A sustainable path to the future

The 2030 Implementation Initiative

BMZ in depth
 2030 Implementation
Initiative

GEORGIA
MOLDOVA
SERBIA

MOROCCO

MAURITANIA
MEXICO
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS GHANA
TOGO
COLOMBIA
BENIN
BRAZIL
BOLIVIA
ECLAC NAMIBIA

AFROSAI

2
 KYRGYZSTAN

PAKISTAN
NEPAL
MYANMAR

VIETNAM
INDIA CAMBODIA
BANGLADESH INDONESIA
UNESCAP

MADAGASCAR
KENYA

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4
Flagship report –
an overview
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a pact on the
world’s future, which aims to transform our world. Delivering
on the 2030 Agenda, with its 17 Sustainable Development
Goals and principles, is a major challenge for most countries.

How can countries design an efficient sustainability structure? How can

sustainable development be financed and achievements in implementing the
SDGs be measured?

This is exactly where the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation
and Development (BMZ) comes in with its 2030 Implementation Initiative.
It supports partner countries at three levels: 1) Policy: Adapting structures
and strategies; 2) Financing: increasing revenue and mobilising private invest­
ment; and 3) Monitoring and review: Measuring, analysing and reporting.

From Myanmar to Mexico, Brazil to Benin and Georgia to Ghana, currently

the 2030 Implementation Initiative is funding 29 measures in 26 partner
countries and three regional organizations with a volume of approximately
58 million euros. The approaches to achieve the necessary sustainable trans­
formation are as diverse, as the countries taking part in the initiative.

At the policy level, the 2030 Implementation Initiative supports countries

such as Mexico in adapting and formulating their sustainability strategy.
With German support, Georgia is introducing legislative impact assessments,
which are an important tool for bringing effective laws to implementation.
At the level of financing, Germany is taking steps to support developing
countries in increasing their incomes. With regard to expenditure control,
the 2030 Implementation Initiative strengthens for instance the African
Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI). The purpose of the
level monitoring and review is, to check the effectiveness of measures
taken. For this reason, the 2030 Implementation Initiative supports
Myanmar, Vietnam and Ghana in monitoring, data analysis and evidence-
based policymaking.

So far, the results show how important this support is. It is fundamental
that each country can go its individual way in implementing the 2030 Agenda
successfully. The 2030 Implementation Initiative contributes to this.

5
 2030 Agenda –
act now
‘We are the first generation that can put an end to poverty and
we are the last generation that can put an end to climate change.’

This is how former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon

outlined the unique opportunity available to humankind, as well as the
enormous cliff edge in front of it.

By adopting the 2030 Agenda with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs) in September 2015, the international community opened the door
to many opportunities; nonetheless, it has by no means eliminated the
risk of going over the cliff edge. After all, the resolutions are only on paper.
Transitioning from an exploitation-based to a sustainable lifestyle poses a
challenge to industrialised nations, developing countries, the research
sector, the private sector and civil society alike.

Through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the international

community intends to work together to resolve global challenges. As such,
the 2030 Agenda calls for nothing less than the transformation of our world.
First and foremost, it seeks to end extreme poverty and hunger by 2030,
conserve natural resources and balance economic success with social and
environmental justice. However, when it comes to the transformation
towards greater sustainability, current efforts are not sufficient. This view is
also shared by the BMZ’s Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, Dr. Ingolf Dietrich: “The necessary transformation towards
sustainable development stagnates, we are falling short of reaching the goals.
We need to step up our efforts to reach the SDGs by 2030.” For example, for
the first time in a decade, the number of chronically undernourished people
in the world has risen, from 777 million in 2015 to 815 million in 2016.¹

If people are to live and work sustainably in the future, the 2030 Agenda
needs to be mainstreamed in the policy-making processes, budgetary funding
must be made available, plans must be coordinated, and all the steps intro­
duced must be closely monitored and reviewed in terms of their effectiveness.

But how do we put these goals and plans into practice? Many of our partner
countries are seeking advice and dialogue on these matters. With the 2030
Implementation Initiative, the BMZ is assisting its partners with initiating the
necessary transformation on a strategic level. This is urgently needed, as the
German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dr. Gerd Müller
explains: ‘If we don’t act now, we and our children will pay a high price
tomorrow.’

1 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: http://www.fao.org/3/a-I7695e.pdf

6
Elements, principles,
tasks

UNIVERSALITY INTEGRATED APPROACH ACCOUNTABILITY

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND

The implementation of the 2030 Agenda is based of five It goes without saying: Sustainable development and the
overarching principles. These are: Universality, integrated achievement of the SDGs are not only tasks for govern­
approach, shared responsibility, leave no one behind and ments. They can only be achieved if all actors, whether
accountability. The principles illustrate the new and en­ governments, companies, civil society groups, citizens, or
hanced quality of the 2030 Agenda and lay the foundation researchers, accept their shared responsibility and pull in
for the individual contributions to implementation. the same direction.

The 2030 Agenda is universally applicable to all countries Leaving no one behind means focusing on people with the
alike – to developing, emerging and industrialised coun­ fewest development opportunities and the quietest voices.
tries. Every country must change its actions to make them It also means reaching them fi rst.
conducive to sustainable development.
Progress towards sustainability needs to be measured and
Sustainability means taking equal account of the social, communicated, not least to enable changes at the right
environmental and economic dimensions of development. moment. The 2030 Agenda provides for accountability,
The different development challenges are closely inter­ recognising that citizens in their own countries and the
linked and mutually influence each other. It is essential in international community wish to be informed of develop­
this context that no SDG should be attained at the expense ments. The results and impact of development measures
of another one (integrated approach). For example, eco­ must be recorded, reviewed and disclosed.
nomic growth must not be achieved through the waste of
resources, as this would negatively impact terrestrial and
marine ecosystems.

7
“If we don't act now, we and our children will pay a high price tomorrow.”
Federal Minister Dr. Gerd Müller
 Content
I. POLICY
ADAPTING STRUCTURES
AND STRATEGIES 13

II. FINANCING
INCREASING REVENUE
AND MOBILISING
PRIVATE INVESTMENT 19

III. MONITORING AND REVIEW

MEASURING, ANALYSING
AND REPORTING 26

10
Bringing the
2030 Agenda to life
The 2030 Agenda entails internationally agreed goals and targets for sustainable
development. Implementing them will be challenging for industrialised nations,
emerging economies and developing countries alike. After all, in many cases, the
conditions for implementation still need to be created in the first place. Conse­
quently, the 2030 Implementation Initiative promotes structural and transform­
ative approaches at the three strategically decisive levels of policy, financing and
monitoring and review.

