ISSUE #07 SDGs DIGEST A Quartely Newsletter, the voice of the IsDB Community of Practice (CoP) on SDGs.

RAJAB 1440 - MARCH 2019

Transformation in a Fast Changing World: The Road to SDGs

To achieve the SDGs, we EDITORIAL Rami Ahmad Special Envoy on SDGs need to pay attention to the root causes of poverty. We need “Transformation in At the organizational level, and in order to diversify the a Fast-Changing to survive and stay relevant, public and economy. Despite World: The Road private organizations are building their the youthful to the SDGs” is capacity to adapt in this fast-changing population in our the theme of the world. The question of organizational member countries, IsDB’s Annual transformation and potential contribution they are exporting Meetings this year. to the SDGs is definitely on the minds raw materials. Our The Meetings of practitioners in MDBs and other focus should be on the will be held in organizations, both in developed and causes not the symptoms Marrakesh, Morocco in the first week developing countries. of April. The theme is clearly implying Dr. Bandar Hajjar You hardly find anyone who would that ‘transformation’ is a prerequisite IsDBG President argue against transformation, especially to achieving the SDGs. What type of if the case for change is clearly transformations? At what level; national, compelling. However, and despite all IN THIS ISSUE organizational, etc.? And how can the good intentions, a shocking 70% transformations succeed? • Transforming our approach to development, for of transformations fail for a variety of the SDGs At the global level, the 2030 Agenda reasons. Seth Goldstrom of McKinsey sites • 6th Open Dialogue of The SDGs Community of for Sustainable Development has ten top reasons for unsuccessful efforts. Practice clearly made the compelling case for To mention a few: Focus on activities, • Tackling the Root Causes of Poverty the transformation of the development not outcomes; absence of a structure to • Communicating SDGs at the grass-root level • Parliamentarians for the 2030 Agenda in Arab States mindset in order to achieve comprehensive capture and track initiatives; misalignment • VNRs : How IsDB Plans to Build the Capacity human development, leaving no one of enablers and incentives; and weak • ISFD : Helping Member Countries to Achieve SDGs behind. At the national level, more development of talent and capabilities. • IsDB Member Countries Likely to Miss the countries are mainstreaming the SDGs We look forward to the activities of our Target on SDG1 into their national development plans and annual meetings to address some of these • Energy Security in the post Paris Agreement Era involving more stakeholders in shaping important questions and challenges. • IsDB Hosting the Sustainable Energy for All and executing the transformation plans (SEforALL) Middle East Hub The IsDB’s SDGs Community of Practice is • Islamic Finance and SDGs to achieve the development aspirations grateful to the support of management and • Integrating Innovation in Development Projects of their countries. The Voluntary National professionals in the Bank. Our SDGs Digest • SDG2 : Investing in smallholder farmers to Reviews (VNRs) are one mechanism has been growing in terms of content achieve zero hunger to present progress made on the road • Agro-ecology for a Sustainable Development in and circulation. We are also thankful for to the SDGs. The process of preparing of Agriculture the intellectual contribution by partner the VNRs is a great partnership effort • ESSP – Fundamental for achieving SDGs institutions. You will find in this issue over reflecting the involvement of a wide range • Youth Employability Platform (YEP) ! a dozen pieces on a wide variety of SDGs • The SDG8 Global Council toward Economic of stakeholders. Such partnerships are key related topics. I hope you find this issue of Growth and Decent Work in any successful transformation at the the Digest enjoyable and informative! • How Fael Khair Program is Helping Countries to national level. achieve SDGs

Articles of this Newsletter reflect the opinion of the Authors Transforming our approach to development for the SDGs

WALID ABDUL WAHAB Director General Country Relations and Services Islamic Development Bank

s we enter our second year milestone in the Bank’s transformation to the SDGs, the Bank realized that of transformation as a Bank, journey, not because of its new features, it cannot continue operating using we are heading to our 44th but more so because it marks a shift the traditional approach of providing Annual meeting in Marrakesh in the Bank’s approach to financing official development assistance, which Anext month with grand ambitions for projects in member countries. In the represents only a drop (around $140 our member countries on the road to past, the Bank’s financing to member billion in 2016) in the ocean of the $2 achieving the Sustainable Development countries was limited to what the Bank trillion annual financing gap to meeting Goals. Despite the urgency of helping can mobilize on its own balance sheet. the SDGs. His Excellency the President, member countries transform in this The GVC-MCPS, being transformational, IsDB put this transformation in the heart fast changing world (the theme of our is designed to focus on “transformative” of his Five-Year President’s Program next Annual meeting), we had to find the sectors and industries which require (5YP) as he started his first term in 2016. time to first transform ourselves and much more resources than the Bank can Now, the entire transformation journey of the way we approach development – afford relying on its own balance sheet. the Bank is guided by this Program. As as per the famous proverb “An empty Therefore, mobilizing off-balance sheet we close the transition year (2018) of our hand has nothing to give”. Following the resources from the capital market is transformation journey, we look forward organizational reform which focused on one of the key value addition of the new to working with all stakeholders to help moving our most valuable “operational MCPS approach. The Country Relations member countries complete their own assets”, our staff, to the ground in one and Services (CRS) is working closely transformation on the road to meeting of the most ambitious decentralization with Strategy and Transformation (DOST) their own ambitions: the SDGs. moves by any MDB, we are now focusing and Partnership Development to expand on delivering tailored development the Bank’s financial and implementation solutions to member countries using muscles by tapping capital markets our new business model. One of the key and working with various development new tools we are deploying in member players (developers) to deliver higher countries is the Global Value Chains value, country-specific solutions to based Member Country Partnership member countries. Strategy (GVC-MCPS). We started The entire new approach of the Bank with four countries in 2019: Gabon and and its determination to transform Morocco, which we hope to launch itself is motivated by the burning need during the Annual meetings in Marrakesh, of the member countries to meet the and Turkey and Maldives which are SDGs. Realizing the size of the financial progressing at a good pace. Next year, (and knowledge) gap facing countries we plan to start in seven more countries. in meeting their own ambitions as The GVC-MCPS tool is an important articulated in their commitments

2 ISSUE NO.7 6th Open Dialogue of the SDGs Community of Practice: Zakat, SMEs and good governance major imperatives for ending poverty

nderstanding the root causes and improving I believe focusing on SDG8, SDG9 & SDG17 the collection and implementation of Zakat, will help us deal with the root causes of development of SMEs and ensuring good poverty and thus make progress on SDG1 governance are among the imperatives required Dr. Bandar Hajjar Ufor ending poverty in IsDB member countries. These were IsDBG President some of the views expressed during the 6th Open Dialogue organized by the Community of Practice (CoP) on SDGs. The theme of the dialogue was: The Road to No Poverty: The Role of IsDB Group in Achieving SDG1.

Key dignitaries in attendance during the lively discussion moderated by Dr. Rami Ahmad, Special Envoy on SDGs include IsDB President Dr. Bandar Hajjar, Vice Presidents, CEOs, DGs, Advisors and many staff members. poverty, developing SMEs is the way to go, that was how According to the Vice President, Finance, Dr. Zamir Iqbal, Germany built one of the most successful strategies for the way to end poverty is by improving the collection and ending poverty. implementation of Zakat, adding that studies have shown that if Zakat is property collected, many OIC countries will be lifted out of poverty.

In his remarks, Vice President, Administration, Br Sayed Aqa stated: “Good governance is crucial to ending poverty. We need good governance to build strong institutions, that is how to attract investors.”

