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December 22, 2016
The SDG Fund in 2016, a year-end review
As 2016 quickly comes to an end we wanted to take this time to share some highlights of our recent activities on what has proved to be a remarkable year for us at the SDG Fund.
Brief update and focus: New lessons from the field
This month marks the end of a very pivotal time, both for the number of new initiatives underway as well as our joint programmes now operational in 23 countries. We are pleased to have significant progress in programs ranging from Mozambique to Viet Nam. Consider for example, Bangladesh, the SWAPNO programme is working with local government partners to strengthen women’s ability to find productive job opportunities. Or Côte d’Ivoire where through affordable legal support children like Adama (below) are gaining access to education. We also initiated a number of new programs in key countries like Nigeria and Cuba. Drawing on a diverse portfolio of programs now at various levels of maturity, the SDG Fund is pleased to say that more than 1.4 million people have seen their lives improved in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Arab States. We will continue to share progress on our unique collaborative programs, and at the same time offer some updates on our various work and projects to date.
Adama (8) lives in Bounganou in the coastal region of San Pedro in Côte d’Ivoire, where many people spend their lives battling the cycles of poverty and inequality they were born into. His father abandoned his pregnant mother before Adama was born. The day she had to give birth, she only had 5,000 francs CFA (approximatively 7 USD) and needed to undergo surgery. Not having been registered at the civil birth registry, Adama couldn’t exercise his right to schooling. But thanks to legal support provided by the SDG Fund joint programme in Côte d’Ivoire he obtained a birth certificate and is now attending school. © SDG Fund / UNICEF Côte d’Ivoire/2016/Gilliam
The growing role of the SDG Fund
In November, we hosted the launch of our private sector second report focusing on Universality and the SDGs: A Business Perspectiveat the United Nations ECOSOC Chamber. The program featured welcoming remarks by Gulden Turkoz-Cosslett, Assistant Deputy Administrator of the UN Development Program (UNDP) who Partners from governments, UN Agencies and private sector recognized the complimentary roles of the public and private sectors as key to encouraging universal development and fostering innovation -all of which play an integral part of the report. Speakers from our Private Sector Advisory Groupreflected on the need to educate companies on the important framework offered by the goals and suggested the need for partners to work more closely at the country level to more effectively bring businesses and governments together.
The new report provides a compelling case for the ‘universal’ nature of the Agenda 2030 and its 17 development goals as well as offers valuable perspective into where companies can have an impact as well as the challenges in integrating the SDGs into existing business plans and metrics. The report is based on a number of global workshops in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the United States, interactive discussions and interviews with private sector participants. It also provides short case studies with members of the SDG Fund’s Private Sector Advisory group. The report can be found on our website and included in the library of Sustainable Brands, a key platform for corporate responsibility, Devex and in Next Billion.
Spotlight, building a better roadmap: focus on creative industries
With the 2030 Agenda now fully underway we are continuing to examine our progress in terms of our robust programs and external communications to advance the 2030 Agenda. As part of the SDG Fund’s ongoing interest and mission in advocating and informing audiences on the sustainable development goals, we have been actively working to engage new sectors and creative industries, including collaborating with experts in the field of architecture and design. In April, the SDG Fund hosted a special UN program demonstrating the role that architecture can play in fostering strong communities and cities within the development agenda, introducing a number of dialogues on the subject, together with Pritzker Prize winner, Alajandro Aravena and other celebrated architects. Some highlights of the weeklong program are featured in Dezeen, Devex Impact, El País, La Tercera and Architectural Record.
Historic launch of the Food Africa program in Nigeria
In order to tackle the multi-dimensional and pressing challenges inherent linked to food security and nutrition, the SDG Fund in collaboration with public and private partners including Sahara Group in Nigeria recently launched a novel program to work with small farmers. Working in the Kaduna State, The Food Africa project will provide a backward and forward integration approach for food supply chain management. The program which is potentially replicable to other regions around the globe will work to train and educate farmers on sustainable practices to increase harvest, enhance storage and improve smallholder farmers’ profitability. More about this program can be found in the UN Radio interview which features, Tonye Cole, CEO of the Sahara Group who shared insight on the genesis and potential scale of the project.
As part in parcel to this, the SDG Fund also welcomed the new UNDP goodwill Ambassadors, famed chefs, the Roca Brothers, who are SDG Fund key partners in activities linked to the important Food Africa project, as well as key sponsors and partners in this month’s global recipe challenge with the SDG Fund. Designed around the raising awareness on issue of sustainable food preparation, cooking and healthy food options, the global challenge entitled, #recipe4change features an active social media component linked to a global recipe contest. Winners will get the chance to spend a day in famed restaurant El Celler can Roca in Spain preparing the recipe in the Roca’s kitchen and dining with the Chefs.
Joint development programmes in practice
Looking forward, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of how our joint programmes work in practice, the SDG Fund has recently completed a series of in-depth case studies on many of the most interesting projects in the portfolio. In January 2017, we will feature these case studies and other information in our online library.
In other news...
Last but not least, we are excited to announce plans for a number of initial focus areas in the coming months which include plans for collaboration with the Principality of Monaco designed to promote Sports and Development as a vehicle and driver of peaceful societies and social change.
The SDG Fund is also eager to continue to identify and accelerate joint programmes, innovations and market-driven approaches that alleviate poverty and improve on issues like food security, water and economic growth. The Fund will look to explore synergies and partnerships and find improvements in areas including business and peace, sports and development as well as opportunities to expand our existing programs.
We thank you for your support and invite you to stay tuned in January for exciting news on the next phase of our work and until then, best wishes for 2017!
