This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
Published on July 2, 2020, the UN Secretary-General's report on progress towards the SDGs noted that the world was making progress on attaining the goals before the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the pandemic has reversed these gains, overwhelming health systems globally and disrupting global value chains and supply products. The report notes that the effects of the pandemic have caused businesses and factories to shut down, impacting severely on the livelihoods of half of the global workforce.
Interconnected Goals ¶
The pandemic has demonstrated how failure to accelerate the pace towards attaining the 17 goals can have a devastating impact on the economy and society. One crucial lesson that Kenya must take into account is that 16 SDGs rely heavily on one goal – SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
Accelerating the pace of fulfilling Kenya's commitment on global goals depends on how fast the economy grows. This requires an environment that promotes investments, job creation, and wealth accumulation. A good starting point would be to understand the role of each stakeholder and how their innovations contribute towards realizing the SDGs.
Increased Employment ¶
Even as we grapple with the current challenges brought upon us by the pandemic, we must not lose the long-term focus and mission to achieve the SDGs. This will translate to increased employment, inclusivity, and efficient use of resources by all sectors and citizens.
SDGs also offer Kenya an opportunity to make progress towards its national priorities as spelt out in Kenya Vision 2030. Unlike the predecessor, the SDGs have presented us with a great opportunity to significantly harness the potential of both the public and private sectors.