In his opinion, the CEO of ICD, Mr Ayman Seijini said to achieve SDG1 by ending

RAJAB 1440 - MARCH 2019 3 Tackling the Root Causes of Poverty

technologies, the nature of future jobs, into a growth strategy that transforms all require a comprehensive response member countries’ economies from that future-proof our countries for raw material exporters to competitive emanant approaching fourth industrial industrial economies. Such strategy revolution. Failing to facilitate a empowers member countries to capture coordinated response to this transition an increasing share of strategic global Ahmed Elkhodary may lead to growing trade deficit, value chains to create jobs domestically, Director, Strategy & Transformation fragmentation of our societies, rising upgrade industrial capacity inline with inequalities, increasing urban poverty Industry 4.0 requirements to remain leading to precarious living conditions, competitive, and provide the right balance high living costs and rising crime rates; of risk/return for the capital market to invest more in MCs. By building better Half a billion increase in MCs What will happen if we don’t change? economies that export to the world population by 2030 Investment needs to tackle these more exciting, competitive, and diverse Our Member countries’ (MCs’) population challenges and meet the SDGs in goods and services, we can tackle the is estimated to increase to 2.2 billion by developing countries stand at US$ root causes of the vicious poverty cycle 2030 from 1.7 billion in 2015 (i.e., half 4.5 trillion per year while total current identified under SDGs 1–7. investment in developing countries stands a billion). The working youth (15 to 30 Has this been done before? Is there at US$ 1.4 trillion per year. This leaves an years) who will continue to represent any evidence that this is true? The annual investment gap in sectors critical most entrants in the workforce will answer is yes and the evidence is to the SDGs of around US$ 3.1 trillion. For increase by 100 million between 2015 overwhelming. Evidence from the IsDB Member Countries, this translates and 2030. Almost 80% of this growth will Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) into annual funding of between US$ 700 happen in urban areas resulting in the shows that success in tackling poverty billion and US$ 1 trillion. The gap is far proportion of the urban population to on global aggregate level has been greater than the available ODA funding increase from 49% to 56%. -. Mulling over largely driven by two countries (i.e., of US$ 145 billion annually. Thus, public recent and emerging trends in geopolitics, China and India). Upon deeper look expenditure needs to increase eightfold to technology and the future of work, climate into the secret formula of these two meet the funding targets by 2030. Is this change and resource constraints, one can countries, one can clearly see that their sustainable? envision three existential challenges that success has been largely attributed represent must win battels for member If MCs continue to depend on public to comprehensive transformation into countries by 2030: spending as the engine of economic competitive industrial economies that • This rapid demographic growth will growth and on exporting raw material export diverse products by domestic require our economies to create 10 without first adding value to it or creating firms that create so many jobs. In fact, million new jobs every year between an enabling environment for investment, evidence also show that countries now and 2030; It will require also a the natural consequences are increased that failed to make this transformation wider access to better standards of unemployment, social and political unrest, have not been able to alleviate poverty social services such as education & vulnerability to climate change, illegal despite all the interventions and good health to share the benefits of economic immigration and many other outcomes intentions of multilaterals and other global prosperity with the entire population that drive the whole world – not just MCs- development institutions providing ODA. towards a future of fragility with a yet and hence diminish inequality and The 1/5/10 Opportunity strengthen social cohesion. more vicious poverty cycle by 2030. This new development orientation • To meet the SDGs, we currently have With 140 months left to solve these unveiled a massive opportunity for a significant financing gap of 1 trillion challenges (i.e., by the SDGs 2030 horizon) member countries that can turn the dollars every year, requiring us going -equivalent to less than two sovereign challenges mentioned earlier into a beyond conventional resources by project cycles-, it is becoming urgent to historical opportunity summarized as mobilizing new partners, devising new explore alternative development options to the 1/5/10 Opportunity. This refers to strategies and creating new innovative give MCs the best chance of success. the mobilization of US$ one (1) trillion, to champion 5 (five) strategic industries tools and instruments for resource How are we responding? globally, which can generate 10 million mobilization; IsDB new business model promotes new jobs annually. The president • The emerging and continuing trends in a change in the global development program (i.e., publication title “The Road to SDGs: A New Business Model for a demographics, geopolitics, inequality narrative from focusing on symptoms Fast Change World”) describes in details and exclusion, climate change, and immediate pain points to tackling resources constraints, urbanization, IsDB approach to help member countries deep systemic root causes. This is realize this historical opportunity and thus deindustrialization, new emerging achieved by reorienting development tackle the root causes of poverty.

4 ISSUE NO.7 Capturing the imagination of ordinary people: Communicating SDGs at the grass-roots level

recession in his native language without much Judith Randel, then Executive Director of explanation? How do you translate ‘credit Development Initiative, stated that “based crunch’ or ‘economic turmoil’ to a non-English on our experience and available evidence, speaker in the simplest term to avoid any we believe the post-2015 settlement must confusion? harness the power of technology and information to empower citizens with choice This was the debate we were having in and control over the decisions that impact the newsroom. Then one of our editors their lives.” intervened. “When you are writing your story, think of your grandmother who had not been During the negotiations on the SDGs, Ireland’s to school. If she can understand the story, permanent representative to the United Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u then you are communicating,” he said. Nations, David Donoghue, stated that to Lead Communications Specialist achieve the SDGs, there is need “in some way The question to ask is, are we communicating to capture the imagination of ordinary people the SDGs in a way that our grandmothers around the world.” who have not been to school can understand? n September 2008 the world was hit by a You will agree with me that the target The good news is some countries have storm, you might even call it an economic beneficiaries of the SDGs are the ordinary understood this. Netherlands has developed hurricane that had not been seen since the people in different parts of the world. Unlike a communication plan for communicating great depression of the 1930s. Lehman the MDGs, the SDGs are different because the SDGs at the grass-roots level particularly IBrothers had fallen, financial crisis was now developing countries were part and parcel of by targeting young people. The SDGs have real. As a journalist working in Bush House formulating them. But are citizens of these been integrated in school curriculum as at the time, one of my responsibilities was countries, in whose names the SDGs are part of the strategy for inclusive dialogue to ensure the public understood what the being implemented, fully informed about the and consultation. Indonesia, an IsDB financial crisis was about and how it would 2030 agenda? member country making headway in the implementation of the SDGs, has developed make an impact on their lives. In his classic book, “Banker to the Poor: a monitoring dashboard for the SDGs called Micro-lending and the Battle Against World One of my duties was to translate stories Satu Data Initiative (https://www.satu- Poverty,” Nobel Laurette Muhammad Yunus about the crisis from English to my native indonesia.com/satu/) and the website is stated that he considers giving credit to the Hausa language. My colleagues working in available in local language. Any user can visit poor to end hunger in the world as a human Swahili, Arabic, Urdu and Somali sections the dashboard and select any of the SDGs to right issue. I must add that communicating did the same. But how do you make sure see the report card on the success recorded the global goals to empower the citizens that a farmer in Mogadishu, a herdsman in so far. A Reverse Linkage between Indonesia, of our member countries is a fundamental the outskirts of Yaounde or a small-scale IsDB and other member countries on how to human right. Writing in the London Guardian trader in Karachi understands the difference develop an SDGs dashboard could be a good during the debates on the post-MDGs agenda, between economic depression and economic starting point.