Increasing revenue and mobilising

private investment

Adapting structures Measuring, analysing

and strategies and reporting
Creating conditions
for implementing the
2030 Agenda

With the 2030 Implementation Initiative, BMZ supports help partner countries to realise their national goals for
projects in 26 partner countries and at three regional organ­ implementing the 2030 Agenda. “With the 2030 Implement­
isations.2 So far, funding this work with about EUR 58 mil­ ation Initiative we have created a unique bilateral initiative
lion. Partner countries can apply for projects at one or more focusing on areas where needs of partner countries are
levels, depending on where they require support. To this highest and which promise the greatest success,” says
end, new projects are launched or existing technical co­ Dr. Ingolf Dietrich, Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda for
operation programmes are expanded to include additional Sustainable Development at BMZ. The 2030 Implementa­
measures. Additionally, low-volume, short-term initiatives tion Initiative works at eye level with its partners to initiate
receive assistance from the 2030 Agenda Transformation new partnerships for sustainable development. Addition­
Fund3 as part of the 2030 Implementation Initiative. ally, the experiences will inform the methods and strategies
The programme is being implemented by the Deutsche of the German Government’s approach to development
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) cooperation in the medium term and thus boost its impact
GmbH on behalf of BMZ. The 2030 Implementation in promoting sustainability. This publication provides an
Initiative is an important and promising approach on the overview of the tools and methods that the 2030 Implemen­
part of German development cooperation. The processes tation Initiative is using to accelerate the urgently required
funded with the programme and the resulting experiences transformative change.

2 A number of the projects and measures are currently still at the preparation stage and are yet to be verified with the partner countries.
Conceptual adjustments may therefore still be made
3 https://www.2030transformationfund.com/

11
 Chancellor of Germany
Angela Merkel at the adoption
of the 2030 Agenda at
UN headquarters New York in 2015

12
 I Policy – adapting
structures and strategies
For the necessary transformation we need to translate the 2030 Agenda
into guidelines for action. The 2030 Implementation Initiative provides
wide-ranging support to partner countries.

The 2030 Agenda sets ambitious that no SDG is achieved at the expense of another. These
and elementary goals. However, changes are no easy undertaking, neither for political
these must be integrated into bodies and authorities, nor for companies and organisa­
national and local development tions. It is all the more urgent to translate these change
plans and strategies and, ideally, processes into state action and initiatives and at the same
enshrined in law. That way, state time bring civil society, businesses and the research sector
structures will be strengthened for along on the journey. This is the only way to turn plans
the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Failing to do so into genuine policy.
would leave the goals detached from the practical policies
of a country, causing them to fizzle out. ‘Translating the 2030 Agenda into legislation is no easy
task,’ says Helge Arends, who heads the project ‘Develop­
If we wish to mainstream the Agenda, we need to convince ment of a Mexican sustainability architecture to imple­
the key decision-makers at all state levels, galvanise the ment the 2030 Agenda’ in Mexico. This is because in order
existing political will, carry out lobbying work and organise to lay the structural and legal foundations, a country must
the required knowledge despite all the opposition we may make many adjustments simultaneously. In Mexico, the
face. After all, bodies and institutions tend to stick to what 2030 Implementation Initiative is taking three paths on
has been tried and tested. Consequently, it is essential to behalf of BMZ. First, the project is supporting the National
make adjustments to the general political conditions. Council for the 2030 Agenda. This forum brings together
However, the content of the 2030 Agenda represents un­ state and non-governmental actors and advises the
charted territory for everyone. This entails uncertainties Mexican presidential administration on the implementa­
and fundamental changes, which also need to be commu­ tion of the 2030 Agenda. Second, the project advises the
nicated between national and sub-national actors. President’s Office, which is formulating a Mexican sus­
tainability strategy. Third, the cooperation arrangement
Countries thus need to adapt their structures and intro­ strengthens the relationships between the public sector,
duce new approaches at all political levels. Most of all, they civil society, the private sector and research.
must broaden their sectoral thinking to include cross­
ministerial action. After all, the 2030 Agenda requires

13
 PROVIDING INFORMATION society, the research sector and the private sector are
heard. ‘They all have their own perspective and different
In Mexico, as in all other partner countries, planners face levels of knowledge. This is where a process becomes
a dilemma. While the term ‘2030 Agenda’ appears fre­ highly political and the task of harmonising the different
quently in government circles and within development opinions becomes very complex indeed,’ says Alejandro
organisations, barely anyone in local communities, civil Manríquez, who advises the President’s Office in Mexico
society or the private sector knows what it means, what it on behalf of GIZ (→ see Mexico interview, page 17).
involves and what tasks they are required to carry out as
part of it. The same applies to the population at large, most To this end, a multi-stakeholder approach, the Development
of whom have hardly any knowledge of the 2030 Agenda Partners Forum, is being further developed in Namibia
and the SDGs. ‘Our greatest challenge is to inform people in cooperation with the 2030 Implementation Initiative.
about the SDGs and the related opportunities,’ says This forum coordinates implementation contributions for
Bernhard Hartleitner, who has been tasked by the 2030 the 2030 Agenda, working in the process with a number
Implementation Initiative to improve conditions for of actors to set national priorities.
private investment in 2030 Agenda projects in the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. To achieve Once a piece of legislation has entered into force, then the
this, all involved parties require reliable information. window for exerting influence upon it has closed. This is
why it is fundamental in legislative initiatives to analyse
In many countries, the 2030 Implementation Initiative the consequences at the early legislative development stage
therefore promotes information campaigns, or organises in terms of its compatibility with the SDGs. Such regulatory
forums and discussion events jointly with local partners. impact analysis is established practice in Germany and
Examples include Ghana, Namibia, Benin, Myanmar and Europe, but not in many developing countries and emer­
Mexico. This makes sense from a strategic point of view, ging economies. The 2030 Implementation Initiative is
as measures for implementing the 2030 Agenda, such as therefore assisting the Georgian Government with introdu­
an increased tax rate to enable 2030 Agenda projects to cing this method and thus mainstreaming the 2030 Agenda
be financed or the cutting of fossil fuel subsidies, may in its legislative processes. The Georgian example now
encounter public resistance. The more the population serves as a model for neighbouring states, such as Armenia,
recognises the value of such measures for themselves, the Azerbaijan, Moldova and Ukraine. ‘The 2030 Implementa­
more sustainably the government can pursue its reform tion Initiative has helped us to drive regional dialogue with
activities and legislative proposals. Conversely, civil Azerbaijan and Armenia on the implementation of the
society can use the SDGs to strengthen their claim vis- SDGs. The support provided by Germany was extremely
a-vis their government. helpful in this regard,’ says Anna Kvernadze, Head of the
Sustainable Development Goals Council of Georgia (→ see
practical example of Georgia, page 16).
MAINSTREAMING

