And thanks to the SDG community we’ve got a packed program full of workshops and interactive sessions with everything needed from learning new skills to connecting with partners and build the much-needed coalitions to advance action on the SDGs. Here’s a sample of the diversity of interactive sessions that awaits you each day…
DAY 1
Sound Impact: How music can lead in the delivery of the SDGs
UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony ABC for SDGs-preneurship Campaigns
Youth Movement 4 the SDGs
Harnessing Artistic Expression to Spur SDG Action and Awareness through Creativity, Empowering and Connecting people
DAY 2
The Power of Sport for Advancing on the Sustainable Development GoalsCommunicating the SDGs: The Food Forever StoryMulti-stakeholder Partnerships and Coalition BuildingYoga
Adaptive Intelligence of the Barefoot Solar MamasMunicipalities for Global Sustainability: Implementation of the 2030 Agenda at a Local Level
DAY 2
Social Entrepreneur Contest
SDG Campaign in Japan
Drumming workshop
Teaching SDGs around the world
Closing High-Level Plenary
And this list is still growing! More sessions, innovations and exhibits, the SDG Action Studio program, the official Film selection and other exciting Festival experiences to come… stay tuned!
Plan your Festival experience
Download the Festival app, fill your profile and connect with the SDG community! Create your own agenda to map the experience that is right for your needs and stay up-to-date with the latest programme news!
Find all the information you need to know about public transport, accommodation and currency exchange in the city on the logistics page. and get ready to arrive in Bonn!
SDG Action Digest IS BACK!!🎉 your monthly news from the #SDG global movement
Canon y la ONU aúnan fuerzas para promover los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible
Canon y las Naciones Unidas tienen un objetivo en común: promover y apoyar los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, concienciando a la población sobre la importancia de unirse a este movimiento global. Por eso, el programa de educación audiovisual para jóvenes Young People Programme colabora con la Campaña de Acción de Naciones Unidas para los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible y anuncia la convocatoria de la edición de 2019.
La Campaña de Acción de Naciones Unidas para los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible es una iniciativa especial interagencia del Secretario General de la ONU, encargada de ampliar, escalar y mantener el movimiento global de acción por los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, movilizar e inspirar a individuos y organizaciones de todo el mundo para que se unan al movimiento global, al tiempo que conectar las acciones y percepciones de las personas con los tomadores de decisiones en los procesos de planificación y revisión de Objetivos.
“Los 17 objetivos representan el Plan para transformar el mundo. Si queremos que se cumplan, necesitamos que todos, organizaciones e individuos por igual, tomen parte activa en esta transformación. A través de nuestro trabajo con Canon Europa, estamos brindando a los jóvenes la oportunidad de involucrarse en los temas que les afectan más directamente, contar sus propias historias y generar un dialogo con los líderes mundiales y unirse al movimiento global que está tomando cada vez más fuerza para asegurar que los ODS sean una realidad”, ha explicado Marina Ponti, Directora de la Campaña de Acción de Naciones Unidas para los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible.
El Young People Programme de Canon es una iniciativa a nivel europeo para concienciar a los jóvenes sobre el poder de la imagen para alcanzar los ODS. La primera edición en España tuvo lugar en julio de 2018, cuando 30 jóvenes madrileños de entre 15 y 18 años disfrutaran de dos semanas de formación destinadas a aprender el poder de la imagen para contar historias y hacer frente así a los problemas sociales. De la mano de profesionales de Canon, la ONG educativa Empieza por Educar, diversos fotógrafos profesionales como Ofelia de Pablo, Javier Zurita o Marc Albiac, y el Canon Ambassador Jaime de Diego, los jóvenes pudieron explorar los problemas globales que afectan su futuro, tomando los ODS como marco.
6 proyectos para dar voz a 6 realidades sociales
Los alumnos formaron 6 grupos para desarrollar sus proyectos finales, para los que eligieron un ODS sobre el cual realizaron un pequeño vídeo-documental acompañado de una serie fotográfica. Los trabajos finales, que pueden visualizarse en http://youngpeopleprogramme.es/primera-edicion/ fueron valorados por un jurado especializado formado por Aitor Lourido, responsable de comunicación de Empieza por Educar, Mercedes Martel, periodista de TVE24h, Olga Quintanilla, directora de Corresponsables y Juan Felipe Obreo, Director de Canal Profesional de Canon. El jurado destacó el gran trabajo realizado por los jóvenes en tan poco tiempo y su implicación en el proyecto.
