Independent Assessment Report by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) on Bangladesh’s SDG Achievements under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Leadership.
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), led by esteemed US economist Jeffery David Saka, recently conducted an independent assessment report that lauds the efforts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh’s pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A Triumph of sustainable development
The report highlights the remarkable alignment of the country’s development agenda with the appropriate SDGs, a testament to the Prime Minister’s dynamic and visionary leadership. Moreover, it emphasizes the government’s commitment to respect the people’s mandate while ensuring continuity in governance. The evaluation report underlines Bangladesh’s continuous progress in the implementation of the SDGs. In 2017, the country was ranked 120th out of 157 countries in global SDG performance, a position that improved significantly by 2020, with Bangladesh securing the 109th spot out of 166 countries.
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According to the assessment, Bangladesh has made significant strides in achieving two SDGs: “Quality Education” and “Moderate Consumption and Sustainable Production.” Additionally, six SDGs have shown moderate improvement: “Poverty Eradication,” “Hunger Eradication,” “Good Health and Welfare,” “Safe Water and Sanitation,” “Affordable and Pollution-Free Energy,” and “Industrial Innovation and Infrastructure.” However, five SDGs have remained stagnant and require further development: “Gender Equality,” “Decent Work and Economic Growth,” “Sustainable Cities and Towns,” “Climate Action,” and “Partnership in Achieving the SDGs.”
The evaluation report also points out that Bangladesh faces challenges in three ambitious SDGs: “Life Below Water,” “Life on Land,” and “Peace, Justice, and Effective Institutions.” Moreover, insufficient data has hindered the assessment of progress in achieving “Goal-10: Reduction of Inequality.”
Despite the adversities posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the report commends Bangladesh’s resilience under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s dynamic and visionary leadership. The country has emerged as a role model for development in the international arena. The report emphasizes the significance of collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to realize the SDGs, much like the successes achieved with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In conclusion, the independent assessment report by SDSN recognises Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s instrumental role in aligning Bangladesh’s development agenda with the SDGs. The country’s commendable progress in various SDGs demonstrates the potential for further success, provided continued dedication, and collaborative actions from all sectors of society. By addressing the remaining challenges and ensuring data availability for accurate evaluation, Bangladesh can move closer to achieving the SDGs and become a shining example of sustainable development on the global stage.
All about UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
In 2012, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) was established under the authority of the UN Secretary-General. It commenced its operations with ten thematic working groups, addressing various environmental, social, and economic issues. These groups actively participated in discussions that led to the formulation and eventual acceptance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As time progressed, the SDSN experienced rapid growth and introduced its global networks program, which consists of a membership- based alliance comprising esteemed institutions focused on generating knowledge for sustainable development. These networks are organized at national and regional levels across the globe, and as of 2023, the SDSN boasts over 1,800 members spread across 53 networks in 146 countries.
In 2016, the SDSN expanded its mission by establishing the SDG Academy. The primary purpose of the SDG Academy is to create and curate free, open educational resources dedicated to sustainable development, making them available as a global public good. Furthermore, in 2019, the SDSN published the Six Transformations Framework, which serves as a blueprint to mobilize transformative efforts towards achieving the SDGs, thus shaping their global strategy. By encouraging commitments to the SDGs from various stakeholders, including nation-states, universities, private enterprises, and civil society, SDSN’s research and policy analysis efforts contribute to promoting solutions that facilitate the realization of these goals. The organization continues its commitment to synthesizing knowledge for sustainable development and plans to do so for the next decade by focusing on SDG pathways, data, policies, and financing. It produces well-regarded annual reports such as the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) and the World Happiness Report (WHR).
The strategy and vision of SDSN are guided by a Leadership Council, composed of influential leaders in the field of global sustainable development from various regions and sectors, including civil society, public, and private sectors.
Furthermore, the Networks Strategy Council (NSC) of SDSN comprises leaders from the networks program, who offer advice on the vision and work program of SDSN Networks. They also have the authority to approve new members and networks within the organization.
The Board of Directors at SDSN is responsible for providing oversight on all matters related to fiduciary, legal, and operational concerns.
