FG, Stakeholders Brainstorm on SDGs in Nigeria, to Present Status Report to UN

Abimbola Akosile

With about 16 months into the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, stakeholders in Nigeria are set to critically evaluate the implementation efforts of the global agenda with a view to producing an outcome document on the progress with the implementation of the SDGs in the country.

The report will feed into the National Voluntary Reviews that will be presented during the High Level Segment of the 2017 High Level Political Forum under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council in July.

The National Consultation on the National Voluntary Report, being convened by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, OSSAP-SDGs and partners, will hold on Tuesday, April 25 in Abuja and will have in attendance representatives from the Federal MDAs, State Governments, Civil Society Organisations, the Private Sector, Academia, International Development Partners, and the Parliament, amongst others.

According to a statement issued by the Head of Communications in OSSAP-SDGs, Janet McDickson, the stakeholders’ consultation will critically examine the implementation efforts along the following pillars: the current intervention efforts through policies and strategies towards achieving the Goals, how resources for the SDGs are being mobilised, challenges, key successes recorded so far on the efforts, as well as the emerging issues for attention on the goals.

The Consultation will also consider existing partnerships for accelerating the achievement of the Goals, lessons learned from efforts of key players, scalable good practices, implementation gaps and plans to address the gaps.

In considering the implementation gaps, issues bothering on financing, capacity development, data and statistical knowledge, performance management, results tracking, technology and partnership gaps, amongst others, will also be reviewed.

“Since the SDGs came into effect in January, 2016, Nigeria, through the Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire led OSSAP-SDGs and other implementing stakeholders have deployed the institutional, policy and financial mechanisms needed to advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Working with diverse stakeholders, efforts have also been intensified to ensure proper mainstreaming of the SDGs into the National and Subnational Development Plans, Policies, and Strategies.

“The review, therefore, will help ascertain our current implementation progress and status, while devising better strategies to address the gaps. It will also help outline some good practices, lessons learnt so far in trying to accelerate implementation, challenges faced and areas that require urgent and sustained attention, while making efforts to foster inclusion” McDickson stated.

The high-level political forum, under the auspices of the UN ECOSOC provides a platform for partnerships among major groups and relevant high-level international stakeholders. Nigeria is one of the few countries selected to make formal presentation this year.