New constitution will for sure be a positive contribution to Nepal's overall socio-economic development

 

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are essentially an agreed vision to put people and planet on a sustainable path by 2030. This will form the bedrock of a new development agenda that can set the world on a course of action to end poverty, transform lives and protect the planet.

 

In Nepal, together with other development partners, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is looking forward to continue working closely with the Government and provide support through various UNDP projects and initiatives in order to achieve these new global goals of Sustainable Development by 2030, including a possible graduation from Least Development Country (LDC) status by 2022. The Goals spell out how we work together to promote dignity, equality, justice, shared prosperity and well-being for all, while protecting the environment. We are the first generation that can end poverty and the last one that can avoid the worst effects of climate change.

 

I've learned from my work with the UNDP that setting goals and targets work. For example, UNDP's Micro Enterprise Development Programme (MEDEP), under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry, is helping reduce poverty through entrepreneurship by creating employment and income opportunities for the rural poor. In 2014, with funding from the Australian Government, MEDEP supported the Government to implement its Micro-Enterprise Development for Poverty Alleviation (MEDPA) project in 50 districts, creating more than 11,000 micro entrepreneurs. In the past 17 years, UNDP has created over 75,000 entrepreneurs with over 70 percent of these women, 25 percent Dalits and 43 percent from indigenous nationalities. This is one of the many UNDP projects being implemented in Nepal that aspires to achieve the goals of Sustainable Development.

 

Millions of people's lives have improved due to concerted efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which serve as the foundation for the next global development agenda. Globally, MDG targets have already been met on reducing poverty, increasing access to improved drinking water, improving the lives of slum dwellers and achieving gender parity in primary school.

 

In the case of Nepal, despite the prolonged political instability and the recent earthquakes, the country is on track and is likely to achieve most of the MDGs. The targets for poverty reduction, maternal mortality, and boys and girls enrollment in primary education are either achieved or likely to be achieved. Even in areas where Nepal is lagging behind, particularly in sanitation, it has already internalized an acceleration framework to mobilize adequate resources to expedite progress.

 

Over the past 20 years, the likelihood of a child dying before age five has been nearly cut in half. Globally, the maternal mortality ratio dropped by nearly half. More people than ever before are receiving antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infection. More than six million deaths from malaria were averted due to substantial expansion of malaria interventions. Enormous progress has been made, showing the value of a unifying agenda underpinned by goals and targets. Yet despite this progress, the indignity of poverty has not been ended for all.

 

That's why these 17 new Goals will continue this journey towards progress, to focus the world on ending poverty, hunger and major health problems, as well as break new ground by setting goals and targets on inequalities, economic growth, decent jobs, energy, climate change, and peace and justice, among others.

 

I believe we will achieve substantial results by taking on the many interconnected challenges we face together. Taking action to achieve the Global Goals and building greater shared prosperity is in everybody's best interest and provides enormous investment opportunities that will benefit all the people and the planet. Success in this new ambitious agenda for global action will be driven by leaders, governments and people, especially at the local levels. The Goals should matter to all of us, and we all have a shared responsibility for our future.

 

Leadership by national governments is a critical pre-requisite for the goals to be achieved. The recent promulgation of a new Constitution in Nepal will for sure be a positive contribution to focusing the effort of government towards socio-economic development and, in light of the lessons of recent earthquakes, improve the resilience of Nepal to future disasters and the impact of climate change. Furthermore, the federal nature of the country according to the new constitution also calls for adopting a localized approach to the SDGs and involving local communities to achieve them.

 

Let's focus on our shared problems and work on overcoming the common problems all countries face. With new, interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that apply to all, we can go much further to end all forms of poverty, ensure no one is left behind, tackle unsustainable practices and chart a dignified future for all peoples in all countries.

 

UNDP stands ready to support Nepal to making the SDGs a reality. We will work closely with the Government, private sector, civil society and other development partners in Nepal to strive to achieve lasting results for people and planet.