Pablo Millanés Dulín, Director de Alianzas, Desarrollo y Operaciones de Empieza por Educar subrayó “la madurez con la que los alumnos se han enfrentado a estos proyectos, que tratan temas tan sensibles como la violencia de género o la desigualdad social desde el respeto, la compasión y la denuncia. Hemos visto cómo, en dos semanas, estos chicos han evolucionado no solo en sus aptitudes técnicas con las cámaras, sino también en su parte más humana”
“La fotografía y el vídeo son dos medios de expresión muy poderosos. Si enseñamos a los jóvenes a usar el poder de la imagen para contar historias reales, los convertiremos en verdaderos changemakers al poner su punto de vista al servicio de una sociedad más justa.”, destacó Gema Escudero, Responsable de Sostenibilidad de Canon España, sobre la importancia de la educación audiovisual para los jóvenes.
Young People Programe 2019: ya en marcha
Tras el éxito de la pasada edición, Canon ha dado a conocer las fechas de la edición de Young People Programme 2019, que tendrá lugar en Madrid del 24 de junio al 5 de julio. Una vez más contarán con el apoyo de Empieza por Educar y de Jaime de Diego para esbozar el programa educativo. Próximamente se anunciarán las fechas de apertura para el plazo de recepción de candidaturas.
#MYWorld South Sudan: Working for Gender Equality through Education
From UNDP South Sudan
Yine Yenki Nyika is Co-Founder and Mentorship Director of “GoGirls ICT Initiative”. Founded by a group of dedicated young South Sudanese women, the initiative aims to engage, educate and empower women and girls in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Yine has also involved the GoGirls in MYWorld2030, a global survey aiming to raise awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals, map priorities among citizens, and help decision makers understand citizen perceptions and priorities.
Yine, her GoGirls team members, and a few more volunteers chose to collect survey responses and raise awareness about the SDGs among South Sudanese youth who find themselves in between school or University and work. By approaching small businesses and Boda boda motorcyclists at their stopping places along busy Juba roads, Yine and her team sought to explore what kind of lives this population group are living. They were particularly interested in the situation for young women and mothers. Founded by and working for youth, the GoGirls seeks to find ways to engage and empower young South Sudanese. Yine finds that targeting youth through the MYWorld survey provides a good starting point to better understand and develop activities for this group.
GoGirls ICT Initiative is already working for the SDGs through its focus on education, girls’ empowerment, and gender equality. Thus, the MYWorld survey feeds into their work and only represents a “different way of solving our common problems”, says Yine. She finds the interactive approach that the survey provides interesting and useful. Her experience is that “people feel important, valued and safe when reached out to, and they freely share information about their lives, challenges and future aspirations. As a result, one gets to clearly understand their problems”. Yine finds it difficult to choose one SDG of high importance to her. “I like all the 17 SDGs”, she says laughing. However, Quality Education (Goal 4) and Gender Equality (Goal 5) are of particular concern to Yine.
“Education and Gender Equality go hand in hand. Education cuts across all the SDGs, like No Poverty, Decent work and economic growth, and Gender Equality. When we say: “education for all”, this also includes the other gender which is often left out, namely the girls”.
The inclusion of girls in the education system translates into a key principle for sustainable development and the SDGs; Leaving no one behind. According to Yine, if the education system is strengthened and quality education ensured for all, illiteracy rates will decrease, and we will see progress on many SDGs in South Sudan. Pointing to the multiple challenges faced by and violations committed against women and girls in South Sudan, Yine calls for and highlights the need for establishing forums or spaces where women and girls can talk freely and speak up about issues concerning them.
Sustainable Development Goals of immediate concern to South Sudanese and their families
By UNDP South Sudan
Tabann de Bol, MYWorld Volunteer
What is needed in South Sudan? They share their voices for a better world.
The MYWorld2030 survey brings people’s voices into debates on the 2030 agenda for sustainable development – the Sustainable Development Goals – in South Sudan and across the World. It is one of the mechanisms through which disaggregated data is collected and analysis is enabled to monitor progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. It therefore contributes to UNDP Strategic Plan outcome on advancing poverty eradication in all form and to UNDP Signature Solution of “keeping people out of poverty”. The project is financed by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.
UNDP South Sudan, with financial support from the Government and People of Norway, mobilized Volunteers to reach out and collect data for the Survey. It is also one of the commitments of UNDP South Sudan to develop “tools and country knowledge products applied to mainstream Sustainable Development Goals.
This data and analysis is meant for multiple purposes. First, it is meant to create opportunities for SDG engagement and awareness. Second, it is meant to monitor which of the SDGs South Sudanese consider are of immediate concern to them and their families. Third, it is meant to monitor perceptions of South Sudanese overtime, across geographical areas (place), gender, and generation regarding whether the situation is getting better, worse, or remaining the same. Fourth, it is meant to inform public and private choices on which SDGs to invest to address the greatest concerns of the South Sudanese. Note that this will also change over time, place, gender and generation.