Title : The Prosperity paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty (2019) Authors : Clayton M. Christensen, Efosa Ojomo and Karen Dillon Book Review Reviewer : Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u here is a reason why poverty eradiation is linked to sustainable provide “access to education, health development, and it is not surprising that the first objective care, safety and security, good of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is about governance” in a sustainable manner. ensuring a poverty free world. In a research entitled “Poverty One way of achieving this is through Treduction within the framework of SDGs and Post-2015,” published in “market-creating innovations” that the journal, Advances in Climate Change Research (2015), LIU Qian- completely change the culture of Qiana, YU Manb and WANG Xiao-Lin stated that “poverty reduction society. The creation of Ford in the and sustainable development are inseparable and poverty reduction United States, and companies like is the premise for sustainable development”. Samsung in South Korea created opportunities that completely Several governments, NGOs, and international development changed the economic DNA of these institutions have attempted to offer an enduring solution to the countries. China is another successful challenge of poverty eradication. One major contribution that example according to the authors, is thought provoking on how developing countries can address because out of the one billion people the challenges of SDG 1 is the book, The Prosperity paradox: How lifted out of poverty from 1990-2015, Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty co-authored by Clayton more than 700 million were in China. M. Christensen, a Professor of Public Administration at the Harvard What is the secret? innovations that Business School, along with two other authors, Efosa Ojomo and create prosperity. The last chapter of Karen Dillon. the book, “From Prosperity Paradox to Prosperity Process” provides Prosperity Paradox comprises 11 chapters discussing how innovation advice on how countries can develop their own path to prosperity. The can help create prosperity and assist developing countries to alleviate book is not perfect, the over glorification of capitalism as a saintly poverty. The book brought unique examples on how countries can economic system requires additional debate. But every development be rich without being prosperous. To be prosperous a country must practitioner should read this book.

RAJAB 1440 - MARCH 2019 5 Parliamentarians for the 2030 Agenda in Arab States!

“We acknowledge also the essential role of national parliaments through their enactment of legislation and adoption of budgets and their role in ensuring accountability for the effective implementation of our commitments. Governments and public institutions will also work closely on implementation with regional and local authorities, sub regional institutions, international institutions, academia, philanthropic organizations, volunteer groups and others.” Maisaa Youssef Sustainable Development Officer Article 45 of the General Assembly Resolution 70/1 Transforming Unit on the 2030 Agenda, Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development UN ESCWA

he 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development heralded a processes like Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), the Arab Forum new development paradigm, a new way of doing business, for Sustainable Development (AFSD), and the High-Level Political including a rights-based development approach: by leaving Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF). It also includes opening no one behind; tackling inequality; and adopting a multi- channels for dialogue and collaboration between parliamentarians Tstakeholder, whole-of-society approach for the achievement of the and governmental and non-governmental actors like statistical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). institutions and civil society organizations.

Common to all is the need to strengthen or As parliamentarians come together at these rebuild trust and mechanisms for dialogue meetings, needs and challenges are identified between the different actors engaged in and so are opportunities and existing development. We need collective work practices that we can capitalize on. At the for a common goal: alleviating problems latest forum, held in Beirut at the UN House now while ensuring sustainability for from 24-25 January 2019 in collaboration future generations. We need to change with the International Parliamentary Union, consumption and production patterns. parliamentarians charted a way forward We need to listen to and engage women together, agreeing on a set of “Practical and youth, local communities, the poor Steps to Enhance the Role of Parliament and the vulnerable. We need mechanisms in Achieving the SDGs”. Examples include to enhance relations between decision briefings to parliamentary committees makers and everyone else. and decision-making bodies, creating research units around the SDGs, initiating Parliamentarians are a critical link: they communication with national councils represent the people and engage with for women or youth, institutionalizing government. They have the mandate communication with national statistics to listen and advocate. They can offices, or organizing consultative meetings introduce and/or review legislation, with parliamentary or political party blocks scrutinize policies and budgets, and hold on national progress towards achieving the SDGs. governments to account. When parliaments are strong, so is trust and accountability in policy making. The annual parliamentary forums conclude with a set of key messages to guide the way forward. Chief among these is the right In 2017, the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Western to access information, so Parliamentarians, and the people they Asia (ESCWA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), represent, can contribute to transformative change in the Arab and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), launched a programme world. to strengthen the engagement of parliamentarians in the Arab states with the 2030 Agenda. The program emerged out of a deep A long-term programme to support the engagement of conviction of the potential role Parliaments and Parliamentarians parliamentarians, supported by ESCWA, UNDP and the IsDB, allows can play in ensuring that national development plans, policies and us to go beyond isolated awareness raising or capacity development budgets support sustainability and equality. activities. It allows us to address the structural issues and the enabling environment for a participatory approach to the 2030 Built around annual forums, the programme raises the awareness Agenda. It allows us to strengthen whole of society approaches of parliamentarians from across the region on the 2030 Agenda and relations of trust between different stakeholders. And it builds and its implementation in Arab states. It also builds their capacity the platform for a network of parliamentarians that support each to engage with the 2030 Agenda through technical assistance other and mobilize their collective force to push for inclusive and projects. This includes knowledge of national, regional and global sustainable development.

6 ISSUE NO.7 VNRs: How IsDB Plans to Build the Capacity of Member Countries to Achieve SDGs

Riad Ragueb Ahmed, Ahmed Faruk Diken, Manager, Reverse Linkage Sr. Technical Cooperation Coordinator, MENA & Europe, Reverse Linkage

n the 5th issue of the SDG’s Digest, Among the IsDB’s membership, so, the IsDB Reverse Linkage team has Br. Syed Husain Quadri, IsDB Country 30-member countries have already entered into discussions with United Strategy &Market Integration, reported their VNRs—some reporting Nations Department of Economic and elaborated on how the Voluntary more than once—while 19-member Social Affairs (UNDESA). The Bank INational Reviews (VNRs)—reporting tools countries plan to report their VNRs in and UNDESA are planning to organize developed by countries to track their 2019 or 2020. The experience that has a workshop at the IsDB Headquarters progress on achieving the SDGs—are been developed by member countries In 2019 to facilitate experience and being integrated into the Member Country which reported their VNRs is of great expertise sharing among MCs on Partnership Strategy (MCPS) process in value and can help develop the missing the VNRs preparation and reporting order to develop a relevant strategy based capacity in other member countries processes, and to identify specific on reliable and robust data on SDGs. through the right exchange mechanisms. opportunities that can mature into The IsDB, through its capacity specific cooperation projects. According to the United Nations development and technical cooperation Through this platform, the Bank and the Department of Economic and Social mechanisms can play the facilitator role UNDESA will be able to contribute to the Affairs (UNDESA), 111 VNRs have already in actualizing these exchanges. been prepared and presented at the High process of reporting on how well Agenda Level Political Forum since 2016, and In this regard, the IsDB is preparing the 2030 is doing and whether the countries an additional 51 reports are expected groundwork to enhance the capacity of are on track to meeting the SDGs. It will in 2019 .In the VNRs already submitted, member countries to prepare their VNRs also be an opportunity to identify further countries not only provided information by providing them with platforms to weaknesses and capacity issues that on how well they are progressing towards exchange expertise and to matchmake the IsDB, together with its development achieving the SDGs, but also outlined the capacity available and the gaps in partners, can address through targeted the ways and means through which they preparing and reporting VNRs. To do interventions. are developing their VNRs, including how the SDGs are being integrated into national development plans, the national institutional arrangements for implementing and monitoring the SDGs and ways of engaging with various stakeholders within their countries to collect data, among other things. The synthesis of the VNRs clearly demonstrates the importance of institutionalizing the VNR preparation process in a structured and participatory approach.

