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View all search resultsASEAN localizes SDG initiatives to each village as a regional approach
The achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is usually more successful when it is treated as a grassroot initiative from the people and by the people.
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T
he achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is usually more successful when it is treated as a grassroot initiative from the people and by the people. Based on this perception, the localization of SDGs down to the village level is regarded as the best regional approach in ASEAN.
The approach was agreed upon and announced by ASEAN member countries in Bangkok on March 31, as part of the Joint Statement of the Second ASEAN Ministerial Dialogue on Accelerating Actions to Achieve SDGs.
“Moreover, since 2020 Indonesia has been implementing the Village SDGs as a form of localizing the SDGs to the villages. It's time for the governance and results of the Village SDGs to be conveyed to the international public," said Ivanovich Agusta, Head of Development and Information Agency for Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration.
The core of the SDGs for village empowerment is to embolden the voices of local communities, including rural areas, and promote sustainability goals on a regional level. This includes facilitating networking and dialogue among ASEAN villages and various relevant stakeholders, carried out through partnerships between member countries and beyond, toward inclusive rural development.
The meeting in Bangkok was attended by Yanuar Nugroho, the expert coordinator of the National Secretariat for Sustainable Development Goals, National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas). He was joined by the delegates from the Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry Ivanovich Agusta, Fince Decima Hasibuan, Theresia Junidar, Sudarti, Minarni Marbun and Yoga Sidharta.
In line with the post-pandemic recovery, ASEAN agrees to prioritize certain issues, such as the first goal, which is to eradicate poverty, and to increase job opportunities and economic growth, which occupies the eighth goal on the list.
Moreover, it is also agreed upon by member nations to provide accelerated action to narrow the gap on the third goal, on health and well-being, sixth on clean water and sanitation, 11th on cities and communities, 12th on responsible consumption and production, 13th on climate action, and 14th about life below water.
In order to further ensure the success of the initiatives, it was agreed upon by all parties that they would take action to strengthen data systems and institutions to track the implementation and progress of the SDGs. It is also coupled with the commitment to create and maintain a conducive financial environment, which aims to mobilize development financing that closes the gap in financing activities related to achieving the said goals.
Staying true to the gotong royong term that was put forth by the Indonesian leadership in recent years, the chairmanship once again stresses the importance of enhanced regional cooperation and partnership to ensure that no country is left behind. All parties agreed to adopt the terms of reference of the ASEAN Ministerial Dialogue on Accelerated Action on SDGs as a platform for strengthening cooperation among nations, exchanging knowledge, good practices and building capacity.
Furthermore, if deemed necessary, ASEAN will review the COVID-19 recovery strategy, to align and synergize with national development policies and financing frameworks that focus on SDGs, as well as exploring more approaches to promoting synergies with other ASEAN organs, sectoral bodies and ASEAN-related mechanisms to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.
With external parties, it was agreed to strengthen cooperation on SDGs by implementing ASEAN's views on the Indo-Pacific, through open, inclusive and mutually beneficial activities with external partners.
This article was published in collaboration with Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration
