Leveraging spatial technology for agricultural intensification to address hunger in Ghana

YouthMappers are using open geospatial tools in support of initiatives seeking to achieve SGD 2 Zero Hunger and SDG 1 No Poverty in Northern Ghana. Students and researchers designed survey questions and a field data collection workflow using simple but cost-effective technology to catalogue a database of farmers, properly demarcate farm sizes, and give farmers, in particular impoverished women, the opportunity to project farm yields and increase the efficiency of their output

Implementation of APPGM-SDG Solutions Projects and Impact Evaluations in Malaysia's Central Region

The Malaysian Parliament established the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on the Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG) in response to growing public awareness of Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDG, 2030). One of the purposes of this research is to examine the SDG implications of beneficiary solution projects as part of a bipartisan endeavour to improve the implementation of SDG targets in Malaysian parliamentary seats. In the Central Region, which encompasses the parliamentary seats of a few districts in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Pahang, a team is entrusted with compiling a report to combine the impact evaluation of SDG efforts. From October to December 2022, the regional research examined the effects of psychology and these projects' knowledge, skills, networks, and systems on the beneficiaries of the solution projects via document analysis, focus group discussions, and site visits. The effectiveness of solution providers in managing and carrying out projects, the effect on the beneficiaries, the alignment and mapping of the impact evaluations of the solution providers with the SDG goals and APPGM-SDG modules, and the identification of challenges and suggested fixes are also covered in the paper. The research also presents the quantitative analysis performed by the evaluators using standardised questionnaires that gauge six (6) essential factors: Deep, Wide, Clear, High, SDG, and Gender. The main finding is that eradicating poverty is the aim of every solution projects. Most participants are unacquainted with the SDG, and COVID-19 has stifled most of the discourse. The research recommends combining online and offline approaches and adding employment possibilities to enhance communication between parties and give more significant opportunities for society after project execution

Scaling Up Climate Action to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UNDP released its first infographic report that presented the breadth and depth of our support on climate change over the past two decades. That report emphasized successes and noted the opportunities that climate action presents for countries as they transition their economies towards zero-carbon and climate-resilient sustainable development.This year, as countries begin to take concrete action to deliver on their national climate goals, we are pleased to release an updated report of UNDP's climate change work. New, in this report, is a special focus on the linkages between climate change and sustainable development. Specifically, the report highlights the importance of climate action in delivering on the SDGs and provides examples of UNDP's on-going work on the ground towards this end. The report also presents UNDP's commitment to scale up climate change action in order to deliver on the ambitious agenda that countries agreed to in 2015." – Magdy Martinez-Solima

Links and trade-offs between fisheries and environmental protection in relation to the sustainable development goals in Thailand

The fisheries sector significantly contributes to global food security, nutrition, and livelihood of people. Its importance for economic benefits, healthy diets, and nutrition, and achieving sustainable food systems is highlighted by several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), i.e., SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). However, due to unprecedented population levels, the contribution of the fisheries sector to fulfills these roles is challenging, particularly given additional concerns regarding environmental well-being and sustainability. From this perspective, this study aims to identify the links and trade-offs between the development of this sector and the environmental sustainability in Thailand via a critical analysis of their trends, current ecological impacts, and more importantly, their contributions to several individual SDGs. A time-series of Thailand's fisheries production from 1995 to 2015 indicates a recent reduction from around 3.0 million tons in 1995 to 1.5 million tons in 2015 of wild fish and shellfish from marine and freshwater habitats. The maximum sustainable yield of these species has been exceeded. Conversely, Thailand's aquaculture production has continued to grow over the last decade, resulting in a reduction of mangrove forest area, wild fish stocks, and water quality. While capture fisheries and aquaculture production significantly contribute to several SDG targets, there are potential trade-offs between their development and the achievement of SDGs within the planet dimension, i.e., SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14, and SDG 15 (Life on Land). On the one hand, the mitigation of overfishing will be beneficial for the targets of SDG 14, leading to more sustainable resource management. On the other hand, it might cause a decrease in the volume of marine catches and economic and social profits. We conclude that the SDGs can serve as a framework for both policymakers and industrial workers to monitor and compromise on regulations that will optimize productivity in the context of sustainable development

