10 Nov 2020

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said in order to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation, government in partnership with the United Nations family in Botswana, developed planning guidelines to effectively facilitate the integration of SDGs targets and indicators into sectoral strategies and plans, as well as their effective mainstreaming into national budgeting processes.

He told the nation during the State-of-the-Nation Address, November 9 that currently, the guidelines were being piloted in six selected ministries, adding that plans were also underway to develop an SDG Financing Strategy, to help leverage domestic, international and private finance to support the realization of national priorities including SDGs. 

He however, said COVID-19 proved to be the biggest setback likely to reverse the gains of the past five years. He said government recognised the importance of the SDGs to sustain Botswana’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dr Masisi said the year 2020 marked five years since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the commencement of the Decade of Action’ before the end date of the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

He said during the ten years, the global community committed to mobilise accelerated sustainable solutions towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and its underlying Sustainable Development Goals. Ends