QUESTION: Discuss the effects/impacts of resource mobilization to the achievement of SDGs.
RESOURCES
According to Miller, G.T. & S. Spoolman (2011), a resource is a source or supply from which a benefit is produced. Resources can be broadly classified on the basis upon their availability they are renewable and non renewable resources.
Resource mobilization
Resource mobilization may be defined as: a management process that involves identifying people who share the same values as your organization, and taking steps to manage that relationship.
Resources may be material or immaterial (e.g. information) and material resources may be of natural origin or man-made. Services provided by nature (e.g. `assimilative capacity’) are also sometimes called resources.
Resource mobilization enables a country to be able to diversify resources and enable it to spur economic growth and development to enable self reliance in the country.
National Development Plan II
The NDP II is the second of the six five-year NDPs that will be implemented under Vision 2040 and covers the fiscal period 2015/16 to 2019/20. It builds on the achievements attained under NDP I, mitigates the challenges encountered during its implementation, and seeks to take advantage of regional and global development opportunities. Unlike its predecessor, NDP II will serve as the point of reference to inform government planning processes, thereby eliminating parallel planning. 3. The number of prioritized growth opportunities and development fundamentals has been narrowed to only three and two respectively to increase impact and create growth momentum. The three prioritized growth opportunities include; Agriculture, Tourism, and Minerals, Oil and Gas and the development fundamentals are; Infrastructure and Human Capital Development. The NDPII emphasizes prioritization of interventions through a value chain analysis; a Spatial Framework; alignment of sector/MDA/LG priorities and budgets with NDPII priorities; appropriate financing modalities for the priority interventions; and addressing the challenges of weak public sector systems among others. 4. This is in line with the Uganda Vision 2040 which aims at transforming the country from being a predominantly peasant and low income to a competitive, upper middle income status with a per capita income averaging at USD9,500 by 2040. The Vision provides the development paths and strategies that will guide this transformation and is conceptualized around strengthening the development fundamentals in order to successfully harness the abundant economic opportunities. 5. The development fundamentals include: infrastructure.
The goal of this Plan is to attain middle income status by 2020. This will be realized through strengthening the country’s competitiveness for sustainable wealth creation, employment and inclusive growth. Thus, the Plan sets key four objectives to be attained during the five year period. These are: (i) increasing sustainable production, productivity and value addition in key growth opportunities; (ii) increasing the stock and quality of strategic infrastructure to accelerate the country’s competitiveness; (iii) enhancing human capital development; and (iv) strengthening mechanisms for quality, effective and efficient service delivery.
Uganda like many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries has the lowest savings rate of any developing region. In 2005, gross domestic savings in the SSA region averaged 18.0 percent of GDP, compared with 26.0% in South Asia, 24.0% in Latin America and the Caribbean, and nearly 42 percent in East Asia and Pacific countries (World Bank, 2007a). Savings in Uganda have remained generally low compared to other regions. While savings have remained low, they have been on an increasing trend growing from 5 to 15 percent of GDP during the period 1998-2008.
However for the National development plan to achieve its goals and objectives it is developing its goals in line with the seventeen SDGs adopted by the United Nations member states.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – also known as the Global Goals for Sustainable Development – are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations. The broad goals are interrelated though each has its own targets to achieve. The total number of targets is 169. The SDGs cover a broad range of social and economic development issues. These include poverty, hunger, health, education, water,sanitation, energy, urbanization, environment and social justice.
The SDGs are also known as transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development or 2030 Agenda in short, The goals were developed to replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which ended in 2015. Unlike the MDGs, the SDG framework does not distinguish between developed and developing nations. Instead, the goals apply to all countries.
Paragraph 54 of United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/70/1 of 25 September 2015 contains the goals and targets. The UN-led process involved its 193 Member States and global civil society. The resolution is a broad intergovernmental agreement that acts as the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
SDG1: End Poverty in all its forms everywhere
The United Nations SDG first goal is ending poverty in all forms, through the national development plan the government of Uganda is committed to ending poverty in Uganda by Increasing per capita income from USD788 to USD1,039; Increasing GDP growth rate from 5.2 to 6.3 percent , this will help in reducing the poverty rate from 19.7 per cent to 14.2 per cent, and reducing inequality co-efficient from 0.443 to 0.452.