Ultimately, global frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda IMPLEMENTATION

and the equally important Paris Climate Agreement must
be mainstreamed into regulations and strategies. This Things decided at state level must be implemented, partic­
is the only way to make the changes agreed at global level ularly in cities and municipalities, because it is here, at the
a reality. local level, that people can be reached directly. ‘Without
local government and municipalities, the SDGs can not be
But what needs to be included in strategies and legislation realised,’ says Bernhard Hartleitner from the project in
and which requirements need to be changed accordingly? Pakistan. In Mexico and Vietnam, the 2030 Implementation
Who is responsible and (given that the 2030 Agenda affects Initiative is assisting municipalities with incorporating
virtually all government ministries) who coordinates the the 2030 Agenda requirements into their development
ministries and authorities? Germany supports many part­ plans, too. With support from the project, two Vietnamese
ner countries in this regard through the 2030 Implemen­ provinces have adopted local action plans for implementing
tation Initiative. For example, it is assisting Namibia and the 2030 Agenda. The same accounts for Benin, where, as
South American partners. The latter via the Economic in many parts of the world, municipalities face enormous
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), challenges. ‘They need to develop an understanding
which supports its member states with integrating the SDGs of their role in the process, provide information about the
into national development and sector plans. 2030 Agenda, gain practical experience and organise the
necessary financial means,’ says Nestor Ahouangan, com­
Formulating strategies and policies is one challenge, while ponent manager in the ‘Supporting decentralisation and
organising majorities to adopt them is another. Of course, municipal development’ programme.
it is also necessary to ensure that the interests of civil

14
 School children in a bus, Nepal

In Benin, the 2030 Implementation Initiative raises aware­ time, the lessons learned are used to inform the discussion
ness among Beninese communities and local actors of their at national and international level. In this context, the
role in implementing the 2030 Agenda. For example, the 2030 Implementation Initiative involves civil society in
project encourages partner municipalities to process their Benin. ‘With the support of the programme, we have
practical experiences of implementing the SDGs. This trained SDG facilitators, allowing us to inform 400 non-
promotes mutual learning among the municipalities, who governmental organisations (NGOs) and numerous mayors
can draw upon these experiences, translate them into their and prefects about the SDGs,’ says Comlan Maurice
own context and implement them accordingly. At the same Gbemendou, of the NGO RODD.4

4 Réseau des Organisations non gouvernementales pour les Objectifs du Développement Durable (RODD)

15
 How legislation is taking effect
in Georgia

Regulatory impact analyses ensure that legis­

lation delivers what it promises. The experiences
are also of interest to neighbouring countries.

In Germany, regulatory impact analyses (RIAs) have long and parliament to carry out a corresponding review of
been a tried-and-tested instrument for more effectively initial legislative proposals. There are currently six more
anticipating the impact of legislation and paving the way pieces of legislation awaiting review. Anna Kvernadze,
for its implementation. This is an instrument the Georgian Head of the Sustainable Development Goals Council of
Government intends to introduce. A team of GIZ experts is Georgia, values the collaboration and dialogue with the
assisting the country in this endeavour. project experts. ‘We find the German-Georgian dialogue
on methods and expertise to be extremely useful. One of
The component “Mainstreaming the requirements of the the results of this collaboration will be an SDG toolkit
2030 Agenda in regulatory impact analyses” has three which will enable us to review the sustainability, object­
priorities in this regard. First, the staff members advise the ives and SDG indicators of our legislation.’ The online tool
Ministry of Justice, the Administration of Government of is based on the German electronic sustainability impact
Georgia and the operational Sustainable Development assessment (called eNachhaltigkeitsprüfung).
Goals Council. Second, the project aims to mainstream the
RIA as a method in Georgia. This requires that a sufficient
number of experts internalise both the methods and the USEFUL PROCESS –
requirements of the 2030 Agenda. The project finances FOR THE ENTIRE REGION
training for government actors and experts from univer­
sities and NGOs. ‘We intend to disseminate the methodo­ Against this backdrop of good results, there is opportunity
logy as widely as possible to ensure that we still retain the to engage in more in-depth regional dialogue with other
knowledge after government reshuffles and against the countries that wish to introduce RIA as a method, such as
backdrop of high staff turnover,’ says Sina Heers. Third, Azerbaijan, and those that have already introduced it, such
RIA will also be piloted in a practical context. as Armenia. Georgia’s experiences are also useful to Mol­
dova and Ukraine. The project intends to use specialist
events to initiate this dialogue and drive targeted dialogue
PRACTISING IN A SAFE SPACE platforms. Representatives of Armenia’s National Centre
for Legislative Regulation and the country’s Ministry of
A cross-ministerial community of practice facilitating Justice have already taken part in multi-day seminars put
dialogue between parliament staff and different ministries on by the community of practice in Georgia and shared
has proven highly successful. This community provides a their experiences of the difficulties faced in introducing
safe space for participants to test out analysis methods and the RIA instrument. For their part, the Georgian repres­
discuss RIA reports, and to review the extent to which they entatives outlined how the objectives of the 2030 Agenda
are truly integrating aspects of sustainability. are being systematically integrated into the analysis of
legislative initiatives.
The latter provide effective preparation for the practical
application of RIA in specific legislative proposals. In its
first year, the project worked with a range of ministries

16
 ‘We have helped to get the national
sustainable development strategy
off the ground’

Mexico is one of the world’s leaders when it

comes to the 2030 Agenda. The government has
reformed its planning legislation, got a national
strategy off the ground for the 2030 Agenda and
intends to practically implement this strategy.

German development cooperation is assisting the Presid­ actors at all three levels (national, state and municipal), as
ent’s Office, which is responsible for implementing the well as non-governmental actors from civil society and
2030 Agenda at national level. Alejandro Manríquez, a the research and private sectors. We have already provided
advisor of the 2030 Implementation Initiative, explains in advisory services to the office. In this context, the Mexican
this interview what is involved. Government has agreed on other measures besides the
national sustainable development strategy, measures which
have already proven their worth as examples of best practice
GIZ IS ASSISTING THE MEXICAN at international level. As such, a national sustainable devel­
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE WITH FORMULATING opment strategy is being developed, the national budget
AND IMPLEMENTING A NATIONAL is being aligned with the 2030 Agenda and key principles of
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY. the 2030 Agenda are integrated in a reform of planning
HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS TASK? legislation.

