“Investing in the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] is both sensible and feasible: it is a win-win for the world,
as the social and economic rates of return on sustainable development in developing countries is very high.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the launch of his call for a $500 billion SDG Stimulus
Sustainable Development Goal 17 is about revitalizing the global partnership, including increased financing, for sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is universal and calls for action by all countries – developed and developing – to ensure no one is left behind. It requires partnerships between governments, the private sector, and civil society, as the SDGs can only be realized with a strong commitment to global partnership and cooperation.
Sustainable development prospects continue to diverge between developed and developing countries. SDG financing needs are growing, but development finance is not keeping pace. The war in Ukraine, sharp increases in food and energy prices, and rapidly tightening financial conditions have increased hunger and poverty and reversed progress on the SDGs. If left unaddressed, a finance divide will translate into a lasting sustainable development divide.
SDG 17: In Numbers
- In 2021, official development assistance (ODA) rose by 8.5 % compared to 2020, to an all-time high of $185.9 billion.
- International investment in SDG-related sectors in developing countries increased by 70 per cent in 2021, due to renewable-energy and energy-efficiency projects. However, the share of total SDG investment that went to least developed countries decreased from 19 per cent in 2020 to 15 per cent in 2021.
(See Facts and Figures)
SDG Stimulus
UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a call earlier this year for a $500 billion SDG Stimulus.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s SDG Stimulus to Deliver Agenda 2030 offers recommendations on how to transform the global financial system, calling on the Group of 20 (G20) countries to endorse the SDG Stimulus, which outlines a three-point plan of action:
- Tackle the high cost of debt and rising risks of debt distress, including by converting short-term, high interest borrowing into long-term debt at lower interest rates;
- Massively scale up affordable long-term financing for development, especially through public development banks, including multilateral development banks, and by aligning all financing flows with the SDGs; and
- Expand contingency financing to countries in need.
[Read UN News story and watch a replay of press briefing about SDG Stimulus launch.]
With 2023 marking the midpoint of SDG implementation, the international community must accelerate progress on Goal 17, banking on key opportunities, such as the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July, and the SDG Summit and the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development in September.
What to Watch For
Coming Up
World Autism Awareness Day (2 April)
This year, World Autism Awareness Day will be observed with a virtual event on Sunday, 2 April, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST.
The event is organized in close collaboration with autistic people and will feature autistic people from around the world discussing how the transformation in the narrative around neurodiversity can continue to be furthered in order to overcome barriers and improve the lives of autistic people. It will also address the contributions that autistic people make – and can make – to society, and to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The event will be streamed on the UN’s YouTube and Twitter channels, and on UN WebTV.
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (6 April)
To mark the 10th annual International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) at UN Headquarters in New York, the UN Department of Global Communications in collaboration with UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Permanent Missions of Monaco and Qatar to the United Nations, is hosting an in-person event on Thursday, 6 April 2023 at 10:30am ET in the ECOSOC Chamber. Join for a special event featuring elite athletes and leading figures from the world of sport. Experts from organizations such the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation, the International Confederation for Professional Footballers (FIFPRO), the US Tennis Association (USTA), PUMA, Bleacher Report, and many others will discuss the creative and innovative ways that sport is helping to tackle climate change and advance sustainable practices; promote gender equality and human rights; and combat racism and hate speech.
The event will also include a one-on-one conversation with legendary Inter Milan and Argentine footballer Javier Zanetti and a special video message from famed Côte d’Ivoire and Chelsea FC footballer Didier Drogba. Register here: bit.ly/IDSDP2023registration
For more information, including the full programme and speaker details, please visit un.org/observances/sport-day/events
World Health Day (7 April)
On 7 April, the World Health Organization will observe its 75th anniversary. The theme this year is Health For All. In 1948, countries of the world came together and founded WHO to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being.
WHO’s 75th anniversary year is an opportunity to look back at public health successes that have improved quality of life during the last seven decades. It is also an opportunity to motivate action to tackle the health challenges of today ̶ and tomorrow. For more information, please visit WHO website: https://www.who.int/campaigns/75-years-of-improving-public-health
22nd Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (17-28 April)
Indigenous Peoples from around the world will gather in New York for the annual session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues under the banner “Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health and climate change: a rights-based approach”.
Speakers anticipated to participate include:
- Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia
- Deb Haaland, US Secretary of the Interior
- António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
- Csaba Kőrösi, President of the General Assembly
From 17-20 April, there will also be a Media Zone, which indigenous and non-indigenous media are welcome to join. Register to join: https://bit.ly/40hLs1g
International Mother Earth Day (22 April)
International Mother Earth Day is a moment to encourage each other to live in harmony with nature and the Earth as our common home. Adopted in 2009, the Day recognizes a collective responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth, to achieve a just balance among the economic, social, and environmental needs of the present and future generations of humanity. Learn more about the Day here and see how you can participate in this year’s activities to celebrate our home.
ECOSOC Youth Forum (25-27 April)
The Economic and Social Council Youth Forum will take place from 25 to 27 April in a hybrid format in New York. The Forum provides a platform for young people to engage in a dialogue with Member States and other actors to voice their views, concerns and galvanize actions on how to transform the world into a fairer, greener and more sustainable place guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Youth Forum will address the theme of ECOSOC and the 2023 UN High-level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF) on “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at levels”. It will also review progress in the areas of clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and partnerships for the goals (SDG17). Young people will also share their recommendations and innovative ideas in preparation of the SDG Summit, which will be held in September 2023. Further details can be found here.
World Export Development Forum (26–29 June), Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The Forum is the annual flagship event of the International Trade Centre (ITC). This year’s conference, hosted by the Government of Mongolia, explores trade-led solutions to challenges caused by conflict, climate, COVID and rising costs. The theme, “Diversify with Green Trade,” explores organic, digital and sustainable solutions to multiple crises. This year’s event reaches out especially to Asia-Pacific countries as well as landlocked developing countries. Find more information here: https://intracen.org/news-and-events/events/world-export-development-forum-2023
Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (3-4 May 2023)
The Forum will facilitate discussions on science, technology and innovation cooperation in support of the SDGs. In addition to providing the mandated inputs for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July, the Forum will also take a broader look at the contribution of science, technology and innovation to the achievement of all the SDGs in the lead up to the SDG Summit, which serves as a mid-term review of SDG progress. Accordingly, the theme for the 2023 Forum is: “Science, technology and innovation for accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”. It will be held at UN Headquarters in New York.
For more information, visit the Forum website: https://sdgs.un.org/tfm/STIForum2023