Dr Misheck Sibanda
Conrad Mwanawashe Business Reporter
GOVERNMENT, in conjunction with development partners will craft an implementation matrix for Sustainable Development Goals to ensure successful execution of the new agenda adopted by the United Nations this month. The SDGs replaced the Millennium Development Goals which were adopted 15 years ago.
Addressing a Government and UN breakfast meeting on SGDs, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda said stakeholders should continue to work together to craft the implementation matrix to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation.
He said the implementation matrix should be broken down into five-year and annual plans for submission to the UN.
“I therefore challenge all stakeholders to once more come together to craft a credible implementation matrix that is phased into five-year cycles and further into annual targets,” said Dr Sibanda.
“Coming up with annual targets will not only be made imperative given that member states will now be required to submit annual reports to the UN but also to inculcate, at a local level, the culture of monitoring and evaluation on progress being made in the implementation of the new agenda.
“The UN will be producing global annual reports on the SDGs implementation anchored on submissions from the member states. So, on our part, we should gear ourselves to be producing also our own annual reports which will be in sync with our annual priority economic plans,” he said.
Dr Sibanda said the SDGs will be a success only if stakeholders work together.
“As we mark the journey from MDGs to SDGs, I am sure all of you here share my conviction that with resolve, determination and commitment by all key stakeholders, the SDGs are a guaranteed success,” said Dr Sibanda.
The UN Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative, Mr Bishow Parajuli said the implementation of the 17 SDGs should be inclusive.
“The path taken to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals has been an inclusive and participatory journey, as will, the path to the implementation of the 17 SDGs and the achievement of their respective 169 targets,” said Mr Parajuli.
Financing of the SDGs Agenda will require more players than Government alone, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Dr Desire Sibanda said.
“The means of implementation and revitalised global partnerships are key in the implementation of the Agenda since there is, in this country, acknowledgment that domestically mobilised resources will not be enough to finance the SDG Agenda. Financing will require much more players than Government alone. The country needs both foreign and domestic investment for it to grow. Private sector participation is critical in the 10-Point Plan,” said Dr Sibanda.
The permanent secretary said domestic resources mobilisation anchored on sustained economic growth and supported by an enabling macroeconomic environment is the key means of financing the post 2015 SDGs.
“In this regard, Government will prioritise strengthening mobilisation and targeted effective utilisation of domestic resources. A number of reforms are already being implemented under the ZimAsset sub-cluster on fiscal reforms which targets domestic resource mobilisation.
“Furthermore, Government will also promote the growth of private business activity, widen the tax base, eliminate any illicit outflow of funds, promote domestic and foreign direct investment, create the sovereign wealth fund, mobilise private international capital flows on joint venture basis and development partners,” said Dr Sibanda.
He said growing the economy will be key in the achievement of the SDGs.