Just under half of all 125 million Mexicans live below the
poverty line. About 79% of the electricity in the country is HOW ARE YOU ASSISTING THE PRESIDENT’S
generated from fossil fuels. At the same time, the nation is OFFICE WITH IMPLEMENTING THESE
one of the 12 most biodiverse countries in the world. These GOALS?
three facts show the tremendous amount of leverage we can
have on poverty and environmental issues if Mexico success­ We provide knowledge where it is needed and advise the
fully translates the 2030 Agenda into government action. office on ways of integrating legislation and practical
measures to make them coherent. We also support pro­
cesses for bringing the population, the research com­
WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING munity and the business sector along on the sustainable
THE PROJECT BASED AT THE MEXICAN development journey. It is precisely this step that repre­
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE? sents a cultural shift for Mexico.

It means that the 2030 Agenda has been placed at the

highest political level. Consequently, the 2030 Implemen­ WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED?
tation Initiative is providing input to the most significant
and powerful control room in the country. This is an Based on international learning experiences, above all
exceptional opportunity to play a part in developing the from Germany, we have accompanied the development of
national sustainability architecture. Now we focus on the sustainability strategy. We have developed the meth­
motivating the new president, who took office in December odology how ministries and civil society can be involved
2018, to enthusiastically implement the 2030 Agenda. in the process. The 2030 Implementation Initiative has
also facilitated several advisory processes and dialogues
which give NGOs, researchers and companies an oppor­
HOW IS MEXICO IMPLEMENTING tunity to contribute their ideas. The question revolved
THE 2030 AGENDA? around how we could systematically address the ideas,
suggestions and criticism of 1,300 actors and of Mexican
The former president launched the National Council for Government ministries, states and municipalities and
the 2030 Agenda in April 2017. This is the highest national integrate them into this process. To this end, we worked
coordinating body for the 2030 Agenda, comprising state with research institutes specialising in sustainable

17
 development and citizen participation. After all, we also strategy will be adopted without amendment. The presen­
came up with various policy recommendations so that tation of Mexico’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) at
the strategy is actually addressing the big challenges in the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sus­
implementing the 2030 Agenda. We can proudly say that tainable Development (HLPF) in July 2018 mainstreamed
we are playing a key role in the drafting of the Mexican previous implementation efforts at international level.
sustainable development strategy for the 2030 Agenda. This is because the VNR explicitly outlines the process for
drafting the national strategy. The new planning legis­
lation is already in force and safeguards a certain level
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? of continuity; our project is also continuing to run.
After all, working with actors from a range of sectors to
It is important that the new government pursues imple­ implement the sustainable development strategy locally
menting the 2030 Agenda, of course adapted to its own is a Mexican-German objective, for example, in the
national priorities. We believe that key parts of the national state of Oaxaca.

At a financial consulting meeting:

risk-cost-benefit-analysis
of a planned investment

18
 II Financing –
increasing revenue
and mobilising
private investment
Achieving the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda will take enormous investments.
Developing countries alone will require around USD 2,500 billion for this purpose.5
Currently, these nations invest just USD 1,400 billion. Consequently, over two
thirds of the funding is lacking.

Developing countries must expertise for identifying the diverse range of financing
thus provide significantly more mechanisms and using them for the purpose of sustainable
capital than they have to date. development.
A number of measures can be
adopted for achieving this, such Additionally, many countries have a poor overall invest­
as higher tax revenues or the ment climate due to non-transparent administrative pro­
cutting of subsidies that conflict cesses and a lack of legal certainty. This not only makes
with the achievement of the SDGs. However, public fund­ them less attractive to investors, but also frequently pre­
ing alone is absolutely insufficient for providing the neces­ vents the effective and efficient administration and collec­
sary investment. Additionally, there is a need to bring tion of taxes and duties.
private investors and donors on board. However, this is
just one side of the coin. It is also necessary to use and
prioritise available funding appropriately, something for CREDIBLE BUDGET MANAGEMENT IS ONE
which the involved institutions require qualified experts OF THE TARGETS OF THE 2030 AGENDA
with the relevant knowledge.
Like the provision of finance, good budget management is
a key lever for implementing the 2030 Agenda. This re­
CHALLENGES quires properly functioning state budgeting and accounting
processes and the reliable transfer of finance from central
If developing countries were to use all the available finan­ government to the municipalities. The 2030 Agenda un­
cing options, then they could provide significantly more derscores the importance of parliamentary budget control.
funding for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda than This control process must use budgeted and actual costs in
they do today. However, many countries lack the necessary its assessment of measures in order to have credibility.

5 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): World Investment Report 2014 – Investing in the SDGs.
https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/wir2014_en.pdf

19
Governments can use their fiscal policy to manage their formulate tax legislation in such a way that it fuels
investments and thus, for example, reduce poverty and sustainable development.
hunger and improve education and health care.
‘For example, if Indonesia is to increase its tax rate, then
it must make its tax administration more efficient,’ ex­
TAX REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE plains Johannsen. The 2030 Implementation Initiative is
assisting the country with developing a new tax database,
In many developing countries, tax revenues account for purchasing the necessary IT for it and developing the
between 10% and 15% of the gross domestic product, mak­ required software (→ see practical example of Indonesia,
ing them far too low. The figure for industrialised nations page 24).
is between 30% and 45%, allowing them to finance the
wide-ranging tasks of the state. These include the provision
of basic state infrastructure, the maintenance of an ad­ INVESTING AND PROVIDING
equate education and health care system and national ACCOUNTABILITY
infrastructure, and the deployment of poverty reduction
measures. It is therefore essential for countries to increase Where and how governments invest is also decisive for the
their tax revenues, reduce tax avoidance and evasion, success of the 2030 Agenda. It is therefore necessary for
and introduce innovative taxes such as tax on aviation them to provide accountability about their expenditure.
fuel or CO2-tax.6 This task is the responsibility of the supreme audit institu­
tions, which, in many developing countries, require sup­
Take Indonesia for example, which is seeking to align its port in terms of capacity development. ‘In Serbia, we are
entire budget planning process with the 2030 Agenda. supporting the audit office in the development of a meth­
In this way, the government in Jakarta is looking to sub­ odology for evaluating the progress of the 2030 Agenda,’
stantially increase its tax revenues to allow it to fund says Urs Bürcky from the ‘Public finance reform – financing
investments for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda the 2030 Agenda’ project in the Eastern European country.
itself. ‘It is exciting to see Indonesia not only taking
the rocky road to higher tax revenues, but also looking In Africa, BMZ supports the African Organization of Su­
to make this path sustainable,’ says Philipp Johannsen, preme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI). The goal is to develop
who heads the 2030 Implementation Initiative’s ‘Domestic coordinated audits and audit templates for analysing illegal
resource mobilisation for sustainable development’ financial flows, developing the overall analytical capacity
project in the Asian nation. The project has two goals. of the authorities and thereby boosting their effectiveness
First, it assists the Ministry of Finance with increasing (→ see practical example of African Organization of
the tax rate, and second, it supports the Ministry to Supreme Audit Institutions, page 22).

