Minister Nomvula Mokonyane today spoke to young professionals on the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the impact these have on ordinary human beings.

The Minster said: “I believe that the SDG formulation process was one of the game changers for the United Nations.”

“However, to achieve these goals and have the desired impact,” the Minister said, “there is a need to, amongst others, review our institutional arrangements to use our limited resources and capacity wisely to ensure that we utilise these stretched resources in a meaningful way.”

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – which aim to end poverty, hunger and a number of other social ills by 2030 – recognise that the world is much better connected now than it was in 2000, and is building a consensus about the future we as a globe want.

“Investment on research is also critical so that the implementation of SDGs is not based only on what is commonly done by institutions, agencies and governments but must as well show a drastic shift from what has been business as usual”, said Minister Mokonyane.

The Minister added that the SDGs are about taking local interest on board, embracing local knowledge, providing space for transfer of knowledge, and being able to ensure that access to funding does not become the project itself but a means for realisation of project outcomes.

The Minister encouraged young professionals to focus on future planning, as well as future infrastructure needs and mobilisation of resources. “Take direct responsibility for how the future will look like by being part of decision-making processes at country, regional and continental levels.

But you will only be able to do that if you get organised and have a voice that is coherent, a voice that is supported by those generations that are about to move from their current areas of responsibility”, ended the Minister.

 

Issued by Department of Water and Sanitation