DEVELOPMENT
BUILDING CAPACITIES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE SDGS
HELEN CLARK Administrator United Nations Development Programme
Institutions which are effective and accountable will play a central role in achieving the SDGs . Indeed , many of the 169 SDG targets make direct reference to the need for institutional capacity . The challenge now is to build strong public administrations which can manage complex cross-sectoral challenges .
• Those challenges include inequalities , marginalization and discrimination , and corruption . Where present , these undermine social cohesion – and maintain wide gaps between states and citizens .
• Sustainable development requires co-ordination across economic , social , and environmental policy-making . The goal must be to promote inclusive growth which doesn ’ t exacerbate inequalities or wreck the environment . That requires whole of government co-ordination .
Public administrations must also be able to :
• translate the global goals into national and local programming which responds to people ’ s needs and aspirations . This domestication of the SDGs is important for establishing national ownership of them , and for engaging the wide range of national and local stakeholders in implementation ; and
• monitor and evaluate progress through data collection and analysis . They need to be able to identify who is being left behind , and design approaches to overcome exclusion . Evidencebased policy-making is needed . Many countries have much to do to strengthen capacities in these areas .
Overall , institutions should be prepared to open up to greater stakeholder engagement in policy development . It is important to include the voices of vulnerable and marginalized people , and to foster accountability and trust in the public sector . Disaggregated data is vital for effective policy-making .
UNDP ’ s support for institutional capacity building UNDP has long experience of supporting countries with public administration reform aimed at promoting professional , transparent , and accountable public service .
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