Still Left Behind: SDG Implementation Seen from the Grassroots

13th February 2024, CSocD62 Side Virtual Event organized by the International Association of Schools of Social Work.

Diana Dupuy-Faustin presented a summary of the written responses, in which she showed the parallelism between developed and developing countries on some issues. Whether in the UK or in Mozambique there was a cry to address the housing shortage.  Both Indonesia and the USA are struggling to face the climate crisis. Lack of educational opportunities affects children in both India and Chad. A cry for gender equality was heard with great passion from Burkina Faso. 

This was followed by voices from grassroots members of three organizations joining us through recorded videos. We began with a video from India, listening to the testimony of two young women from a poor area of Delhi, Aanshi and Shally, both alumnae of the Life Project 4 Youth training program. They talked about women's rights in their daily lives and the place of women in their community. Shally shared her story, explaining how her boyish look is one way to try to have the same opportunities as men.  

The next video brought us the voice of two young people from Colombia who spoke to the need for jobs and education for youth and also addressed the fact that many half-done essential infrastructure projects are waiting to be completed. In the video from Zambia we heard from a woman who gave us some insight into what needs to be done to achieve the first six SDGs in her rural village.  She noted in particular the need for better access to education in the rural setting.  

Two panelists, Richard Quadros, from India, and Maryann Broxton, from the United States, brought us their perspective on where we are with the SDGs. Richard reminded us of the core definition of sustainable development as development which does not compromise future generations or the environment.  Maryann spoke about extreme inequality across countries, including the rich United States. She made an excellent point about how, under Covid, the government found the funding to meet many needs but lacked the political will to continue this when the crisis ended.  

In her closing remarks Dr. Lynne Healy noted the importance of engaging with, hearing from and listening to the people at the grassroots.  They are the ones with the personal experience of what is still lacking to achieve the SDGs. She reminded us that we are all in this together and only together will we make the promise of Agenda 2030 a reality.

For more information about the 62nd Commission for Social Development (CSocD62), please visit: https://social.desa.un.org/csocd/62nd   

Source: International Association of Schools of Social Work