RAJAB 1440 - MARCH 2019 7 ISFD: Helping Member Countries to Achieve SDGs

Azhari Gasim Ahmed Lead Economist & Resource Mobilization Specialist, ISFD

he Islamic Solidarity Fund Development (ISFD) was launched in May 2007 with two overarching themes that define Extreme poverty anywhere is a Tits objectives: Improving and enhancing threat to security and human dignity the income of the poor and promoting anywhere. We must join hands to the development of human capital. The Fund implements programs that are stop this serious phenomenon in aligned with the SDGs, and therefore IsDB member countries. Ending supports member countries to achieve poverty is not about charity, it’s their sustainable development objectives about human rights and justice. ahead of 2030. Dr. Waleed Al Wohaib The first Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 1, challenges the ISFD to develop Director General, ISFD effective partnerships and projects to support member countries to fight & Livelihood Fund (LLF), set-up by the ranges from 0.6% of the population extreme poverty. To achieve this goal, the IDB and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Kazakhstan to 92.4% in Niger – a ISFD programs are based on the principle (BMGF), to develop rural sectors and level of deprivation that is clearly that ending poverty requires interventions combat infectious diseases in LDMCs. unacceptable. Moreover, while several that reduce inequalities, enhance human It has also joined the “Enrolment and member countries have seen marked capital, improve connectivity of the poor Retention of Out-of-School Children improvements in maternal mortality, to markets, promote youth employment Program” which aims to serve as the school enrolments, and others, persistent and access to income generation basis for a global alliance to bring gaps in access to crucial services for the opportunities. It also means ensuring back all children of member countries poorest still act as impediment to ending that the implemented programs impact who have left school back to school. It extreme poverty by 2030. all segments of the targeted population. has also provided the leadership and To be an effective partner in the efforts The Fund has achieved sustained support to the “Fight Against Avoidable to assist member countries in achieving increase in its grants and projects Blindness Program,” which aims to the SDGs means that work cannot be as approvals over the past 10 years, which conduct 100,000 eye surgeries and 1 usual. We need to accelerate the drive amounted to US$1.2 billion. Guided by million treatment cases over five years, in towards resource mobilization, which is the IsDB Policy for Poverty Reduction, addition to participating in strengthening currently a major obstacle to upgrading approvals have been allocated to pro- the capacities and best practices in eye ISFD programs. Member Countries also poor programs in the main productive health in the targeted member countries. need to address the drivers of inclusive sectors, such as health, education, Despite these efforts, almost 32% of economic growth, stimulating the sectors renewable energy and rural development. the population of our member countries where the poor work, and providing More recently, the Fund has joined still live under the $1.90/day poverty the minimum essential levels of basic programs aimed at taking bold action line. The share of deprived population services to the poor. against poverty. It supported the Life in the multidimensional poverty index

8 ISSUE NO.7 IsDB Member Countries Likely to Miss the Target on SDG1: Special Focus on Nigeria

million and nearly 90 percent of these The situation of Nigeria deserves will live in Africa, while the share of Asian specific attention. Nigeria has overtaken countries is projected to fall below one India as the country with the largest percent. population living in extreme poverty Cheikh Diop globally. Based on the current trend, Senior Economist, ERIL Comparing the actual trends in poverty Nigeria will keep this position in 2030. reduction and the average speed needed Furthermore, the country will be hosting to end poverty by 2030, the World Data he number of people in extreme 25 percent of the world’s population Lab has categorized countries into four poverty (below the poverty line living in extreme poverty. at $1,90 a day) has continued to clusters: No Extreme Poverty, On-Track, fall significantly from nearly 1.9 Off-Track, Poverty is Rising. Countries Africa’s largest economy is facing tough Tbillion in 1990 (35.9 percent of the world On-Track are those, which can eliminate challenges that curb development population) to about 736 million in 2015 extreme poverty by 2030 based on their outcomes and spur vulnerabilities: high (10 percent of the world population). current escape rate. Countries Off-Track commodity dependence, low government Most of this decline happened in Asia, will not reach the SDG target without effectiveness, conflict and violence. especially in East Asia and Pacific where the number of extremely poor dropped favourable change in their current Addressing these challenges is critical for dramatically from 1.1 billion to 52.5 trajectory. Countries classified in No reducing poverty in this country and in million between 1990 and 20155 , mainly Extreme Poverty category are those West Africa. due to China’s progress. where the poverty headcount ratio is There is a need for urgent, massive, below 3%. According to the World Data Lab, under efficient and effective development 600 million people (8 percent of the world Across, the world, 12 Countries are On- interventions in Nigeria. Given the size of population) live in extreme poverty as of Track (of which, six are IsDB Member the country and the severity of the issues, January 2019, of which over 422 million Countries); 36 are Off-Track (of which only a strong and coordinated support or (71 percent) are in Africa. By 2030, 17 are IsDB MCs), while poverty is rising can deliver significant results. This the number of extremely poor across in 13 countries including four IsDB MCs support could be articulated around the the world is expected to fall to some 436 (Figure1). following principles: • emphasize national ownership and leadership to develop and implement Figure1. IsDB Member Countries Poverty Ranking (million people in extreme poverty) a comprehensive strategy centered on sustainable human development; Nigeria Mozambique Bangladesh • build a common framework for Uganda Indonesia development interventions, bringing Afghanistan Yemen together all the partners: public Guinea and private actors, civil society Sudan Niger organizations, bilateral donors and Burkina Mali international organizations; Chad Somalia Benin • promote mutual accountability to Cameroun Cote d’lvoire deliver on the commitments and Senegal monitor progress. Togo Sierra Leone Uzbekistan The IsDB could take the initiative of Libya Guinea Bissau organizing an international partnership Gambia Mauritania conference to develop an Action Agenda Suriname Guyana for Nigeria.

0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 90.00 100.00 Source: World Bank, World Development Source: World Poverty Clock, December 2018. Indicators Database, November 2018.

RAJAB 1440 - MARCH 2019 9 Energy Security in the post Paris Agreement Era

Dr. Farid Ahmed Khan, Operations Team Leader, Energy

n accordance with SDG-7, access Geothermal energy, while capable of renewable energy resources are to affordable and sustainable displacing coal power plants to supply still nascent and have not achieved energy resources are instrumental base load, is financially viable in limited significant market penetration. for economic development and geographic regions. Tidal waves is Igrowth. Traditionally, Energy Security still an area of research and will require c. Carbon Tax: While not very popular has been concerned with the 3A’s, i.e. additional investments for the technology with certain segments of the Availability, Accessibility and Affordability. to mature. Therefore, in the interim, gas society, instituting a carbon tax, The emphasis was on variety and may act as a transition fuel to facilitate to fully reflect the price of carbon diversification. Availability of sufficient the shift to low carbon generation associated with its adverse impact amounts of energy at affordable prices facilities. on the environment, will help make a was considered key to ensuring Energy strong economic case for prioritizing Security. IsDB member countries can enhance investments in renewable energy their Energy Security by developing resources. Subsequent to the Rio Earth Summit held indigenous renewable energy resources, in 1992, there has been an increased by implementing the following key policy d. Grid Integration with neighboring focus on the adverse influence on the initiatives: Countries: By creating climate of the GHG emissions resulting interconnections with neighboring from the burning of fossil fuels for a. Net Metering: Allowing households countries, the penetration of generation of energy. More recently, the and industries to sell back electricity renewable energy resources can be Paris Agreement has renewed the focus to the grid through institutionalizing increased as the larger network load on sustainability as an important pillar net-metering, encourages investments helps to better absorb generation of Energy Security. In order to meet the in Renewable Energy resources fluctuations associated with the solar targets set during the COP21 (Paris) especially rooftop solar panels. and wind power plants. to limit the global temperature rise by b. Feed-in-Tariffs: While the cost of As an integral part of its effort to support less than 2oC, the nation states cannot both solar and wind, which are the member countries to achieve their SDG- continue to rely on fossil fuels to meet most popular renewable energy 7 targets, IsDB can provide a suitable their countries energy requirements resources, have declined significantly platform for member countries to come without adequate mitigation measures over the past few years, instituting together to share experience and explore such as Carbon Capture and Storage. preferred Feed-in-Tariffs helps the various low-carbon power generation While there is a renewed interest in provide the necessary incentives to options, available to them, to help them renewable energy, especially solar and private sector to invest in the large chart the most optimal path forward to wind, their widespread application scale renewable energy resources, ensure Energy Security in the post Paris continues to be limited by their especially in markets where Agreement era. intermittency and reliance on nature, which prohibits them from being dispatched as per the requirements of the grid. Therefore, solar and wind, which are presently the most popular renewable energy resources, cannot be relied on to effectively meet the base load demand, without adequate investments in energy storage facilities. Moreover, hydropower is limited to certain geographical regions which have been blessed with abundant river flows and associated gradients.

