Social Value Blog
SDG progress – Zooming in on Inequality
Despite progress made over the last 20 years to reduce the numbers of people living in extreme poverty1, inequality has been on the rise across the globe for several decades now. In January 2020 (before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold) the UN warned2 that rising inequality was affecting more than two thirds of the globe as economic gaps have continued to grow at a disproportionate rate to the progress made to reduce extreme poverty. Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic being shown to have pushed 119-124 million people back into poverty and chronic hunger3 it is clear, that the persistent challenge of inequality is not going anywhere. It is a complex situation, but one that we’d like to dedicate this first out of three blogs to and share insights from the progress that the SDGs highlight.
An Update On The Sustainable Development Goals
It is now, more important than ever that the SDGs are embedded into our thinking, as countries, as organisations and as individuals. From the 2021 SDG progress report, we know that we are off track to reach most of the Goals that the world agreed to achieve by 2030. But we are certain that when we join the SDG and social value movements together, we will be better equipped to face the challenge at hand.
Equality, Wellbeing, And The SDGs: How Can We Address The Issues Of Covid-19 And Achieve The SDGs By 2030?
While overcoming the pandemic will certainly be an impressive feat and a demonstration of what we can achieve together if we set our priorities straight, it will not be the time to fall back into complacency. Continuing our work is not only vital to tackling the large-scale challenges of climate change and inequality but also to avoiding another devastating virus outbreak in the future. No country is on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030 and the pandemic has made the prospect of this even less likely. Although the future may currently seem bleak, we must hold firm in our convictions and not let the pandemic derail our vision of a more equitable and sustainable world for all. If we stop now, at defeating Covid-19, it is merely the equivalent of fixing a leaky faucet in a burning building.
Strategic Partnership With UNDP
Social Value International Have Signed A Responsible Party Agreement With The United Nations Development Programme To Support The Rollout And Adoption Of The SDG Impact Practice Standards.