With the adoption of 2030 Agenda, on September 25^th 2015 by the heads of states of 193 countries under the aegis of United Nation’s General Assembly (UNGA), attention turned to the national level, where our governments at federal and provincial levels, working with a range of stakeholders, and struggling to establish a framework for implementation that identifies a realistic set of locally appropriate targets and indicators. In this context, it is much appreciative that government has already commenced the process of implementation of SDGs by approving National Framework for SDGs targets and indicators, notifying Parliamentary Task Forces on SDGs to oversight the implementation of national priority framework, establishing SDGs Units at Planning Commission of Pakistan and at P & D Departments at Provincial headquarters. However, most of the civil society, academics, private sector, local governments and other related stakeholders were unaware of these efforts. AwazCDS/Pakistan Development Alliance has carried out a quick mapping/ assessment on the current status of SDGs implementation at national and provincial level that identifies the accomplishments, opportunities, challenges and gaps to date. In order to highlight and share the key findings of the assessment, a series of policy to action forums were organized at national and provincial levels. Besides the criticism, the report shares equally strong voices of approval for the SDGs framework. SDGs framework is now considered an effective lobbying tool as it allowed the civil society to have their voices heard on issues relevant to their socio-economic development and political empowerment. The report acknowledges that SDGs have been useful in sensitizing governments, providing a platform, opportunity of collaboration, identifying gaps in social development. However this report also highlights the general limitations and poor ownership of governments at provincial and district levels, little involvement of grassroots communities and limited ability of state and civil society institutions including NGOs/ INGOs, political parties and privates sectors for integration of SDGs into country specific action plans.

The report shares the diverse opinion of people and related stakeholders regarding the implementation of SDGs. Some views are much critical that includes the lack of ownership by the governments, inefficiencies and the dominance of non-democratic forces over strategic level decisions making negatively affected the implementation of SDGs agenda. Furthermore, unreliable data used as baselines weakened the legitimacy of the proposed framework and SDGs implementation process. The report also shares more philosophical nature of criticism of the people regarding the approach of the SDGs and termed them quite ambitious in nature. These critics argued that human development goals should have been determined in respect of basic inalienable human rights instead of current top-down development approach.

To conclude, report in hand portrays accumulated efforts of assessment and policy to action forums that sets the way forward for the consideration and follow up of all related legislatures, decision makers, stakeholders and above than all The People of Pakistan who are the real beneficiaries and custodian of commitments made under Agenda 2030 for social transformation and sustainable development.

We really look forward to your kind feedback and support on our efforts at zia@awazcds.org.pk

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The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were signed and adopted by 189 countries after the Millennium Declaration in September 2000.2 The further agreement by member states taken place at the 2005 World Summit. These eight time-bound goals are both global and local, tailored by each country to suit specific development needs and provide concrete, numerical benchmarks for tackling extreme poverty in its many dimensions.

In the years up to 2015, the world needs to remain focused on achieving the MDGs. At the same time, discussions have already begun on the agenda that could build on and succeed the MDGs. Any new Post 2015 Development Framework needs to take start with an analysis of the MDGs agenda and what has worked and not worked. The new development agenda must also take into account how the context for development has changed since the MDGs were agreed. Climate change and environmental vulnerability, recent crises and volatility arising from economic globalization, the changing nature of global governance, inequalities between and within countries, as well as trends relating to technology, demography, urbanization, and migration are rapidly changing the world we live in.

The consultation process on the post 2015 development agenda includes face to face consultations on different themes and with diverse stakeholders, online thematic consultations and national consultations in more than 100 countries including Pakistan.These consultations are pertinent for refining and developing more goals.

One criticism on the MDGs had been that they were “top-down”, therefore, the objective was to get feedback from the communities, experts and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), who work with marginalized communities. There is a need to ensure that the post-2015 framework process is based on sound evidence, involve poor and vulnerable and create ownership of stakeholders at large. Therefore, it is critical to facilitate a “bottom-up” and inclusive approach defined by national and local priorities in a participatory and realistic framework.

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