6 GIZ: Harnessing financial innovation to jump start implementation of the 2030 Agenda (internal working paper).

Brazil is leading the way in the use

of wind power in Latin America and
the state of Ceará is already called
the capital of wind power
BRINGING PRIVATE INVESTORS ON BOARD must formulate rules and legislation that safeguard the
sustainability of these investments. If they succeed in this,
In order to ensure sufficient funding for the 2030 Agenda, then they can use sound regulations to lay the foundation
countries must also bring private donors and investors for investment.
on board and adopt new approaches in the process. ‘For
many Muslims in countries such as Pakistan, for example,
it is typical to donate 2.5% of their income to social aid GREEN FINANCIAL MARKETS
projects,’ says Bernhard Hartleitner, who works for the
2030 Implementation Initiative in the country. Foundations There is also a need for financial products designed to
and companies are also potential donors in a corporate facilitate SDG-related investments. These may be credit
social responsibility context. However, the greatest pro­ and loans, as well as sureties and products that reduce the
portion of finance by far will need to be generated through risk for private investors. Recent decades have seen the
conventional investors, who are also looking to make a emergence of a series of such financial products that facil­
profit and increase their earnings. itate investment in sustainable development. The 2030
Implementation Initiative assists partner countries with
This is possible if governments create secure general using these products for their 2030 Agenda investments.
conditions and/or incentives for investment. The German
Government’s Renewable Energy Sources Act is a good Experts from the initiative advise regulatory and super­
example of how legislation can be combined with financial visory authorities in the financial sector, such as minis­
incentives to generate billions in investment and initiate tries of finance and central banks, on how to establish
a green energy supply. Ever since its implementation, the rules for such financial products, and also advise banks
law has served as an example to many developing coun­ and financial service providers on ways of offering inno­
tries and emerging economies for the development of their vative financial products. Take Brazil, for instance: ‘The
own wind power, solar energy and biogas potential. Brazilian Government intends to use green financial
products to generate an additional EUR 15 billion from
In this case, aided by regulations and incentives, the private investors to be made available for investment in
governments have leveraged innovative technologies. SDG-related fields,’ says Arnd Helmke, who heads the
Investors and donors also see similar opportunities in 2030 Implementation Initiative’s ‘Green finance’ project
other SDG-related fields. Possibilities exist where SDGs in Brazil. In this context, Germany is assisting Brazil in
and investments deliver benefits to all parties. different ways. ‘To mention just one example, this involves
strengthening the role of sustainability criteria in finan­
Nonetheless, corresponding investments do not auto­ cing decisions and in reporting,’ Helmke adds. (→ see
matically promote the SDGs. This is why governments practical example of Brazil, page 23)

21
 Audits are becoming more substantial
The 2030 Implementation Initiative is success­
fully promoting the African Organization of
Supreme Audit Institutions

Supreme audit institutions, such as Germany’s Federal audit institutions in their respective countries,’ says
Audit Office, play a key role in auditing ministries and Barbara Dutzler, explaining the approach. The authorities
administrations and reviewing the efficiency of their forward the results to the respective parliament. After an
spending behaviour. However, in many developing analysis of common challenges, these results are also
countries, the auditing authorities lack the capacity to published in the regional context.
fully exploit the potential available to them.
AFROSAI and the supreme audit institutions are also being
‘In sub-Saharan Africa in particular, the government, supported by the 2030 Implementation Initiative with
administration and auditing authorities often lack suffi­ drafting further approaches for strengthening the analytical
cient capacity, something which determines whether skills of the supreme audit institutions and developing their
national development programmes are implemented capacity to implement new methods. ‘We are working on
effectively or not,’ says Barbara Dutzler from the Good a diagnostic instrument that analyses the effectiveness and
Financial Governance programme based in Pretoria. transparency of public institutions in the area of public
In order to boost the accountability of countries in regard financial management,’ says Dutzler. The 2030 Implementa­
to their implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the pro­ tion Initiative is also providing support with the profession­
gramme supports the African Organization of Supreme alisation of auditors in the area of public accounting stand­
Audit Institutions (AFROSAI) in embedding the SDGs ards as a basic requirement for the auditing of SDG-sensitive
in national accountability processes. This requires that processes, legislation and projects.
awareness of this issue is raised among all involved and
methodological expertise is promoted and developed. Barbara Dutzler considers it a significant achievement that
the supreme audit institutions, AFROSAI and international
With Germany’s support, AFROSAI intends to develop institutions recognise the role of supreme audit institu­
methods and templates for auditing the level of SDG tions in reaching the 2030 Agenda. ‘This results in auditors
achievement at pan-African level and to roll these out at paying more attention to the efficiency and effectiveness
national level in a second step. ‘We are working with of government programmes,’ says Dutzer. ‘In this way
AFROSAI to develop coordinated audits in which the audits are becoming more substantial and relevant for
participating supreme audit institutions analyse topics the SDGs.’
such as illegal financial flows. This gives rise to audit
templates which can then be used by all the supreme

22
 ‘There is tremendous need for
investment in the 2030 Agenda’

Brazil intends to improve the framework

conditions for green investment and channel
private investment into green areas. The
2030 Implementation Initiative is contributing
German expertise. Head of the project Arnd
Helmke provides more details.

BRAZIL INTENDS TO IMPROVE THE WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR PRACTICAL
FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS FOR A ‘GREEN’ IMPLEMENTATION?
FINANCIAL MARKET IN ORDER TO
CHANNEL MORE PRIVATE INVESTMENT It all begins with the question of what a green fi nancial
INTO GREEN TOPIC AREAS. WHY? product is. We need a definition. Currently, there is only a
guideline from the Brazilian Federation of Banks, but no
The Brazilian Government has made international com­ legally binding agreement. At the same time, our partners
mitments with regard to both the 2030 Agenda and the must be able to assess potential risks associated with
Paris Climate Agreement. Brazil is unable to finance the green financial products. To facilitate investment in the
resulting investments with public funding alone. first place, investment projects in areas such as renewable
energy, agriculture, forestry and green infrastructure
must be made bankable, otherwise banks will not issue
YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE MINISTRY loans. One reason for this is that many of these invest­
OF FINANCE AND THE CENTRAL BANK ments rely on technologies which must first be under­
IN THIS RESPECT. IN WHICH FIELDS IS stood by financial experts. This requires a great deal of
THE 2030 IMPLEMENTATION INITIATIVE basic knowledge.
INVOLVED?

