Achieving sustainable, equitable and resilient societies is humankind’s challenge for the 21st century. In pursuit of this ambition, the international development community needs a shared universal framework for working more closely together. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the obvious answer, but technical, political and organisational challenges prevent development co-operation providers from using the SDGs as their common results framework.
This policy report builds on seven comparative case studies conducted in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Myanmar, Peru, Samoa and Uganda. The case studies explore whether the SDG framework, with its 169 targets and 232 indicators, can be used as a shared framework for results in development co-operation at country level. Each case study is published under an individual country report that analyses how partner country governments and development partners align their strategic plans to the SDGs, set up monitoring approaches that support SDG measurement, and use the SDGs as a shared framework for results at country level. Each report provides technical suggestions for partner country governments and development partners to overcome bottlenecks and tap into the potential of the SDGs as a common framework for results and impact. In addition, a comparative report highlights the commonalities and differences of engaging in different country contexts: in least developed countries, middle-income countries, fragile contexts and small island developing states.
The key messages and suggested strategic actions presented in this summary report are directed to heads of development co‑operation ministries and agencies.
Chapter 1 presents the benefits that stakeholders would gain from realigning development co-operation to SDG results at country level. It notes that reaping those benefits and efficiencies requires that most partners first align to the SDGs, and it takes stock of where partner country governments and development partners stand in this regard. Chapter 2 explores the bottlenecks that are hampering SDG adoption at country level. It outlines insights and lessons learnt from the practice of development co‑operation providers, and presents practical strategies to enhance the focus on SDG results. Chapter 3 focuses on the role of leadership. It presents six strategic actions that can transform development co‑operation for the SDG era in support of equitable and sustainable development.