The government of Uganda as it emphasis in achieving the SDGs first goal is ensuring that it is able to Increase the number of vulnerable people accessing social protection interventions from 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 by 2020 and Increase percentage of women accessing economic empowerment initiatives from 12% to 30% by 2020 .
Due to the natural disasters that make the country to be able to meet the development goals the NDP II also aims at Developing capacity for mitigation, preparedness and response to natural and human induced disasters.
SDG2: End hunger
The 2017 Global Hunger Index (GHI) report the twelfth in an annual series presents a multidimensional measure of national, regional, and global hunger. It shows that the world has made progress in reducing hunger since 2000, but that the progress has been uneven, and may now be threatened. This year’s report finds several countries have higher hunger levels in 2017 than they did in 2008, indicating that progress in reducing hunger over recent decades is reversing more recently in some places.
The government of Uganda is to mobilize its resources in order to achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable Agriculture, this will help in reducing child stunting as a percentage of under fives from 31 to 25 and also Increase agricultural production and productivity.
The national development in line with the united nations second SDG goal its to mobilize resources to Enhance consumption of diverse diets at household level and Promote commercialization of agriculture particularly amongst small holder farmers.
SDG3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
A global report released this month (May 2014) reveals that maternal deaths have declined by 45% since 1990. There were 523,000 deaths that occurred from complications in pregnancy or childbirth in 1990; in 2013, that number was 289,000. This new data published in “Trends in maternal mortality estimates 1990 to 2013” is under the collective authorship led by World Health Organization (WHO) and includes UNFPA, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Division (UNPD) and the World Bank Group.
The figures were produced through an academic collaboration with the National University of Singapore and the University of California, Berkeley. The data, which come from dozens of studies and improved methods of estimating births and deaths, are considered more reliable than previous assessments.
The report reveals that just 10 countries account for around 60 per cent of all maternal deaths: India (50,000), Nigeria (40,000), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (21,000), Ethiopia (13,000), Indonesia (8,800), Pakistan (7,900), the United Republic of Tanzania (7,900), Kenya (6,300), China (5,900) and Uganda (5,900). According to 2011 Uganda Demographic Health Survey, Uganda’s maternal mortality rate was found to be 438 per 100,000 live births. However, this was within 95% confidence within the confidence interval of 368 – 507 per 100,000. Considering that in 1995 MMR was 505 per 100,000 and today it is said to be 438 per 100,000, this change is not statistically significant.
Therefore away of fulfilling the sustainable development goal the government has continued to invest in health facilities in Uganda to be in position to achieve the goal. Therefore the government of Uganda in its National development plan its committed to Reducing Maternal mortality rate per 100,000 live births from 438 to 320 by 2020 and also Reduction of Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births from 54 to 44 by 2020 in addition to that the NDP IIis also aimed at Integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs , Reduce annual Out Patient Department attendance due to malaria cases from 12,224,100 to 2,600,000; Reduce new HIV infections among adults from 140,908 to 42,272 (by 70%) in 2020.
SDG4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all
Currently Uganda like the other east African countries is facing challenges with quality of education; the challenge of poor quality is a general problem across the East African States with some states doing relatively better on some indicators than Uganda. For instance, the primary education completion rate is higher in Kenya at 81.8% in in 2013 (Kenya Education for All 2015 National Review) and Rwanda at 69% in 2013 (Rwanda EFA 2015 National Review). Kenya also has relatively better transition rate at 76.6% compared to Uganda’s 69.9 % in 2013(Kenya EFA 2015 National Review). Tanzania survival rates to P.7 (78.4%, 2013), is the highest in the sub-region (Tanzania EFA 2015 National Review).