10 ISSUE NO.7 Making an Impact: IsDB Hosting the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Middle East Hub

Mohammad Al Sayed Manager, Economic Infrastructure Member, UN Technical Advisory Group on SDG7

s part of the President’s Five-Year Program (P5P), the Global Practices Departments Awere established with a clear with governments, private sector Asian Development Bank (AsDB) and focus of evolving the Bank from and civil society to drive further the Inter-American Development a development bank to a bank action towards the achievement of Bank (IaDB) respectively. The Middle for developers. To achieve such SDG7 (Access to affordable, reliable, East Hub will raise awareness at status, new partnerships had to sustainable and modern energy for the national and regional level of be established along the with new all). It also aims towards meeting the the challenges, constrains and platforms that connect governments, call of the Paris Climate Agreement opportunities available while private sector, investors and and the recent special report of the achieving the three core objectives of technical experts around the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate SDG7 (i) ensuring universal access globe with the intent of achieving Change (IPCC) to reduce greenhouse to energy, (ii) doubling the share of tangible development results in gas emissions and limit global renewable energy in the global energy IsDB member countries. The Global warming to below 1.5°C. mix and (iii) doubling the global rate Practices Departments are utilizing of improvement in energy efficiency. such platforms and networks The Bank signed the partnership to mainstream the international agreement to launch the SEforALL The Hub will serve as a platform development agenda into the Middle East Hub to be hosted at the for the region for technology and Bank’s daily operations and ensure Bank’s Headquarters. In addition, knowledge transfer given the major alignment with the Sustainable the United Nations Economic and milestones achieved in providing Development Goals (SDGs). Social Commission for Western renewable energy solutions at Asia (ESCWA) has signed a joint competitive prices. It will also work Since the Bank’s transformation declaration with the Bank to co- with governments and private sector in 2018, the Economic & Social host the SEforALL Middle East Hub to tap on the potential for energy Infrastructure Department has to provide support to the relevant efficiency in the commercial and actively participated in major global countries in the assessment, residential sectors. The Hub will forums related to Agriculture, preparation and implementation of assist fragile member states to Education, Energy, Health, ICT and national action plans related to the provide energy access and develop Transport. Several partnership transitions to sustainable energy plans for reconstruction of its energy agreements were signed to establish systems and reaching the targets sector. Meanwhile, the Hub will new platforms. One of the important of SDG7. The Hub is the fourth leverage the resources and synergies agreements signed was with the SEforALL Hub following the Africa, of SEforALL partners worldwide to Suitable Energy for All (SEforALL), an Asia, Latin America Hubs hosted by increase the number and quality of international organization working the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Bank’s projects.

RAJAB 1440 - MARCH 2019 11 Islamic Finance and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

II. To uphold universal brotherhood and • It provides customized solutions for all justice; needs linked to the real economy, thus III. To attain equitable distribution of promoting financial stability Wasim Abdul Wahab income; and • Islamic finance can play a vital role Director, Islamic Financial Sector IV. To accomplish freedom of the in alleviating poverty and enhancing Development Service individual within the context of social financial inclusion welfare. • Islamic finance can help in resource As far as the SDGs are concerned “the mobilization through alternate means, slamic finance is a Shariah based Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), thus broadening the financial net system for providing financial services otherwise known as the Global Goals, are • Islamic finance has potential to play a to Muslims and Non-Muslims alike, a universal call to action to end poverty, unique role in promoting sustainable through various means such as protect the planet and ensure that all economic development globally IBanking, Microfinance, Takaful, Islamic people enjoy peace and prosperity. These The following table presents the Capital Markets (Sukuks). It also includes 17 Goals build on the successes of the interaction between Islamic finance and Islamic social finance areas such as Millennium Development Goals, while the SDGs: Awqaf, Zakat, etc. To provide those including new areas such as climate financial services, various modes of change, economic inequality, innovation, As can be seen clearly from the above, finance such as Mudaraba, Murabaha, sustainable consumption, peace and Islamic finance has a big role to play in Musharaka, Salam and Istisna’a are used. justice, among other priorities. The goals the achievement of SDGs. are interconnected – often the key to To conclude, it is the endeavour of the Islamic finance also supports the success on one will involve tackling issues Islamic Development Bank in general and Maqasid Al Shariah, specially the area more commonly associated with another.3” the Islamic Financial Sector Development related to wealth. Furthermore, it can Department in particular, to support be stated that the objectives of Islamic Considering the commonalities in the SDGs through the development of the economics are supposed to guide objectives of Islamic finance and the Islamic financial sector which can in turn SDGs, the following reasons are being the objectives of Islamic banking and assist in the achievement of SDGs. Finance1 . In this context, Dr. Chapra2 presented on why we should use Islamic highlighted four objectives of Islamic banking and finance for our everyday *1 The Objective of Islamic Economic and Islamic economics in promoting the values and financial transactions in general and for Banking in Light of Maqasid Al-Shariah: A holistic purpose of this system, which are the SDGs in particular: Critical Review Mustafa Omar Mohammad and Syahidawati Shahwan. as follows: • Islamic finance framework is based on *2 Chapra, M.U., 1979. Objectives of the Islamic I. To achieve economic well-being principles of equality, justice and risk Economic Order, The Islamic Foundation, Leicester. within the framework of the moral sharing *3 UNDP Website norms of Islam;

Category Number of SDGs Islamic Finance Mechanism

Eight SDGs (SDG 4, SDG 7, SDG Raising wholesale funding mainly from Financing for Infrastructure 9, SDG 11, SDG 13, SDG 14, SDG 1. Sukuk program Development 15, SDG 17) 2. Islamic Syndicated financing Islamic Social and Financial Inclusion. 1. Zakat Finance for Social Six SDGs (SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3, 2. Waqf Development SDG 5, SDG 8, SDG 10) 3. Islamic Microfinance (including Micro-takaful)

Equity based structure is more suitable in promot- ing innovation such as: Financing to Promote Six SDGs (SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 8, 1. Islamic Private Equity Innovation in Achieving SDG 13, SDG 14, SDG 15) 2. Islamic Venture Capital Efficiency 3. Equity Funds 4. Crowdfunding

