SDGN Journey: A Decade of Commitment, Challenges, and Progress.
Nepal's SDG Journey: A
Decade of Commitment, Challenges, and Progress.
Nepal's journey to the
achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been a combination
of strategic planning, collaborative efforts, and the battle with unexpected
setbacks. From the establishment of national priorities in accordance with
global goals in 2016 to the ongoing efforts in 2025, the commitment of the
country towards sustainable development is evident. This blog delves into the
key milestones, setbacks, and the path forward for Nepal towards the SDGs.
2016: Laying the
Foundation
In 2016, Nepal took a significant
step in aligning its national development plans with the SDGs. The National
Planning Commission (NPC) chose five development priority plans and linked them
with specific SDGs, laying the groundwork for an integrated development
framework. The alignment ensured that Nepal's development trajectory aligned
with global aspirations, setting the stage for the future years.
2017: Constructing an
Inclusive Roadmap
2017 proved to be the watershed
year when NPC, in partnership with UNDP, launched a Master SDG Roadmap. The
roadmap laid out a definitive path of Nepal's growth, offering strategies and
actions on how to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The roadmap served as a guiding
report, making certain all sectors and actors were synchronized in their chase
of sustainable improvement.
2018–2019: Scheduling
Projects and Securing Synergies
During this period, Nepal
prioritized undertaking projects that were in accordance with the SDGs. Yearly
mapping of public expenditure was adopted by the government so that funds were
spent on projects that helped in sustainable development. The system ensured
effective allocation of funds and that investments yielded maximum output in
achieving the SDGs.
2020–2021: Coping with
Challenges during the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic presented
unprecedented challenges to Nepal's development progress. In reaction, the
government identified measures to contain the impact of the pandemic,
underscoring the relevance of harmonizing recovery efforts with the SDGs to create
a sustainable and resilient future. The pandemic highlighted the necessity of
having strong health systems, social protection systems, and economic
resilience, all of which are core to the SDGs.
2023: Accelerating
Progress Through Multi-Stakeholder Engagement
Recognizing the need to hasten
progress, Nepal identified in 2023 SDG acceleration areas. Countrywide, there
was a campaign to mobilize multi-stakeholders and to unite them into one action
toward the implementation of the SDGs. The focus of the campaign was inclusive
development so that none are left behind in pursuing sustainable development.
2024–2025: Integrating
SDGs at Local and Provincial Levels
Efforts to localise SDGs in
provincial and local plans encountered resource mobilisation, data management,
and coordination issues. The efforts were designed to ensure sustainable
development at all levels of government and increase inclusiveness and equity.
Localisation of the SDGs in Nepal ensured that development planning was
relevant to the context and flexible in responding to the needs of different
communities.
Challenges and
Financial Gaps
Despite the strategic
interventions and planning, Nepal is gravely challenged to achieve the SDGs.
The National Planning Commission reported that Nepal has achieved only 41.7% of
the SDG targets, and it is gap; NPR 1.1 trillion of investment every year is
required, but there exists a gap of approximately NPR 585 billion. This fiscal
constraint cripples the roll-out of different SDG-related initiatives, and
creative financing modalities and efficient resource mobilization are needed.
The Way Forward
To bridge the gaps and propel
progress, Nepal must focus on a number of key areas:
1.Enhanced Financial Plans: Putting in place procedures to
calculate needs, calculate costs, and formulate financial plans is crucial.
This includes looking for creative public and private sources of money to pay
for SDG implementation.
2.Creating Strong Data Systems :There are strong data gathering and
analysis in order to monitor progress and make informed choices. Creating
strong data systems will enable us to make timely interventions and ensure
nobody gets left behind.
3.Capacity Building at the Local Level : Capacity building within
institutions at both the local and provincial levels is essential for good SDG
governance. This includes training officials, raising awareness, and providing
the local governments with resources to pursue SDG-related activities.
4.Public Awareness and Involvement : Public awareness of the SDGs
is essential to secure public involvement. Citizens' involvement in the
development process strengthens ownership and guarantees that development
policy is the people's cry.
5.Strengthening Partnerships: The collaboration with development
partners, the private sector, and civil society is critical in mobilizing
capacities and resources. Strengthening partnerships will enhance the efficacy
of SDG implementation and make efforts cohesive and coordinated.
Conclusion
The journey of Nepal to achieve
the SDGs is characterized by resilience in the midst of challenges, strategic
planning, and commitment. While some progress has been achieved, there must be
sustained efforts to overcome prevailing limitations in order to have every
citizen enjoy sustainable development. By concerted effort, upgrading data
management, and mobilizing resources, Nepal can lay the foundation for a
prosperous and sustainable future. The future demands cooperation, innovative
thinking, and uncompromising adherence to the principles of sustainable
development.
