Gov’t launches first review of progress on UN development goals (SDGs)

JUBA – South Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and Planning on Thursday launched its first voluntary national review (VNR) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The review will guide coordinated implementation of the goals.

Speaking during the launch, Benjamin Ayala, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, said the review will focus on SDGs addressing zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, and climate action.

“The government of South Sudan has selected SDGs that we believe are very pivotal for the development of our country. We picked SDG 3 which is good health, SDG 4 on quality education, SDG 7, SDG 8 and SDG 9 but also there are additional SDGs that are crosscutting,” Ayala said.

Ayala noted that the review will continue until the country presents a report before the United Nations in July 2024.

“The voluntary national review is important. It provides an opportunity for us to examine our actions in terms of the implementation of sustainable development goals and it also allows us to share and learn from other UN member countries both in the region and other parts of the world on how they managed to successfully implement the 17 global objectives of the SDGs,” he said.

He added that the forum provides a platform for stakeholders to benchmark with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the East Africa region to improve on the implementation of the SDGs.

Awut Deng Acuil, Minister of General Education and Instruction, emphasized that this is South Sudan’s first voluntary national review on SDGs.

“When we started at independence we had only 300,000 students in school, today we speak of 2.2 million students in school, we still have 2.8 million students out of school and for us to be able to reach where the rest of the countries are there are factors that can enhance progress, one of them is when you have qualified teachers even if you don’t have the infrastructure you will be able to get knowledge,” Awut said.

She added that climate change combined with flooding and drought is impacting education severely. “Today the challenge we have in South Sudan we have very few qualified teachers in the country, so looking at quality education without qualified teachers is one of the biggest challenges we have.”

Anita Kiki Gbeho, Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and Resident Coordinator, acknowledged challenges facing South Sudan on its path to sustainable development.

“However, within every challenge lies an opportunity. South Sudanese have demonstrated resilience time and time again overcoming conflict most recently through the revitalized peace agreement, there is also gradual progress on issues of women in government and decision-making for example through the appointment of a female vice president, a female governor and 8 female ministers in the transitional government,” said Kiki.

She noted the ongoing humanitarian crisis affecting 9 million people, exacerbated by the economic crisis, highlighting the difficult road ahead.

“In this regard, I would like to reaffirm the unwavering support of the United Nations in assisting South Sudan in its VNR process, together with our partners we commit to provide technical expertise to strengthen capacity and mobilize resources,” she said.