12 Integrating Innovation in Development Projects

perseverance. Adding a new component innovation component, which increases in a traditional project always adds some road durability by 3 times. We had level of risk in its implementation. On top spotted three innovations from three of that, the client may not see the value different countries during the Annual of having a new component as this may Meeting Innovation exhibition followed increase costs and implementation time. by identification of a prospective client — a Member Country in Africa. Secondly, do not try to embed an innovation that has not been tested Several technical workshops were with a positive outcome. If the proposed organized with government agencies Naguib Chowdhury innovation is not being tested and at a at the client’s destination with all three Senior Knowledge Management Specialist basic research level, integrating with a innovators. After careful consideration, project will be extremely difficult due to a one of the innovations was considered low level of buy-in from the management. highly relevant to the country’s need. Thirdly, have a pilot. Start implementing A technical tour was organized in the small innovations in not so complicated innovator’s country of origin, where projects, measure the value and then detailed study and observation took place. DGs are increasingly pushing scale up. Convinced of the innovation’s impact on development organizations the road infrastructure, the project proposal to rethink their operation and The below image describes at what stage was then developed, and financing was business models in an integrated innovation can be integrated: extended to the client country. Smanner by pooling financial resources, knowledge and innovation. Their approaches need to be agile, scalable and Understanding Concept market trends, Preparation Appraisal Approval Impleme- co-created with the multi-stakeholders Formulation ntation the organizations themselves need to be needs and new tested Project Life Cycle highly adaptive, flexible, fast and forward- innovations through looking in order to deliver high-impact, Horizon Scanning, Spotting Integration Value innovative solutions. trends Spotting, Scale up Research etc. Innovation via Pilot Test Measurement This organizational shift is a major task for many organizations, which have been Innovation Life Cycle dealing with legacy systems, policies and embedded bureaucracy. Changing Usually, any development project starts culture is an uphill task, especially when with formulating the concept, the workforce remains the same. One followed by preparation and way could be to test new ideas in an appraisal. Integration of innovative incubator, which is a dedicated unit and solutions can be done at the outside of the regular business processes conceptualization stage of the environment. The organization needs to project. At this point, calculate how allocate some funding to the incubator much extra budget may be required, and allow for exception and failure. seek sponsorship for this extra cost and once management approval Disruptive technologies, like the is obtained, go for a small-scale blockchain, will increase the efficiency implementation. A pilot study of how and transparency of aid work to a drones can be used to produce Arial greater extent. Embedding new tech Mapping for Disaster prone areas such as drones, social data analytics, can cost USD 20,000. A Blockchain machine learning, artificial intelligence, based financial donations and robotic process automation will enhance tracking platform would cost USD the effectiveness of development 15,000 as a start. Some other interventions in various countries. technologies can be costlier. A The question is how to successfully successful pilot always triggers integrate them into the development wider implementation. But first, you must project cycle? demonstrate that it works. My personal experience suggests that the job is not that easy, especially when A Case Study References:UNDP (2017): Moon Shots & Puddle Jumps- Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals accessed people are comfortable with doing Three years ago, the IsDB implemented 04/03/2019 from https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/ business as usual. Therefore, have an infrastructure project with an home/librarypage/development-impact/undp-innovation- facility-year-in-review.html

RAJAB 1440 - MARCH 2019 13 SDG 2: Investing in smallholder farmers to achieve zero hunger

Nur Abdi Manager, Agriculture & Infrastructure

ub-Saharan Africa spent USD 5.3 billion in 2016 to import rice, a strategic food security commodity, in terms of dietary energy source, in many African countries. This is a strategic commodity for which many Scountries have good agroecological conditions to produce it well. More than 750 million people in sub-Saharan Africa consume rice on daily basis - a demand that is growing at average rate of 6 percent per annum. Self-sufficiency in rice production is now a priority for many governments in Africa not only for food security but to stem the rising import bill.

Figure 2: Rice yield - regional comparison (FAO 2019) blends, good agronomic practices, and production and irrigation infrastructure. The program established strategic alliances with key technical partners including Africa Rice – CGIAR affiliate center – based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, to support the national agricultural research systems in the program beneficiary countries, to deploy new seed technologies. This includes a recently released hybrid rice variety that is high yielding (5-6 t/ ha) and early maturing, allowing farmers grow two rice crops per year. In between crops, the program will promote the production of vegetables and grain legumes to improve both nutrition and incomes of the farmers.

Linking farmers to “buyers”: the growing demand for rice is primarily driven by a growing urban middle-income consumer. Figure 1: Regional Rice Value Chain Program Group 1 Countries These urbanites are willing to pay a premium price for quality and brand name. The program will invest in building partnerships In April 2018 the Islamic Development Bank announced a between Rice Value Chain program that would benefit 10 countries in smallholders and Western and Central Africa, and 2 million smallholder farmers millers, and support within them. The program will be launched in five West African local Argo-dealers, countries in 2019 namely: The Gambia, Guinea, Senegal, rice millers and Sierra Leone and Niger. The program aims at developing farmers groups sustainable and inclusive rice value chains. This would help to with branding commercialize produce of subsistence smallholders and sustain and marketing higher rates of productivity and production. To that end, the strategies. To this program aims to invest in the following three major areas: end, the program established Increasing rice productivity and production: Today, rice yields partnership with in Africa and particularly West Africa lag-behind the rest of private companies to the developing regions (fig 2). The program aims to close this support smallholder yield gap by investing in yield enhancing technologies and out-growers with innovations i.e. high yielding seed varieties, appropriate fertilizer Figure 1: Packaged rice - Sierra Leonean rice company

14 ISSUE NO.7 contract farming arrangements (“salam”). The World Food capacity building of key national partners involved in the value Program, as program partner, will also support to procure rice chain to ensure sustainable performance of the input-output from farmers supported by the program for local school feeding chain with great emphasis on public-private partnerships. The programs and relief operations in the region. This is much program will introduce advanced digital solutions, to provide needed in some countries where the private sector is relatively real time information for farmers on weather, agriculture week. extension and prices; and IT based Monitoring and Evaluation Enabling environment for sustainable value chain: This is Systems including the georeferenced database system. particularly important to ensure sustainability of in-put and out- To achieve this the program will engage MANOBI - a non- put markets. In this regard, the program will invest in institutional governmental agency based in Dakar Senegal. Cause of Optimism: The program design is informed by three principles: a) building on lessons and experiences from other regions, particularly Asia, that have achieved rice self- sufficiency; b) strong national stakeholders’ ownership; c) engaging coalition of partners based on their technical expertise and comparative advantage to assist beneficiary countries at the various stages of the value chain.

With the introduction of 200,000 tons of high yielding seeds, development of more than 47,000 ha of agricultural land and engagement of private sector, the program is poised to substantially increase rice yields to more than 4 tons/ha (doubling the current yields), hence bringing the continent closer to achieving zero hunger by 2030.