Emmanuel Lobijo, MYWorld Volunteer
For instance, if people are unaware of SDGs, it is an opportunity to create awareness. In the case of South Sudan, only 45.4 percent are aware. Creating more awareness will enable South Sudanese appreciate global development discourse. At least ½ of the South Sudanese consider SDG 1 (No poverty), 3 (Good health and wellbeing), 4 (Quality Education), 5(Gender Equality), 6(Clean water and Sanitation), and 16 (Peace, Justice and strong institutions) of immediate concern to them and their families. At least ½ of the South Sudanese consider SDG 1 (No poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 14 (Life below water) have become worse. These inform investment choices for the public and private sectors.
The data was collected in 2018 covering interviewing 464 males and 203 females, making a total of 667 people.
Low Awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals
Are you aware of the Sustainable Development Goals or ‘Global Goals’ signed by 193 World Leaders at the UN in September 2015? The results show that the awareness of SDGs is low (see Figure 1), with less than ½ of the respondents indicating that they are aware of the SDGs. That is true for male and females. However, slightly more than ½ of those with education level beyond secondary are aware.
Which goals are of most immediate concern?
Which six of the following Global Goals are of immediate concern to you and your family? Respondents were asked to identify six of the Global Goals that are of immediate concern to them and their family (see Figure 2). At least ½ of the respondents indicated that SDG 1 (No poverty), 3 (Good health and wellbeing), 4 (Quality Education), 5(Gender Equality), 6(Clean water and Sanitation), and 16 (Peace, Justice and strong institutions) were of immediate concern to them and their families. We do not see major differences between men and women.
Perceptions of progress on the Goals
Respondents were asked: “Would you say the situation on your chosen Goals has got better, stayed the same or got worse over the past twelve months?”. Respondents were of the view that At least ½ of the South Sudanese consider SDG 1 (No poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 14 (Life below water) have become worse. This points to areas for possible investment by the public and private (national or international), especially in addressing poverty, hunger and decent work.
What does this mean for the National Development Strategy of South Sudan?
The National Development Strategy expected results and expected strategic deliverables are reproduced in Tables 1 and 2. In both instances, it is SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), 2 (No hunger), 3 (Health and wellbeing), 4 (Quality Education) and 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
Except for SDG 9 addressed by the National Development Strategy, the strategy seems to address the SDGs of immediate concerns to South Sudanese and their families.
In addition, except for SDG 8, the NDS seems to prioritize those that the South Sudanese consider having become worse in the past 12 months.
Table 1: Expected Results
| NDS Outcomes | SDG Related Indicator | NDS Indicator |
| Feel safe to go about their business | SDG 16.1.4 Proportion of population that feel safe walking alone around the area they live | % of population that report feeling safe to go about their business % population that feel walking alone around the area they live |
| Enjoy stable prices | SDG 2.c.1 Indicator of food price anomalies | Rate of inflation (year-on-year) |
| Access to basic services | SDG 16.6.2 Proportion of the population satisfied with their last experience of public services | % of population satisfied with their last experience of public services |
Table 2: Expected Strategic Deliverables
| Strategic Deliverables | SDG Related Indicator | NDS Indicator |
| Create enabling conditions for and facilitate the voluntary return and integration of displaced South Sudanese | SDG 16.1.5 Total number of people displaced internally due to conflict and violence | % of total number of people displaced internally due to conflict and violence return % of total number of refugees due to conflict and violence return |
| Develop appropriate laws and enforce the rule of law | NDS x: Proportion of people with rule of law related grievance that receive satisfactory redress | Proportion of people with rule of law related grievances that receive satisfactory redress |
| Ensure secure access to adequate and nutritious food | 2.4.1 Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture | Net Cereal production |
| Silence the guns by facilitating a permanent cessation of hostilities | 16.1.2 Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population, by sex, age and cause | Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population |
| Restore and expand the provision basic services | 3.1.2 Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel 3.b.1 Proportion of the population with access to affordable medicines and vaccines on a sustainable basis | Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel (%) |
| Restore and expand the provision basic services cont. | 4.1.1. Proportion of children and young people achieving at least a minimum proficiency level. 4.6.1 Percentage of population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills, by sex | Proportion of children completing primary education |
| Restore and maintain basic transport infrastructure such as roads and bridges | SDG 9.1.1 Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road | Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road |
What does this mean for the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan?
The Revitalized Peace Agreement has 4 substantive chapters that directly relate to the SDGs which have been reflected as of immediate concerns to South Sudanese and their families and/or are considered to have worsened:
- Chapter II: Permanent ceasefire and transitional security arrangements (SDSG 16);
- Chapter III: Humanitarian assistance and reconstruction (SDG 3 & 4);
- Chapter IV: Resource, economics and financial management (SDG 8);
- Chapter V: Transitional justice, accountability, reconciliation, and healing (SDG 16);
The other chapters are strongly linked to organization:
- Chapter I: Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity
- Chapter VI: Parameters of Permanent Constitution
- Chapter VII: Joint Monitoring and Evaluation
- Chapter VIII: Supremacy of the agreement and procedures for amendment.