We advise the Ministry of Finance on ways to shape WITH OVER 1,750 FINANCIAL INSTITU­
the general conditions for the emerging green financial TIONS AND 500,000 EMPLOYEES, BRAZIL’S
market and thus ensure greater planning security for BANKING SECTOR IS VERY STRONG. THE
investors. However, there is also a need to regulate and MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE CENTRAL
monitor the existing and growing financial market. Once BANK HAVE THEIR OWN RENOWNED
a sound regulatory framework is in place, then banks and SPECIALISTS. WHAT CAN GERMANY ADD
financial institutes must develop and offer new financing IN THIS REGARD?
models to ensure that green business potential is actually
leveraged. We are working in this context with both the It comes down to the specific knowledge that we can
Central Bank of Brazil and the Brazilian Ministry of organise, for example, in order to develop new and inter­
Finance, incidentally for the first time in a technical nationally pioneering standards. We also wish to engage in
cooperation context. Both are key institutions when it dialogue on ideas and approaches. After all implementing
comes to financing green projects. the 2030 Agenda is a new task for all countries. In Germany,
for instance, it took a long time until banks used the fore­
cast revenues for planned wind parks as a security. We can
use this experience with the goal of making innovative
financing and security models available more quickly in the
best case and thereby leveraging 2030 Agenda projects
with private funding.

23
 ‘It is like open-heart surgery’
Indonesia intends to increase its tax rate.
To this end, it requires a modern tax database
and innovative tax laws. Germany intends to
support the Asian country in this regard.7

Indonesia is seeking to become one of the first countries to Let us take the example of fishing tax, an area that the
gear its state activities and budgetary management to the partnership intends to tackle. ‘The goal is to tax fishing
2030 Agenda. It intends to generate the necessary funding and at the same time promote sustainability,’ says
itself, for example, by increasing its tax rate. The 2030 Im­ Johannsen. This requires an impact assessment. The
plementation Initiative is looking to support the country Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and
in two fields to this end. On the one hand, it will assist the Fisheries and the 2030 Implementation Initiative are
Ministry of Finance with formulating effective legislation planning to work with universities and the Halle Institute
that supports the 2030 Agenda. On the other hand, it is for Economic Research. ‘We intend to speak to all actors
seeking to support the country in making its tax adminis­ and also finance the necessary studies. Drawing on a
tration more efficient. solid database, we plan to simulate a range of scenarios,’
says Johannsen.
To this end, Indonesia intends to set up a new tax database,
purchase the necessary IT hardware and develop its own The goal of the joint work will be to take as many organ­
software. ‘We are dealing here with high-end technology isations, authorities, associations and, of course, fishermen
and software and a highly complex reorganisation process. as possible along in the process, given the strong forces of
It is like open-heart surgery, as the authorities need to be inertia involved and the sensitive and highly political
able to continue using the tax database despite the re­ nature of fishing as a topic. Germany’s involvement will
organisation,’ says Philipp Johannsen, who will head the be focused on tax-related aspects. It is necessary to take
2030 Implementation Initiative’s project in Indonesia. account of environmental standards, nets, boat sizes and
fish stocks and allow them to inform the tax legislation.
The country has excellent software specialists. The project ‘Ultimately, however, small-scale fishermen need to be
plans to organise the additional knowledge that is re­ able to make a living from their work, while fishermen
quired and to assist the Ministry’s experts with managing with larger boats or several vessels need to pay more tax,’
this process. ‘It is also about the Indonesian institutions says Johannsen, outlining the situation.
continuing to hold the reins and, for example being able to
look over the shoulders of the software specialists and IT Both areas of the project are seeking to work with partners
professionals,’ says Johannsen, outlining the challenge. on drafting key details to help Indonesia with achieving its
goals. ‘What we have here are two G20 nations operating
Innovative tax legislation would also enable Indonesia to on an equal footing, both in the development of IT systems
channel cash flows into areas conducive to the 2030 Agenda. and in cooperation with highly specialised institutes and
But how do you ensure that the taxes boost prosperity, universities. This will certainly be a very exciting task,’
education and health care instead of leading to poverty? says Johannsen.

7 The project is not yet in the implementation phase due to the exchange of notes that is still to take place (status as of: December 2018).

24
Fishermen in Buro/Indonesia
after hauling the nets

25
 III Monitoring and review –
Measuring, analysing and
reporting
There is a need for change in every country in the interests of sustainable
development in line with the 2030 Agenda. Each country is responsible for its own
actions and can define which goals it wishes to prioritise. But which strategies
are successful and which ones fail to achieve the set goals and why? The answers
determine whether or not the 2030 Agenda can be implemented effectively.

With adopting the 2030 Agenda, from the national statistics offices. The focus in this
all states have committed to context is on sharing experiences and mutual learning.
measuring their progress in In addition to the reporting at political level, the mech­
implementing it and monitoring anism also provides for global measurement and review of
the effectiveness of this imple­ the goals set in the 2030 Agenda. The SDGs are monitored
mentation. The 2030 Agenda sets through the annual reports submitted by the national
the bar high with its 17 SDGs, statistics systems to the United Nations Statistical Com­
169 targets and 232 global mission. To this end, the United Nations Secretary-General
indicators. They are supplemented and contextualised by publishes the Sustainable Development Goals Report
indicators at national and regional level, which the states annually. 9 The report shows the progress that has been
themselves are responsible for developing. National indic­ achieved around the world, broken down by region. Addi­
ators take account of national conditions and measure tional review processes are also taking place and reports
national progress. are being published at regional and sectoral level.