The government of Uganda through NDP II its committed to achieving sustainable development goal by ensuring that there is Increased Primary to secondary school transition , Increased net secondary school completion rates, Achieve equitable access to relevant and quality education and training, Develop and implement ECD policy framework and Expand and improve school infrastructure for all levels, including water supply infrastructure, sanitation and hand washing facilities, school physical education and community facilities.
SDG5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
The government through its national development plan is set to reduce gender inequality by Reducing the rate of discrimination and marginalization by 4% by 2020 , Mainstream gender and rights in policies, plans and programs in sectors and LGs, Promote formulation of gender sensitive regulatory frameworks in all sectors and LGs with a focus on emerging areas of climate change and oil and gas, Prevent and respond to Gender Based Violence and Promote women economic empowerment through.
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Through proper resource mobilization the government of Uganda has invested a lot of resources in clean water to meet the sustainable development goals number six. Under the National Development Plan II(NDP II) the Government of Uganda has committed itself to increase water supply coverage in the rural areas from 65% in 2012/13 to 79% by 2019/20. The Ministry of Water and Environment, as the lead government agency in pursuing these aspirations, also has the duty to effectively monitor, document and report progress towards the above target, for improved water service delivery.
Uganda has a vision of achieving access to safe water supply of 79% (rural) and 95% (urban) by 2020 and access to basic sanitation services of 80% by 2020 (Second National Development Plan). To achieve these targets, Uganda will require US$206.8 million for water supply and $32.2 million for sanitation and hygiene annually, with significantly higher investments in the short term. Currently, the financing gap is estimated as $80 million for water supply and $26 million for sanitation and hygiene per year. The ambition is highest for rural sanitation where coverage basic level services are at 79% and will require significant household participation to eliminate open defecation while progressing to universal access to basic sanitation services. In addition, access to water and sanitation services is significantly lower in poorer communities and among vulnerable groups.
SDG7 : Affordable and Clean Energy
As way of achieving the SDG goal seven the government of Uganda has ensured proper resource mobilization by increasing on investments in energy to ensure that all Ugandans are able to have affordable and clean energy especially from renewable sources. According to the ministry, the construction works at the 600MW Karuma Power Dam have progressed to 64%. The largest hydro power plant Uganda is building is expected to be commissioned in December 2018, this provide clean energy to most of the Ugandans who donot have electricity.
SDG8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth,
Full and productive employment and decent work for all – Average targeted growth is about 6.3% less than the proposed 7% By 2020, Substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training by 20%.
SDG 9 : Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
As a way of achieving the 9th Goal the government of Uganda is investing in key infrastructures like roads and railways which will facilitate economic development in the country and this will therefore spur industrialization and innovation in the country enabling the country effectively allocate its resources for the benefit of its resources. As of 2017 Uganda’s road network of 140,000 km has a replacement value of USD6.2bn, which is nearly 24% of GDP. Comparatively, asset to GDP ratio for Ghana’s is 33%, South Africa it is 16%, Chile 5%; Thailand 8%, and Jordan 10%. Maintenance comprises activities to keep the pavement, shoulder, slopes, drainage facilities, appurtenant structures and properties within a road margin as near as possible to their “as constructed” or “renewed” condition as possible. It includes repairs and improvements to eliminate causes of deterioration and avoid wasteful over repetition of maintenance efforts. The government ensures that it routinely maintains the roads to enable the government be in position to achieve the 9th Goal of SDG.
Through proper resource mobilization the country is able to promote innovation this is by specifically investing in areas which promote innovation like education specifically in vocation and universities. Investing in technology promotes innovation in the society which enables the country to be in position to create better quality of life.
The tenth Goal of SDG is to encourage the 193 governments reduce inequality amongst the population in the country.
The Uganda is investing in many organizations and has also designed programs that are tailored at reducing income inequality in Uganda.
Although poverty levels have been falling, Uganda is now ranked 17th among the countries with the highest level of income inequality in Africa, in a report published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), however the government of Uganda is working hard in ensuring that there is very low income inequality in Uganda.
