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ISLAMABAD, Nov 04 (APP): Experts, policymakers and civil society representatives from across South Asia called upon the governments to shift from business-as-usual approaches to genuine transformation, stronger cooperation, and inclusive governance.
The demand was made at a strategic dialogue, titled: Accelerating SDGs in the World Today – Challenges and Opportunities, at the 28th Sustainable Development Conference organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute here on Tuesday.
Opening the session, UNESCAP Director Ms Mikiko Tanaka, highlighted the global preoccupation with “order”, questioning what the concept truly means in a world struggling to deliver on the SDGs. “The status quo order is not enough to achieve transformation,” she said, adding that “We need to shake up how things are.”
The session reviewed five key SDGs under focus this year: Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Ms Tanaka noted that development financing is declining both internationally and domestically, calling for better integration of energy, water and mobility needs within national frameworks.
She stressed that successful strategies require close cooperation among governments, the private sector, educational institutions, and civil society, especially across borders.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP Faiyaz Murshid Kazi of Bangladesh noted that crises can also bring opportunities for rebuilding. Drawing parallels to the post–World War eras, he said, “If our forefathers could create an order that lasted 80 years, why can’t our young minds create another one?”
He noted Bangladesh’s efforts to institutionalize SDG coordination through a central government office that mobilises all agencies under a unified agenda. The country’s voluntary review was described as “refreshingly honest”, highlighting both progress and gaps.
Prathma Uprety from SAARC Secretariat underlined that many development challenges in South Asia are cross-border in nature and cannot be tackled by any single nation alone.
She called for strengthening the SAARC Energy Centre, regional early warning systems, and cross-border climate resilience mechanisms. “When South Asia cooperates, we not only advance the SDGs but also build resilience,” she said.
Daya Sagar Shrestha, Executive Director, National Campaign for Sustainable Development, warned that progress on SDGs 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action) was regressing in several countries. Nonetheless, he credited CSOs with localizing SDG action, collecting data, and amplifying marginalized voices.
Representing youth voices, Mr Danish Tariq spoke on the systemic barriers such as limited access to policymaking and underfunding of youth-led initiatives. “Youth are not a demographic challenge,” he said. “We are the region’s greatest asset, if taken seriously.”
He urged governments to institutionalize the youth participation, provide sustained funding, and link young innovators with policymakers.
SDPI Deputy Director Dr Sajid Amin Javed acknowledged that “the current system is not delivering on its goals”, calling for a move from “accelerating SDGs” to “inclusively accelerating SDGs”. He identified four resilience factors that helped communities recover better during the pandemic: digital skills, social networks, sustainable recovery mechanisms, and equitable access to resources.
From Sri Lanka, Dr Dushni Weerakoon reflected on financial challenges, noting that “during fiscal crises, countries divert resources from education and health”.
She said that the global south needs to start looking inwards once again, like they did before development financing became a popular discourse. She also urged a renewed focus on domestic markets, efficient public spending, and long-term financial resilience.
Joining online from Bangladesh, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya shared that politicisation of governance at all levels undermines SDG progress. He also spoke on the risks of myopic policy making.
“We’ve focused too much on the supply side, for instance more doctors, more schools would solve problems, but not on the demand side, the voices of people left behind,” he said, adding that focusing solely on the supply side dynamics has not yielded us desired results.