UN deputy chief highlights importance of public institutions in reaching development goals

“When the centre of government functions effectively, collective expertise from across the public sector can be mobilized and brought to bear on the most pressing decisions confronting a country,” the Deputy Secretary-General told a high-level event on getting Governments organized to deliver on the SDGs.

She said that Governments and public institutions will work out how best Governments can reach the SDGs, but only “if it is driven by visionary and committed public leadership, adequate resources and capacity and the exchange of lessons learned.”

Addressing the event, organized in part by the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Mohammed noted that the SDGs call for Governments to listen to the people and engage them in decision-making.

She stressed that Government mobilize all actors around the SDGs, and ensure that institutions are effective, accountable and inclusive.

“Few tasks are more important for the effective functioning of government than leadership and coordination from the top of the executive branch,” Mohammed said.

She noted that the 17 SDGs are focused on putting people first and leaving no one behind: “No one is too hard to reach.”

The event was held as part of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which started on 10 July and wraps up tomorrow, and which this year focuses on eliminating poverty.

The annual forum is designed to be a platform for discussing implementation of the anti-poverty agenda, and for Governments to learn from each other.

This year's discussions include presentations on the challenges and gaps in reaching the development agenda in 44 countries that volunteered to give progress reports, and more than 120 side events related to the SDGs.

Among on Tuesday's other events related to the HLPF was the SDG Business Forum.

UN Photo/Mark Garten

Source: www.justearthnews.com