Domesticating the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Botswana

Thupe, BO
 

This presentation gives the background on the conceptualization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by leaders from 193 countries of the world at a United Nations Conference on sustainable development in Rio de Janeiro in September 2012. The conference noted that there were famines, drought, wars, plagues and poverty all over the world. They also noted that; there was enough food to feed the world, but it was shared by a few; there were medicines for HIV/AIDS and other diseases but they were expensive and they knew that earthquakes and floods were inevitable but high death tolls could be avoided.

The conference was tasked with producing a set of goals that would meet the social, environmental, political and economic challenges facing the world in today. The leaders created a plan called the 2030 which had 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 169 targets and about 230 indicators. The SDGs envisioned a future that would be rid of poverty, hunger and be safe from the worst effects of climate change by 2030. After wide consultations, the 2030 Agenda was adopted on 25^th September 2015. 

Botswana was amongst the countries which adopted the 2030 Agenda and the Government of Botswana has since made a commitment to implement the agenda through Vision 2036, NDP11, District Development Plan 8 and National Framework for Sustainable Development. After adopting the 2030 Agenda, Botswana undertook vigorous campaign to ensure the country ownership and leadership at both local and national levels. The National Steering Committee, Technical Task Force and Secretariat were formed in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to coordinate implementation and monitoring of SDGs. A National Roadmap which is a national strategy document was developed.