OECD - Governance as an SDG Accelerator

The Sustainable Development Goals set a roadmap for a better world. One where poverty, hunger, disease, climate change and gender inequality are no longer a threat to our planet and wellbeing. Instead, they chart a world where decent jobs for all, sustainable infrastructure, clean oceans and energy, responsible consumption and production, clean water and sanitation, and quality education, become the norm.

If we are serious about achieving these ambitious goals in just over ten years, we must accelerate progress. For that to happen, we need to mobilise financial resources, but we also need to boost the capacity of governments to plan, to coordinate, to act, and to serve as a catalyst in support of SDG implementation.

Governments face a particularly challenging task with the SDGs. The SDGs are complex and multi-faceted. Governments need to be able to manage trade-offs to understand externalities and to align and coordinate action across several ministries and levels of government.

This report highlights some good practices and other innovative steps countries around the world are taking towards whole-of-government coordination, stakeholder participation, integrating the SDGs into the budget cycle, building monitoring and evaluation systems, and strengthening integrity systems.

The OECD is committed to helping countries deliver on the SDGs. In partnership with the UN system and other stakeholders, the OECD is also ready to work with all countries and support them as they review and refine their institutional frameworks and policy toolboxes in support of SDG implementation.

Marcos Bonturi

Director

OECD Public Governance Directorate