Figure 4: Rice farmer - © IsDB 2018 Agro-ecology for a Sustainable Development of Agriculture in IsDB Member Countries

a miracle crop as it can yield 8000 microgram Moreover, simple techniques of water of Beta carotene per 100g1 of fresh weight, harvesting such as contour stone bunds, which satisfies daily Vitamin A requirements for and rock dams for gully rehabilitation are adults. In addition, it provides calories, vitamins capable of stabilizing soil, conserving (B, C, and iron) and reduces morbidity including rainfall by decreasing runoff and rising upper respiratory tract related illnesses and skin water table levels. Farmers adopting these related conditions. techniques have improved their crop yield, enhanced tree germination and survival, There is a great potential of Agro-ecology, in and produced vegetation and crop residues IsDB Member Countries (MCs) to strengthen the for livestock. knowledge of existing farmers and innovation Abderrafia Abdelmouttalib 3 through diverse approaches like Reverse In addition, the use of IPPM has reduced Agriculture Expert (Former IsDB Staff) 4 Linkage. These techniques include plant the use of chemical pesticides and diversification; intercropping, application of fertilizers while improving yields. The gro-ecology looks at the interaction manure or compost for soil fertility; integrated production of organic cotton is a good between flora and fauna in the example whereby pests are controlled production and pest management (IPPM); water environment, and the integration through a natural pesticide made from management for irrigation; agroforestry; erosion of ecological principles into neem extract and by planting trap crops prevention; biodiversity preservation; CO2 Aagricultural systems in order to increase nearby to attract pests away from the sequestration; among others. productivity, improve soil fertility, sustain cotton. Overall, organic farmers’ net profit yields over time, avoid loss of biodiversity, Agro-ecology is not a one-size-fits-all set of margin per hectare is far greater than for and hence enhance resilience of farmers’ practices; declining fertility in semi-arid West conventional farmers due to the increasing livelihoods. African soils for example puts food security in demand for organic products. these countries at stake. Low-levels of organic Important aspect of Agro-ecology is its 1 Against 9000 grams of white-flesh sweet potato variety to contribution to SDG-2 (Nutrition) supporting matter reduce soil’s water holding capacity as satisfy daily requirements of Vitamin A for an adult. to overcome deficiency in vitamin A in well as its CEC (cation exchange capacity). 2 Mucuna or velvetbean is an edible vine that grows in particular was prevalent among children moderately poor soil. It is drought resistant, has bacteria which Farmers who integrate Mucuna2 planting stores air nitrogen in tiny nodules in its rooting system, and under five in Africa as well as pregnant and provides more than 100 kg nitrogen/ha for the next maize as fallow in the cropping system have seen lactating women. This deficiency increases planting. the yield of maize increased substantially. their vulnerability to common illnesses 3 The Integrated production and pest management program Seriously degraded land which was subject (IPPM) was modelled in Southeast Asia and implemented and impairs growth, development, vision to desertification was restored in the Sahel in Africa since 2001. The IPPM varies according to the and immune systems. The orange-fleshed agro-ecosystem and aims at reducing pesticide and ecological zone through three techniques: synthetic fertilizer uses while increasing yields through crop sweet potato played traditionally a vital role block plantation of trees, trench planting, and diversification and capacity building of farmers in the field of in combatting hunger in all continents. The environment, and agricultural techniques. bench terraces. orange-fleshed sweet potato is considered 4 These are harmful to honey bee production, water irrigation, human health, and the environment in general.

RAJAB 1440 - MARCH 2019 15 Environmental and Social Safeguards Policy (ESSP)- Fundamental for achieving SDGs

Aamir Ghani Meer, Manager, Operations Quality and Results

DGs provide a comprehensive and a vehicle for agenda for pursuing better greater co-financing development outcome and ensuring and partnership effective use of natural resources opportunities to Sand preservation for future generations. overcome huge financing gap for achieving the Bank will undertake intense external SDGs. As an institutional obligation, all consultations with member countries and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) IsDB is founded on Islamic Principles development partners. Adopting the ESSP have adopted mandatory Environmental which make it incumbent on the Bank carries additional responsibility on the Bank; and Social Safeguards policies which to ensure that all negative impacts of which in turn will be beneficial for both guides their development interventions interventions are mitigated. Adoption and IsDB and member countries in supporting a and ensuring that these are compiled gradual implementation of the ESSP in its better and sustainable development. and consistent with guidelines on land operational activities will help the Bank to Our new decentralized operational acquisition/displacements, re-settlements, support more sustainable development in model, development of sectoral/thematic environmental concerns, child labour, bio- member countries. The ESSP would provide policies and enhancing project planning diversity and cultural heritage etc. a framework for the Bank to effectively process provides the Bank with required manage and mitigate environmental and mechanisms which will help in the adoption IsDB has embarked on the journey of social risks/concerns in projects and to of Environmental and social safeguard in developing Environmental and Social improve development outcomes. Safeguards Policy (ESSP) which will future interventions of the Bank and make bring it at par with all other sister MDBs During the development phase of the ESSP, development more sustainable. About the Youth Employability Platform (YEP!)

Sharia Walker Senior Youth Development Specialist The Platform contributes to SDG 8 “Decent Work and Women and Youth Empowerment Division Economic Growth”, and it is in line with the IsDBG’s, 10-Year Resilience and Social Development Department Strategic Framework specifically with the strategic objective of inclusiveness, the P5P and more specifically it is in line with the three pillars of the Bank’s draft Youth Development he Women and you Youth Empowerment (WYE) Strategy: Education, Economic Empowerment and Engagement. Division is working on creating a Youth Employability Moreover, the new priority of the Bank is based on a global TPlatform (YEP), which is a knowledge sharing value chain (GVC) approach which aims to provide a focused platform for governments and policymakers, youth-led and solution for MCs to ensure that competitive markets would youth-focused organizations, donor agencies, civil society enable the countries to obtain inclusive and sustainable organizations, multilateral organizations, private sector development. entities, and educational entities. The Platform focuses on youth development, and sheds light on good practice, success Accordingly, the YEP identifies employability skills and stories, strategies, and programs from member countries showcases success stories, and case studies aligned with the (MCs), which aim to improve youth employability skills. The five industries the Bank is championing: Food and Agribusiness YEP is referred to as an employability Platform rather than Industry, Textiles, Clothing, Leather and Footwear (TCLF) employment as its focus is beyond the discourse of “getting Industry, Petrochemicals and Petroleum Industry, Construction a job” and more about creating a conducive environment and Industry, and Islamic Finance. The aim of YEP is to act as a ecosystem, including attitudes, skills, functions and structures resource center in the area of youth employability along the five required to be in place to perpetuate economic growth. identified industries.

16 ISSUE NO.7 The SDG8 Global Council toward Economic Growth and Decent Work

Eng. Maysa’a Shaqaqha Project Engineer/ Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation Ms.Rasha Dabouri Researcher/ Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation Ministry of Planning Government of Jordan

