Dialogue on implementing the SDGs in the Pacific
A joint SDSN Australia/Pacific and Pacific Community workshop in Suva on 23-24 March 2016 discussed the opportunities, challenges and priorities of the SDGs for the Pacific, and how knowledge institutions in the region can contribute towards their implementation.
Universities and other knowledge institutions have a critical role to play in supporting the national, regional and global implementation of the new UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDSN Australia/Pacific, through the Monash Sustainability Institute, has recently had the privilege of partnering with the Pacific Community to discuss the opportunities and challenges for Pacific knowledge institutions in contributing to the regional response on the SDGs.
The SDGs are a shared global framework of development priorities to 2030, signed onto by all world governments, which aims to bring an end to extreme poverty, promote prosperity and well-being for all, protect the environment and address climate change, and encourage good governance and peace and security. They came into effect in January 2016.
Although the SDGs framework is global, their implementation at the national level must depend on the specific context of each country.
Through a joint workshop, held in Suva, Fiji on 23–24 March, participants from key knowledge and implementation organisations in the Pacific region came together to discuss how knowledge institutions can contribute towards implementing the SDGs in the unique context and needs of the Pacific.
The participants – which included universities, regional inter-governmental agencies, UN agencies and NGOs – shared knowledge and experiences and brainstormed ideas from their different perspectives.
They identified a number of opportunities that knowledge institutions, through their expertise in research, data analysis and education, could contribute to the regional implementation of the SDGs. These included:
- Incorporation of the SDGs into national and regional sustainable development plans and processes
- Development of regionally and nationally-appropriate indicators and monitoring and reporting frameworks
- Identification of solution pathways to implementation
- Capacity building and education of current and future “implementers” of the SDGs
They also discussed potential collaboration opportunities and partnerships on how to go forward, including with SDSN Australia/Pacific.