There are several elements to the review mechanism. At The process in the countries poses major challenges for
the global level, the High Level Political Forum on Sustain­ many governments. They require corresponding struc­
able Development (HLPF) gives states the opportunity to tures, for example, for the review process and for involving
present their achievements and experiences in implement­ the research and private sectors and civil society. There is
ing the 2030 Agenda. Between 2016 and 2018, 102 countries also a need for more substantive data in order to properly
have already submitted their Voluntary National Reviews measure progress and set-backs. Based on this data, coun­
(VNR) to report on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.8 tries can adjust their strategies in the interest of evidence-
Each report presents implementation progress and based policy-making.
strategies, underpinning them with data and analyses

8 All state reports are compiled in the Voluntary National Reviews Database at: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/vnrs/.
9 The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2018: https://www.un.org/development/desa/publications/the-sustainable-development-goals­
report-2018.html

26
BMZ is supporting its partners in this process based on Jasmin Freischlad, who heads the ‘Capacity Building for
Germany’s experiences. This is because, in order to the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals’
strengthen the review mechanism, the German Govern­ project in Myanmar (→ see practical example of Myanmar,
ment submitted its VNR to the United Nations’ HLPF in page 29).
the first round in 2016. In this way, the government sent
out a positive political signal. The German VNR made
statements on all 17 SDGs, identified challenges and the LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS
global impact of national activities, and involved non­
governmental representatives in drafting and presenting In Ghana, Namibia and Myanmar, the 2030 Implementa­
the report. tion Initiative is supporting different actors in developing
their capacities in the areas of statistics, data analysis
and evidence-based policy-making. To this end, the initi­
CHALLENGES – REFLECTING ON, ative is financing training and promoting the develop­
DISCUSSING AND ADJUSTING ACTIONS ment of curricula to enable the countries to train their
own experts. Additionally, the Initiative is assisting with
In order to push ahead as appropriately and effectively the adaptation of general organisational and regulatory
as possible with implementing the 2030 Agenda, it is conditions in the statistics system in order to strengthen
necessary to regularly review all processes and invest­ the institutions on a sustainable basis.
ments and make adjustments where necessary. To this
end, states require reliable, disaggregated and up-to-date In Namibia, for example, the 2030 Implementation
data. This data enables discussions to be conducted and Initiative is helping to coordinate the National Statistics
decisions made on the basis of evidence, both within System and to develop a monitoring system for the SDGs
the government and in civil society. These requirements and the National Development Plan. It has also funded
pose challenges to a number of partner countries. the establishment of a database. This was the prerequisite
for Namibia being able to submit its VNR in 2018.
The first challenge is that ministries, authorities and stat­
istics offices are very limited in their ability to collect and In Vietnam, the 2030 Implementation Initiative is sup­
analyse relevant data. Some countries lack reliable data porting the Ministry of Planning and Investment, as the
for climate, environmental and social goals. Other coun­ central coordination point for implementation of the
tries have such data, but it is often not of sufficient quality 2030 Agenda, in reviewing its progress towards achieving
to be analysed using 2030 Agenda indicators. As such, to the SDGs and in international reporting. Helping to adapt
give just one example, data is rarely broken down by popu­ the national system of indicators to the needs of the
lation groups, which means it is not possible to make state­ 2030 Agenda is one of the priority areas of the project.
ments on marginalised groups such as disabled persons, These indicators create a binding basis for evaluating and
indigenous groups or the poorest of the poor. It is then not communicating progress. ‘The process of formalising the
possible to implement the 2030 Agenda principle of reach­ indicators plays a particularly key role in Vietnam, as only
ing the furthest behind first. Another challenge is found in indicators that are mainstreamed in the country’s Statistics
the fact that statistics offices in the partner countries often Law can be officially used by the government,’ says Justyna
lack the necessary capacity for interpreting data records. Grosjean, advisor to GIZ’s ‘Macroeconomic reforms/green
growth’ project. The project advises the General Statistics
This situation is made more difficult by the fact that many Office on the development of the indicator framework for
developing countries are working under difficult condi­ SDGs, especially in regard to the integration of gender and
tions. A lack of IT systems and a fragile electricity supply environmental dimensions.
in rural regions especially hamper efforts to collect data
electronically. However, software programmes and fast Monitoring at the local level in particular poses major
hardware are needed to evaluate and analyse large and challenges to countries. In Benin, the 2030 Implementa­
complex volumes of data (→ see Ghana interview, page 30). tion Initiative is therefore supporting the Ministry of
Decentralisation with developing and operationalising the
Other countries, like Myanmar, have to modernise their Local Governance Performance Index, which serves as an
statistical systems. ‘The country is only now developing a indicator for SDG target 16.6, which has been prioritised
modern statistics system. At the same time, Myanmar is by Benin. The index can be used to measure the quality
heading in the right direction, having already introduced of local governance. It also serves the municipalities as a
reform steps in 2011 and strengthened its Central Statisti­ self-assessment tool and a basic source of information. The
cal Organisation through new legislation in 2018,’ says results could also inform international reporting in future.

27
 REPORTING TO THE HLPF USING DIGITAL TOOLS

The 2030 Implementation Initiative has assisted Namibia IT devices and the relevant software are playing an in­
and Vietnam with their reporting activities and helped creasingly important role in complex data analysis as well
both countries to submit their VNRs to the HLPF in 2018. as in data collection. This is because statisticians can now
Both times, non-governmental actors, such as civil society, use faster computers to generate far more disaggregated
were involved in the process. The reporting process has data records than in the past. The 2030 Implementation
had notable additional effects in Vietnam and Namibia. Initiative assists its partner countries with developing
The planning ministries have looked at case studies, data their statistical capacities accordingly. Take Kenya and
and suggestions from civil society and incorporated them Ghana, for example.
into their VNRs. In Namibia’s case, an event on civil society
involvement was also held on the fringes of the HLPF. In Kenya, the 2030 Implementation Initiative is strength­
ening the data collection capacity of state statistics offices
Civil society plays a key role in the implementation of the and non-governmental institutions alike. In this way, it is
2030 Agenda in other countries as well. It often serves as a seeking to make innovative digital data sources and new
corrective to state institutions. Civil society organisations collection technologies, which are now commonplace in
in numerous nations are preparing their own reports on the private sector, available for use in SDG monitoring.
the implementation progress of the 2030 Agenda by their For its part, Ghana is looking to establish a digital database
countries. These reports can and should then inform the with German support. It will enable local communities
reporting process. and districts in particular to collect and analyse their own
data based on uniform standards and then use this data
for planning the SDGs.

Digitalisation in the
financial sector:
Bitcoin concept – the
new global currency

28
 Myanmar is strengthening
its statistics offices

The Government of Myanmar needs to

comprehensively modernise its statistical
systems. A shortage of experts is hampering
this endeavour.