n February 2018 the government The requirement for inclusive economic of the United Arab Emirates growth set out in the Sustainable has launched a new Development Goals imposes a platform, “the SDGs responsibility on governments to OGlobal Councils”, which ensure that inequalities arising preceded the World from economic development Government Summit, this do not result in individuals, initiative is a great vehicle particularly those most towards supporting the vulnerable, being excluded SDGs agenda, it aims to from the material benefits to share innovative practices the extent that they become and discuss the creative incapable of observing implementation of the social norms and common SDGs at national and lifestyles of their country. global levels. and relates to role of governments Education policy plays an as active players in important role in avoiding knowledge exchange with income inequality, as it can development partners from help to reduce skill gaps private sector, international between workers in higher- and organizations, academia, lower-wage sectors. Deliberately Youth and innovators. designed and efficient tax and transfer systems and social The global council on SDG8 protection schemes, influencing “Decent Work and Economic market actors’ incentives as less as Growth” has set its vision to “Promoting possible an economic market which takes into consideration the social and The question of jobs and livelihoods environmental systems”. brings along, concepts such as for possible through stable and well-paid human dignity, economic sustainability, SDG Goal 8, is especially important jobs. Where 470 million jobs are needed and social cohesion and stability in a because more than anything else, decent globally for new entrants to the labour context where huge number of people work is about human dignity, inclusive market between 2016 and 2030, and have been obliged to flee conflict areas, growth fills the pledge that “no one is left according to the International Labour with the repercussions into neighbouring behind”. Organization, more than 204 million countries economy, labour market and people are unemployed in 2015, Studies development gains. For countries at all levels of development, also find that an increase in broadband an adequate supply of productive jobs is penetration of 10 percent stimulates For the successful implementation of the foundation of sustained prosperity economic growth by 0.43-1.38 percent the Sustainable Development Goals, and economic and social inclusion. (World Bank 2009). their inclusion and mainstreaming into Employment-rich economic growth is national policies, plans and strategies will the necessary foundation for decent jobs, The role of governments has widened- be crucial. Without a doubt, the fulfilment but by itself is not sufficient for achieving integrated development planning, while of the pledge to “leave no one behind” decent work for all. keeping partnership and innovation will also depend on how well the ones channels open with inputs from the furthest behind will be taken into account Global unemployment increased from public because the SDG agenda is when drafting the required policies and 170 million in 2007 to nearly 202 million interlinked. The 2030 Agenda introduces plans. This will require the income of the in 2012, of which about 75 million are inter-linkages between the goals to the bottom 40 per cent of the population to young women and men. And nearly 2.2 extent never experienced before. This grow faster than the national average; billion people live below the US$2 poverty requires full and genuine governments’ the empowerment, social and economic line and that poverty eradication is only ownership of the global agenda. inclusion of all.

RAJAB 1440 - MARCH 2019 17 Sustainable philanthropy: How Fael Khair Program is Helping Countries to achieve SDGs

Ahmad Saleh Hariri Manager, Fail Khair Program

ver since the Fael Khair Program (FKP) was donating US$26.7 million to build 72 water wells and 35 established in 2008, the programme has responded schools in their vicinity. This project helped relieve the victims to the dire needs of the victims of Cyclone Sidr that from water shortage, and walking miles to fetch water, In line hit Bangladesh in 2007, leaving thousands homeless., with the objectives of SDG 6. EThis generous donation from the late King Abdullah of FKP then responded further to other needs, such as Saudi Arabia amounting to US$130 million, managed and sponsoring orphans from the Tsunami, fighting Ebola in implemented by IsDB, has helped the victims of the cyclone in West Africa, providing 75 Medical Mobile Clinics to seven restoring their livelihood through the micro-credit interest free Asian Countries, providing relief to the Rohingya refugees loans from the grant component amounting to US$20 million; in Bangladesh, building the Girls Campus in the Islamic and has revolved 7.5 times making total value of loans given University of Niger, and rehabilitation of Al Malam region in up to US$150 million. Darfur, South Sudan, all of which amounted to US$761.4 The program has helped millions of students to go back to million. These grants have directly helped these countries school cum shelters that were built by the program numbering work towards achieving goals 1,2,3, and 4 of the SDGs. 172, spread throughout the southern coastal belt of Thanks to the generous donation by the late King Abdullah of Bangladesh. These schools cum shelters were built to last and Saudi Arabia, IsDB is proud to have been entrusted with the sustain future cyclones and were equipped with solar panels program implementation during which the bank has partnered generating enough electricity and water tanks for collection of with several local, regional, and international organizations rain water. This project helped Bangladesh towards achieving and NGOs leading to SDG 17. This donation is a source of SDGs 1 and 4. inspiration to other philanthropists to follow suit and help the Fael Khair Program then grew further as demand increases, needy and achieve the SDGs by 2030. by responding to the drought that hit Somalia in 2013 by

18 ISSUE NO.7 SDGs Update (I)

UN Releases World Youth Report for Dubai on track to achieve the targets of Sciences used remotely-sensed satellite 2030 Agenda SDG11 data to monitor rural poverty in low and middle-income countries. The study was The United Nations has released a new The City of Dubai, United Arab Emirates able to identify the poorest households report entitled “World Youth Report: has achieved a new feat among IsDB with 62 percent accuracy in a rural area Youth and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable member countries by achieving most of Western Kenya. Development.” According to the report, of the targets outlined in SDG 11. SDG sustainable development can only be 11 focuses on making cities and human Germany to help African countries achieved by engaging the youth and settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and achieve 2030 Agenda in agriculture addressing the challenges facing them sustainable. Gulf News reported that speakers at the UAE Public Policy Forum German Agricultural company AGCO has with specific focus on education and stated this during a panel discussion signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the employment. titled ‘Sustainable and resilient cities: German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to “In education, 142 million youth of upper opportunities and policy challenges to implement a joint agricultural project in secondary age are out of school. In building smart cities.’ Meera Al Shaikh, senior project manager at Smart Dubai Africa. A statement by Dr. Gerd Müller, employment, 71 million young people are German’s Federal Minister for Economic unemployed; and millions more are in stated that in the housing sector, zero per cent of the population live in slums. Cooperation and Development states precarious or informal work. Disparities that the aim of the LOI is to help achieve within and between countries in Economists suggest using satellite to UN’s 2030 Agenda. education and employment among youth track poverty-stricken households are stark, with gender, poverty, rurality, Youth meet in Tanzania to work on data disability, and migrant/refugee status all A study by economists from Aarhus initiatives for UN’s global goals being major elements of disadvantage,” university, Denmark has suggested the use of satellite images to monitor 26 young data innovators selected from says the UN Report. poverty-stricken households to help 2000 applicants have met in Arusha, Tanzania from 21-25 January 2015 to Youth development is one of the central achieve the targets of SDG 1 on poverty participate in the Goalkeepers Youth tenets of Islamic Development Bank’s eradication. The economists have Action Accelerator, a one-year initiative strategies for member countries. In estimated that it would cost US $253 billion to monitor socio-economic targets focused on sourcing and using data to line with this objective, IsDB organize drive progress towards the UN’s Global major events on youth activities during over the life time of the SDGs. The study titled “Socioecologically informed use Goals. Participants were selected from its Annual Meetings. To achieve the of remote sensing data to predict rural 22 countries in Africa, Latin America, objectives outlined in the 2030 agenda, household poverty,” published in The Asia and Middle East. Each participant IsDB has established a division on Proceedings of the National Academy of will receive US $30,000 to implement his Women and Youth Empowerment. project in his country.

RAJAB 1440 - MARCH 2019 19 SDGs Events:

Arab Region Parliamentary Forum, IsDB is supporting The Role of Parliamentarian in pushing the Agenda of the SDGs, UN House, Beirut, Lebanon (24-25 January 2019)

SDGs CoP Open Dialogue No. 6 (March 13, 2019): The Road to SDG 1

SDGs in Action @ World Government Summit (UAE), 09-12 February 2019 It is imperative to consider the profound impact of innovation and technology on ‘Youth Employability.’ The special Envoy participated in the vibrant discussions Private Finance for Sustainable Development Week, OECD, Paris, 15-18 January 2019 among the members of the SDG8 Global Council in the ‘SDGs in Action’ day at the ICD represented the IsDBG and provided a talk on how the SDGs Agenda constitutes a World Government Summit @ SDGs with good opportunity to put Impact at the heart of businesses. ILO leadership.

"How Can Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) Enhance Partnerships on the Road to Achieving the SDGs?"

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm, Friday 05 April 2018 Palmeraie Congress Palace (Orangeraie), Marrakech - Morocco

20 ISSUE NO.7