Through resources mobilization the country is able to reduce income inequality in the country which enables the citizens of the country to develop without economic discrimination and creating opportunities for all citizens in the country
SDG: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Uganda is ensuring that there is development in towns in the country, some of the former small towns in Uganda are being upgraded to meet the required of a city status apart from that other small former trading center they are developing to be large cities that can provide key basic needs of life like water and electricity.
SDG: Responsible Consumption and Production
Uganda is ensuring that there is responsible consumption in Uganda , this has been observed by the fact that the government of Uganda has organized areas like the fishing industry were the government has put a ban on the selling of small fish since this leads to the depletion of the fish species in the lake.
SDG: Climate Action
The 13th goal of SDG is to ensure that there is proper climate action, this however has been taken by Uganda by emphasizing on better management of environment by the citizens of Uganda for example the government put a ban on polythene bag with the interest of protecting the environment and enabling the country grow responsibly.
Resource mobilization enables the government to design appropriate policies that can help the government be in position protect the climate by ensuring that environmental laws protect the country and the world from the current rising temperatures which are leading to global warming this will enable the government be in position to achieve the UN sustainable development goals of protecting the planet.
The government is working hard by mobilizing the required resources in ensuring that it protects the water resources and ensuring that citizens of the country live better and productive lives. This has been observed by the fact that the government is enforcing strict laws on wetland. The protection of wetland by the government is mainly to protect the ecosystem and achieve the SDG goal 14th.
SDG: Life on Land
The government of Uganda is ensuring that there is proper management of land resources so that the country is able to achieve the 15th SDG goal. This will help Uganda to achieve better and sustainable livelihood for its citizens in the country by the years 2030 when the goals finally expire.
SDG: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
Through resource mobilization peace can be promoted in the country , this can be achieved by investing in a strong professional army which can protect the country from external aggression, peace in the country can also be promoted by ensuring that all people in the country are involved in the economic activity and share the national cake of the country.
Justice in society can also be promoted by ensuring that the country is able to invest in a strong judiciary which acts without favoritism, and bias this will ensure the justice system in the country will be achieved.
SDG: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
As a way of achieving the 17th Goal of SDG the government of Uganda is committed to achieving this goal.
The government of Uganda is a member of many organizations like east African community, AGOA, IGAD AU, and UN. Through partnership with other organization the government of Uganda is able to achieve the common goal of the country, HOWEVER THIS sdg HAS NOT BEEN FULLY INTERGRATED INTO THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Remaining challenges
Not all SDGs have been fully integrated since some actions are externally determined eg in SDG 17 “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development”.
A results matrix for tracking progress on the SDGs still needs more work to be fully developed.
An acute absence of baseline data for some indicators, making target setting very difficult.
Consensus building among all implementing stakeholders on systems, indicators and targets is painstakingly slow, strengthening the Institutional framework for coordination and monitoring of SDGs – Set up a Post 2015 Development
Conclusion
A review of the performance, achievements and challenges of MDGs was done to inform NDPII.
SDGs integrated in the context chapter as a foundation for the NDPII Make sure sectors align their sector issues papers to the SDGs in the guidelines provided
SDG indicators and targets are incorporated in high level NDPII results framework.
Need to develop detailed results framework for NDPII that incorporates all SDG indicators and targets
Need to develop a strong coordination mechanism at the country level and ensure SDGs are integrated in sector and LG plans.
References
Miller, G.T. & S. Spoolman (2011). Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions (17th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks-Cole. ISBN 0-538-73534-1.
Freedom House. Freedom in the World 2016. https://freedomhouse.org/report-types/freedom-world Accessed August 16, 2016
Food and Agriculture Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development, World
Transparency International. 2015 Map of Perceived Corruption Accessed August 16, 2016.
World Bank. Sub-Saharan Africa Poverty and Equity Data. Accessed August 16, 2016
World Bank. 2011a. World Development Report 2011: Conflict, Security, and Development. Access the full report through this
.
World Hunger Education Service. 2015. World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics Accessed August 16, 2016.
Miller, G.T. & S. Spoolman (2011). Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions (17th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks-Cole. ISBN 0-538-73534-1.
