Sdgs ADVISORY UNIT OFFICE of the PRESIDENT ANNUAL REPORT 2018 CONTENTS
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SDGs ADVISORY UNIT OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT ANNUAL REPORT 2018 CONTENTS 1 Foreword 01 1.0 Introduction 03 1.1 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 04 1.2 The Eminent Group of Advocates 05 2 2.0 The SDGs Advisory Unit 07 2.1 Establishment of The Unit 08 2.2 Core Functions 08 2.3 Other Functions 09 3 3.0 Key SDGs Results Achieved - 3Ps 13 3.1 Sensitization and Popularisation Activities 14 3.2 Policy and Outreach Efforts 16 3.3 Partnerships and Programmes 24 4 4.0 Looking Ahead 28 Appendix 1 30 Appendix 2 37 SDGs ADVISORY UNIT S D Gs G H A N A OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AG E N D A 20 3 0 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 SDGs Advisory Unit Office of the President The SDGs agenda is not just desirable. It is indispensable. It is an investment for our future - the future of our ii youth and that of our children. We cannot and should not fail them.” - President Akufo-Addo Foreword In September 2015, world leaders met to take a very bold decision, which manifested in the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This marked the beginning of a new era in the pursuit of sustainable development with a commitment to “Leave No One Behind.” The SDGs are the boldest and loudest articulation of a collective transformational agenda the world has ever seen. The Goals present us with a historic opportunity to transform our world for the better; to end hunger and ensure all human beings achieve their full potential; to protect our planet against degradation and climate change; and to ensure that human beings enjoy a peaceful and prosperous life. The success of the SDGs requires the collective action of all, including governments, the private sector, civil society organisations and communities. It is for this reason that the UN Secretary-General established the Eminent Group of Advocates for the SDGs to support him in generating momentum and championing accelerated implementation of the Goals across the world. In April, 2017, the United Nations Secretary-General appointed His Excellency the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to co-Chair the work of the Eminent Group of Advocates for the SDGs with Ms Erna Solberg, the Prime Minister of Norway. Since his appointment, the President has shown unparalleled commitment to championing implementation of the Goals at the national and international levels. 01 SDGs ADVISORY UNIT S D Gs G H A N A OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AG E N D A 20 3 0 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 SDGs Advisory Unit Office of the President This Annual Report highlights important strategic activities and initiatives that the President, through the SDGs Advisory Unit, has undertaken to support the President’s leadership role on the SDGs. The Report covers the period between August 2017, when the SDGs Advisory Unit was established in the Office of the President, and December 2018 when the President’s initial appointment as co-Chair of the Eminent Group of Advocates came to an end. In October 2018, the UN Secretary-General commended the President for his commitment towards realization of the Global Goals and renewed the appointment for a further two years till the end of the year 2020. Crucially, at the national level, several measures have been put in place, and important actions taken to support achievement of the SDGs. These include the establishment of a robust architecture to oversee implementation of the Goals, integration of the Goals into the overarching national development framework, the adoption of SDG-based budgeting to track expenditure flows in support of SDGs implementation, and the implementation of various flagship programmes which directly contribute to the achievement of the Goals, such as the Free Senior High School programme, the Planting for Food and Jobs and the One District One Factory initiatives. The SDGs agenda is in its fourth year of implementation, and it essential that we step up and scale up implementation. Given the levels of ambition, it is clear that a business as usual approach will not suffice, and that success will require a strong partnership amongst all segments of society. We owe it a duty to the present and future generations to achieve the SDGs in their entirety. The time for action is now! Let’s work together to achieve the noble goals enshrined in the SDGs. Dr. Eugene Owusu, Special Advisor to the President on the SDGs and Head of the SDGs Advisory Unit, Office of the President 02 Introduction 03 SDGs ADVISORY UNIT S D Gs G H A N A OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AG E N D A 20 3 0 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 SDGs Advisory Unit Office of the President 1.1 THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) – A Global agenda to transform our World The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) comprise a set of 17 