‘We are still reluctant in general to share data. But quality and availability of the data. Finally, it is training
data constitutes a national resource which we must use a Myanmarese think tank in how to use data for drafting
together for the development of our country,’ says evidence-based policy recommendations.
Dr. Wah Maung, Director General of the Central Statistical
Organisation (CSO). Myanmar is not alone in facing this This data must also be available to civil society to enable
challenge. The Asian country stands out in this context it to comprehend developments with regard to the
for having recognised the value of sound data and the 2030 Agenda and exercise its democratic rights. ‘To this
analysis of this data. end, it is important that we also encourage the interpreta­
tion of data in political discourse and explain how this
The government began to modernise its statistical systems data can be used for this purpose,’ says Jasmin Freischlad.
back in 2011, adopting additional legislation in 2018 to On 2 November 2018, the CSO held the fi rst Myanmar
strengthen the CSO with a far-reaching mandate. The CSO Statistics Forum on the fringe of World Statistics Day with
also plans to increase its staff numbers from 400 to 700. support from the 2030 Implementation Initiative. The
This is the good news. The bad news is that there are not forum revolved around two panel discussions on the topic
enough qualified experts to fill the new vacancies. This is of ‘Transforming Data Culture in Myanmar’. For the first
a dilemma other countries are also facing. time, government representatives engaged in dialogue on
an official platform with parliamentarians, the private
‘We intend to develop the institutional capacity of the sector and the research community concerning the topic
Central Statistical Organization. In particular, this of data and statistics in the country. As such, this is a
includes its ability to engage in dialogue and coordinate window of opportunity. While the CSO lacks a sufficient
its work with other actors,’ says Jasmin Freischlad, who number of staff members, the ones it does have, are highly
heads GIZ’s ‘Capacity Building for the Implementation motivated and committed.
of Sustainable Development Goals’ project in Myanmar.
Additionally, the project is seeking to improve the

29
 Ghana – leaving paper chaos
behind

Verena Goranko, advisor in the project

‘Support to decentralisation reform’ in
Ghana, explains how the SDGs promote
transparent statistical processes.

YOU ARE SUPPORTING 60 CITIES AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU SEE?

MUNICIPALITIES IN GHANA WITH
MEASURING THE SDGS AND COLLECTING The major advantage is that President Nana Akufo-Addo
THE DATA REQUIRED FOR THIS PURPOSE. is seeking to position Ghana as a pioneer on the SDGs
HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS? front and is promoting and demanding the administrative
actors accordingly. Another advantage is the fact that the
We have set four priority areas. First, we raise awareness SDGs are considered to be neutral by all the country’s
for the SDGs among cities and municipalities and inform parties, which means that they can be pursued independ­
them of the positive role they can play in the development ently of the political conflict between these parties. Ghana
process. Second, we advise on ways to integrate the SDGs will officially communicate its progress in the implemen­
into municipal development plans. We focus in this con­ tation of the SDGs for the first time in 2019, when it
text on data collection and analysis. Third, we support the publishes its VNR. This is driving the discussion at both
development of a web-based municipal monitoring sys­ national and local level concerning ways that the country
tem, which will serve as a standard for all Ghanaian muni­ could create a better database.
cipalities. Fourth and finally, we work with municipalities,
civil society and journalists to disseminate this data in
order to make it accessible to policy-makers, the general WHAT IMPACT IS THE PROJECT HAVING?
population, NGOs, the research sector and companies.
We are helping Ghana to make progress with regard to
translating the SDGs into indicators and adapting them
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES to local conditions. We are assisting municipalities with
GHANA IS FACING? collecting, analysing and communicating reliable data.
Data will only be used in policy-making if it is processed
Now as in the past, not all municipalities have a function­ to be easily understandable. And only when citizens are
ing IT infrastructure, which obviously hinders the use of informed, they can ask the right questions to hold their
a purely web-based solution and makes it difficult to leave government accountable. Through our activities, we are
the paper chaos behind. Additionally, there are many seeking to strengthen evidence-based policy decisions and
different monitoring systems and numerous actors who encourage transparency. This should give rise to more
all work in one way or another with data and monitoring, sustainable and inclusive policy-making that is geared in
but who have up to now barely engaged with one another particular to the most marginalised population groups.
in dialogue. We are also boosting cooperation between all actors, not
least in a statistics context. For example, we have launched
the SDG Data Friends. We are working with civil society
to ensure that disadvantaged groups are also included in
statistics in order to take account of the ‘leave no one
behind’ principle of the 2030 Agenda.

30
HOW DO YOU RATE THE OPPORTUNITIES which was established in Ghana in 2015. Under this um­
FOR COOPERATION WITH NEW PARTNERS? brella, over 200 organisations are working to promote the
SDGs and planning and implementing projects. For the
The SDGs enable new cooperation platforms to be estab­ first time, the government has forged an institutionalised
lished in the country, across sectoral boundaries, levels of partnership with these organisations involving particu­
government and different groups of actors. In order to larly close cooperation on the issue of data management.
achieve the ambitious goals, everyone must expand their The support we are providing serves to consolidate this
own horizons and pool resources, knowledge and activities. partnership and strengthen the role of the platform and
One example is the Civil Society Platform on the SDGs, hence that of civil society.

“CSO Platform on
the SDGs” in Ghana
Meeting of the representatives of the CSO Platform on
the SDGs in Ghana, the Private Enterprise Foundation and
GIZ’s decentralisation programme

31
PUBLISHED BY
German Federal Ministry of Economic
Cooperation and Development (BMZ),
Division 410 “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
Reducing poverty and inequality”

EDITORIAL
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

DESIGN
EYES-OPEN, Berlin

PRINTED BY
GIZ GmbH
Printed on 100% recycled paper

PICTURES
Cover: © Thomas Trutschel / photothek.net;
p. 4: © Ute Grabowsky/ photothek.net; p. 8/9: © Michael Gottschalk / photothek.net;
p. 10: © Thomas Trutschel / photothek.net; p. 12: © Dylan Lowthian / UNDP;
p. 13: www.flickr.com/photos/un_photo/25649593764/; p. 15: © GIZ / Dirk Ostermeier;
p. 16: © Thomas Imo / photothek.net; P. 17: © Thomas Köhler/photothek.net; p. 18: © GIZ / Lucas Wahl;
p. 19: © Ute Grabowsky/ photothek.net; p. 20/21: © GIZ / Catharina Vale; p. 22: © GIZ / Dirk Ostermeier;
p. 23: © GIZ / Florian Kopp; p. 24: © Thomas Köhler / photothek.net; p. 25: © GIZ / Scholz;
p. 26: © GIZ / Dirk Ostermeier; p. 28: © Thaut Images / fotolia.com; p. 29: © Thomas Imo / photothek.net;
p. 30: © GIZ/ Verena Goranko; p. 31: © GIZ / Ugonna Ukaigwe

AS AT
January 2019

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