Disclaimer: These Articles were originally published on DNF Newsletter Substack and now merged as one. Some Information might also be outdated

Dear NGO Founder,

I hope today’s letter meets you well. We will be talking about the famous Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the reason behind them, and my thoughts on how we can approach achieving them.

The first mention of the SDGs was at the 2012 Rio+20 Summit (The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) in Brazil.193 countries were deliberating on a replacement for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were to expire in 2015. The MDGs were international development goals on poverty, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, environmental sustainability, and diseases.

According to ‘The SDG Zone’, a portal created by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the process of designing the SDGs was one of the largest consultations in history. “It took three years to design the goals and targets. Governments, businesses, communities, universities, NGOs and youth from all over the world participated in the negotiations, with more than seven million people voting in 84 national surveys.”

On 25 September 2015, all 193 countries agreed and signed the 17 SDGs, committing to achieve them by 2030. The UN calls this agenda a global blueprint for dignity, peace, and prosperity. With 169 specific targets and 232 measurable targets. The targets and indicators presently serve as a guide for countries to plan their policies and measure progress. It also guides NGOs, private companies, and other institutions in planning and decision-making.

It is very unlikely that you’re coming across the SDGs for the first time. The work of many NGOs in Nigeria, like other NGOs globally, is guided by the SDGs. Let me start by saying thank you for your contribution towards a sustainable future for all. If you read the letter titled ‘Invest in Project You.’ you’ll recall that I asked if you paid attention to the indicators and targets of the goals you’re working on. It will help you understand what the goal is about and what you can do about it. In today’s letter, I’ll mention some problems that I’ve noticed when NGOs approach the SDGs:

1. Forgetting there are 17 goals: Certain goals have been neglected, which is not the UN’s plan. All goals are interconnected; they are all important for a better future; leaving any behind will lead to uneven growth.
2. Limiting a goal to repetitive projects: A critical look at the indicators and targets will reveal innovative ways to approach any goal.
3. Forcefitting activities: The correct order is to first understand the SDGs, then design a solution or project that directly addresses them.

This foundational understanding is critical, but to be truly effective, we must look at how these goals are progressing in our specific context.

Applying the SDGs in the Nigerian Context

Dear NGO Founder,

Previously, we started our discussion on the Sustainable Development Goals. Now, let’s take a look at how these goals are progressing in Nigeria, using data from the Sustainable Development Report.

Here is a brief overview of Nigeria’s status:

• Two  of the SDGs are on track for maintaining the SDG Achievement.They are goals 12 and 13 (Responsible Consumption and Protection, and Climate Action).
• There is no recent data when it comes to goals 4, 10, and 17 (Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, and Partnerships for the goals).
• SDGs 5 and 6 are moderately improving (Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation).
• Three goals are experiencing a reversal of progress. They are goals 1, 11, and 15 (Zero Poverty, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Life on Land).
• A total of seven goals are stagnating.They are goals 2,3, 7, 8, 9, 14, and 16. Namely: Zero Hunger; Good Health and Well-being; Affordable and Clean Energy; Decent work and Economic Growth; Industry Innovation and Infrastructure; Life Below Water; and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
• Eight out of the 17 goals are performing below average according to the performance indicator chart. SDG 11 ( Sustainable Cities and Communities), being the least

Why interpret this report? If you’re working on any of the goals, you need to know how it is faring. The full report shows specific areas facing challenges that need more engagement. For instance, the pandemic severely impacted quality education, and the declining economy also increased the poverty headcount. When goals lose progress or stagnate, it calls for reviewed actions and new approaches. Even for goals that are improving, you should look at the specific areas that need more work. There is always room for innovation; you should not be confined to the same activities yearly in addressing the same goal.

I mentioned earlier that there were going to be resources, here are resources that I believe you’ll find helpful:

• The SDG Academy has free self-paced courses and videos on the SDGs. They also have a video library of over 1800+ videos, a book club available on podcast platforms such as Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts. There are also degrees such as an online Masters and a Global Masters in Development Practice. Click here to visit the SDG Academy.

• Personally, I learnt about the SDGs from attending Model United Nations (MUNs) Conferences, and the Youth Leadership Fellowship of LEAP Africa. Speaking of LEAP Africa, they have a Youth Leadership Fellowship and the modules include the SDGs, using social media for action, project management etc. They also have a Social Innovators Programme & Awards and a Nigerian Youth Future Fund for young leaders. Other resources include a podcast, articles, reports and research papers. Click here to visit LEAP Africa.
  
• You should  also keep an eye out for fellowships and programmes by the UN agencies by following them on social media. Presently, applications are open for the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)- Nigeria’s SDG Advocate Programme. You can click here to apply.

Dear NGO Founder,

I hope you have gained valuable insights from this deep dive. If you haven’t selected an area of focus, I hope you start researching. If you have, I hope you approach it differently with this information.

Disclaimer: These Articles were originally published on DNF Newsletter Substack and now merged as one. Some Information might also be outdated