Goals and 169 targets adopted by world leaders as a framework to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by the year 2030. The Goals are encapsulated in an inspiring vision of the ‘World We Want’ by 2030. They are integrated and indivisible, and by their nature are universally applicable. They reflect a shared value and common commitment to humanity. And they address issues of development in 5 interrelated areas; a. People – to end hunger and ensure human beings develop to achieve their full potential. b. Planet – to protect the universe against degradation and to take urgent measures against climate change. c. Prosperity – to ensure that human beings enjoy a prosperous and fulfilling life. d. Peace – to foster peace and free all people from violence. e. Partnership – to mobilise the needs required for development through global partnership. Whilst these 5 ‘Ps’ represent the Goals and the enablers required to achieve the noble objectives enshrined in the SDGs, an important prerequisite for success is Political Will – what has become known as the sixth ‘P’. Political will is the oxygen needed to drive accelerated implementation of the Goals. Although some have argued that the Goals are ambitious, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who is the Co-chair of the UN Secretary General’s Eminent Group of SDGs Advocates holds a strong view that transformation is about ambition and that the SDGs represent the boldest articulation of a collective transformation agenda that the world has ever seen. He further argues that the SDGs are about hope, and that the world has the capacities, the knowledge, the experience, the innovation and the resources to achieve the goals and truly Leave No One Behind. The 17 Goals and their symbolic representation are shown as follows; “The fact that societies are becoming increasingly multiethnic, multicultural, and multireligious is good. 04 Diversity is a strength, not a weakness” - Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General 1.2 THE EMINENT GROUP OF ADVOCATES In April 2017, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as co-Chair of the Eminent Group of Advocates for the SDGs. The Eminent Group of Advocates consists of seventeen eminent personalities appointed by the UN Secretary-General to lead a global campaign towards accelerated implementation of the SDGs. The diverse group of Advocates is made up of eminent persons from different fields including Heads of State and Government, royalty, business and political leaders, academia as well as personalities from sports and the entertainment industry. The core function of the Eminent Group of Advocates is to support the UN Secretary- General in his effort to generate momentum and commitment to achieve the SDGs by the end-year of 2030. Specifically, the Eminent Group of Advocates a) promote the universal character of the SDGs, including the commitment to “leave no one behind”, (b) promotes the engagement of new stakeholders in the implementation and financing of the SDGs (c) encourages partnerships with governments, civil society and the private sector to share knowledge and resources and (d) raises awareness over the integrated nature of the SDGs. President Akufo-Addo co-chairs this group with Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway. In December 2018, the UN Secretary-General renewed the mandate of the co-Chairs to steer the affairs of the Advocates for another two years till December 2020. 05 SDGs ADVISORY UNIT S D Gs G H A N A OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AG E N D A 20 3 0 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 SDGs Advisory Unit Office of the President H.E. Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Mr. Richard Curtis H.E. Erna (Co-Chair) Solberg Her Majesty (Co-Chair) Queen Mathilde of the Belgians His Highness Hindou Muhammadu Ibrahim Sanusi II Emir of Kano Ms. Graça Machel Mr. Jack Ma SDGs GHANA AGENDA 2030 Her Edward Highness (Eddie) Sheikha Ndopu Moza bint Nasser Ms. Alaa Murabit Professor Jeffrey Sachs Mr. Forest Whitaker Mr. Paul Polman “Negative Gender stereotypes related to girls’ education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics begin as early as 06 primary school and have the devastating effect of making them doubt their own potential” - Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General The SDGs Advisory Unit 07 SDGs ADVISORY UNIT S D Gs G H A N A OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AG E N D A 20 3 0 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 SDGs Advisory Unit Office of the President 2.1. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNIT The SDGs Advisory Unit in the Office of the President provides technical, policy and strategic support to the President in his functional role as co-chair of the Eminent Group of SDGs Advocates. The anchoring of this Unit in the Presidency is a clear demonstration of the President’s commitment to the SDGs Agenda and the importance he attaches to his role as co-Chair of the Eminent Group of SDGs Advocates.