High Altitude Rangelands and Pastoralism in Bhutan: Using Sustainable Development Goals to Address Land Degradation and Poverty

Semi-nomadic pastoralists in Bhutan live in high altitude rangelands where they seasonally migrate with yak and cattle herds from 3,000m to 5,000m. Population increase, overgrazing and climate change in eastern Bhutan have led to severe land degradation, winter fodder shortage and reduced milk production per head for herding families. This paper describes how Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were used to design a rangeland rehabilitation and livelihoods improvement program with herders in Merak district from 2016 to 2019. The aim was to restore degraded rangelands, improve pastures, develop savings schemes, resolve conflicts and increase conservation knowledge. The approach involved gender sensitive capacity building, on-ground works, action research and social learning. Six SDGs were addressed over three years, SDG 1. No Poverty; SDG 4 Quality Education; SDG 5 Gender Equality; SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth; and SDG 15 Life on the Land. Poverty in Merak district is higher than the rest of Bhutan due to remoteness and lack of livelihood alternatives. Two women’s savings groups were formed in 2017 with 148 members, each investing 100-150 Ngultrum per month (US$2-3). In two years, the groups saved (US$3,700) with (US$2,363) borrowed by 10 households for enterprises such as cheese making, wooden bowls, small shops, carpentry, homestays and livestock. The community were trained in organisational and financial management which increased their confidence and skills in working together and resolving conflicts. Eroded rangeland areas were fenced, reforested and checkdams installed. Pasture was sown over 80 hectares at 3,000m and silage produced for winter feed. Collaborative learning between the forest and livestock agencies, environmental NGOs and the community led to declaration of special protection zones, a red panda conservation action plan, junior ranger clubs and a wool processing centre. Challenges included communal areas where families could not agree on whether to improve pasture which required fencing investment. The SDGs provided a useful framework for achieving and monitoring outcomes of integrated rangeland management and livelihood development

Impact of Globalization on Human Rights in Developing Countries: Connecting the Dots towards the SDGs

This study focuses on the complex interaction between globalization and human rights. The study uses a multifaceted approach to analyze the possible overlaps and conflicts between globalization and human rights to find ways to lessen negative effects and maximize good ones. The research intends to identify the gaps and possibilities of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by looking at the particular difficulties encountered by developing countries. The study reveals the intricate interactions between globalization and human rights using data from several case studies as well as a thorough examination of the literature. It identifies several significant impact areas, such as labor rights, access to healthcare and education, environmental sustainability, gender equality, and the defense of indigenous peoples' rights. Additionally, the study evaluates how governments, civil society, international organizations, and other stakeholders are addressing the adverse effects of globalization on human rights and sustainable development. The paper unleashes mitigating factors and emphasizes the obligations of the many UN stakeholders to defend human rights and assist in the achievement of the SDGs. By resolving these issues, developing nations may more effectively take advantage of globalization's potential advantages while defending human rights and pursuing sustainable development objectives within the SDG framework. One of the key limitations of this paper is the lack of access to achieving primary data and the generalization of the concept itself. The impact of globalization has a deeper and specific scope of discussion

The Mechanisms of Tourism Management in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS): The Case of Phulomlo and Connected Areas, Thailand

Sustainable tourism has been a mainstream issue of concern, with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development released in 2015. This agenda acknowledged 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that contain a blueprint of urgent action for peace and prosperity for the people and the planet. This paper focuses on the mechanisms of tourism management that work toward achieving the SDGs. There are two mechanisms, a supportive mechanism and an operational mechanism, that address the question of how to achieve the SDGs by employing tourism as a tool, the Phulomlo of Thailand was selected as a case study. Data were collected from local stakeholders through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and documentation. The results show that there is a concrete operational mechanismat the local level. However, to attain growth toward sustainability, more thorough promotion of supportive mechanisms should be considered, with a more explicit strategy to facilitate improvement in achieving the SDGs in all areas connected to Phulomlo.   Suggestions to enhance the achievement of SDGs in the case of Phulomlo and the connected areas are proposed, as it is important to formulate a practical strategy to accomplish the SDGs via the local network. Furthermore, additional features comprising of consistency in practice, coherence of policies at the national and local level, and collaboration among tourism stakeholders should also be considered