September 22, 2017
SDG Fund presents lessons in gender equality to advance the SDGs at Columbia University

The International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD), which with theme the “The World in 2050: Looking Ahead for Sustainable Development” gathered development researchers, practitioners and policy makers, where the SDG Fund presented the lessons learned from its initiatives promoting gender equality. This conference brought together professionals from the private sector, academia, government, UN and civil society to rethink how speed up 2030 Agenda’s implementation.

Participation in ICSD was an important part of Knowledge Management of the SDG Fund to raise awareness about the work of the SDG Fund and its partners to promote gender equality and advance the 2030 Agenda based on joint efforts and innovative joint programmes. The SDG Fund presented the research paper on “Gender and Sustainable Development” to show the role of gender equality (SDG 5) to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. The paper analyzes the implementation of the dual strategy for advancing gender equality,with specific gender programmes and simultaneously mainstreaming gender as a cross-cutting priority in 6 joint programmes. Cases studies, representing various geographical regions (Bangladesh, the occupied Palestinian territory, Viet Nam, Ethiopia, Bolivia and Nicaragua) demonstrate that various approaches can be used (capacity development, legislative and policy development, advocacy and communication, access to credit, economic and political empowerment of women and access to health) to promote and protect the rights of women and girls and advance sustainable development.

The experience of the SDG Fund as a UN multi-agency development mechanism confirm that gender equality is a multi-dimensional issue which needs to be addressed by a range of solutions and actors. The paper showed that sustainable development can never be attained without the full and equal empowerment of women and girls as the SDG 5 is interlinked with the other SDGs that require women’s equality and empowerment as both the objective, and as part of the solution. Therefore, mainstreaming gender as a cross-cutting priority is the approach to advance sustainable development.

Main findings confirm that gender inequality is deeply rooted in economic, social and cultural structures of society. Joint programmes of the SDG Fund designed and implemented address gender-related inequalities by factoring their fundamental causes and prioritizing concrete interventions to empower women by changing institutions, legislation, policies, behaviors and attitudes. Gender equality is vital to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.

For the authors of the paper who reviewed the SDG Fund’s experience, it is clear that there is no universal solution to support the gender equality. This is why gender equality programs need to take into account national settings, cultural contexts and national needs. As a result, gender equality requires a wide range of solutions and partners to work in a collective manner to address gender in a broad and holistic manner, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

The SDG Fund will continue its commitment to promote gender equality and empowerment of women through education, employment, and political representation, as well as by ensuring women’s access to health and credit as fundamental steps towards sustainable development and eradication of all forms of violence against women.