18-08-2015
Bolaji-Adio, A. 2015. 'The Challenge of Measuring SDG 16: What Role for African Regional Frameworks?'. Chapter 16 in 'Governance for Sustainable Development: Ideas for the Post-2015 Agenda'. Edited by The Friends of Sustainable Development. Published by New World Frontiers. July 2015.
The inclusion of Goal 16 in the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reflects the growing international consensus that governance and peace and security are important for development.
Adedayo Bolaji-Adio contributes a chapter to this latest book on peace and security in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals.
This e-book is available to download through Amazon (Kindle or free app)
Key Messages
Background
Governance for Sustainable Development is produced by the Friends of Governance for Sustainable Development. It is chaired by the governments of the Republic of Korea, Mexico and Romania. Secretariat support for the Friends of Governance for Sustainable Development is provided by Article 19.
This e-book was prepared by Article 19 for the Friends of Governance for Sustainable Development through the Civic Space Initiative, implemented in partnership with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the World Movement for Democracy. This e-book is wholly or partially financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation (Sida).
Further Reading
Conflicts in places like Mali, Syria, Libya and the Central African Republic have significantly reversed development gains and threaten to undermine long-term development planning and policy implementation. Goal 16 is therefore considered an important enabling factor for achieving the post-2015 development agenda.
There is, however, no universal agreement on the precise dimensions of governance and the best approaches to peace and security that are important for development. Goal 16 as presently articulated is largely inclined towards a normative conception of “good governance”, which it posits as essential for development. Yet, this position is neither universally accepted nor substantiated in practice. In Africa, seemingly participatory and representative systems of governance have in a number of cases heightened group polarization and failed to prevent or contain communal violence. By contrast, the recent history of development in a number of Asian and African countries demonstrates that poverty alleviation is possible despite institutions that are not very inclusive or participatory. Moreover, even countries that have successfully embraced democratic forms of government continue to face challenges in achieving equitable and inclusive development.
Since Goal 16 is considered a universal factor for development, how do we measure its targets in a way that is meaningful for development at the regional and country levels?
This e-book is available to download through Amazon (Kindle or free app)
For more information, see ECDPM’s Discussion Paper ‘The challenge of measuring SDG 16: What role for African regional frameworks?‘
Image courtesy of Julien Harneis
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Adedayo Bolaji-Adio
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