Following the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) as the global development agenda at the 70th session of the
UN General Assembly, more than 20 civil society organisations (CSOs) in
Malaysia met on three occasions since October 2015 to reflect on the relevance
of SDGs to the country.
We recognise that under the principle of leaving no one
behind, the SDGs integrate human rights and development in a balanced,
inclusive and ecologically sustainable way.
We note that the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020) and the
SDGs share some common policy and program focus. With that, the 17 goals, 169
targets and the many indicators identified will guide a clear direction for
both policy and delivery in Malaysia’s development program.
We recognise the gaps and shortcomings in the Government’s
development planning, priorities and implementation. However, many of these
gaps could be addressed through the SDGs over the next 15 years between 2016
-2030.
We call upon the Government of Malaysia to ensure the
effective implementation of goals, targets and indicators of the SDGs as
pledged during the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit, September 2015 in
New York, USA.
We stand ready and willing to contribute towards the implementation
and monitoring of the SDGs. Indeed, we wish for comprehensive participation
throughout the process in the spirit demonstrated in the outcome document that
made a commitment for “all stakeholders acting in collaborative partnership to
implement the plan”. We believe the SDGs is a critical and timely opportunity
to initiate a goals based partnership that can drive a concerted effort towards
achieving Malaysia’s own development goals as a shared responsibility.
The concerns and recommendations of the CSOs are as
follows:-
First, we recommend that the Government engage CSOs at the
planning, delivery, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages of the
SDGs. Due to the cross-cutting nature of the sustainable development agenda,
formal channels and mechanisms should be established at the Federal, State and
local levels.
Second, we call for a strong institutional framework to
support the implementation of SDGs in Malaysia over the next 15 years. The SDGs must
go beyond a reporting framework with clear coordinating and implementation
responsibilities. We also highlight the need for an organizational and
institutional mapping exercise so as to ensure effective collaborations and
coordination across the sectors, disciplines and locations.
Third, we recommend the establishment of a comprehensive
monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure inclusive development across the
various dimensions so as to ensure that no one is left behind. This should
include transparent and wide dissemination of information and data.
Fourth, we suggest a collaborative communications campaign
to address the need to create wider awareness and understanding on the SDGs not
only with the stakeholders, but also with the general public. The concept of
sustainable development needs to be mainstreamed across government as well as
the general public.
Signed and endorsed by:-
Centre for Environment,
Technology and Development (CETDEM) Malaysia: Antony Tan
Coalition of Malaysian
Environmental NGOs (MENGO): Yasmin Rasyid
COMMACT Malaysia- The
Common Wealth Network for People-Centred Development: Prof Datuk Mohd Yusof
Kasim
Environmental Protection
Society Malaysia (EPSM): Nithi Nesadurai &
Datin Sushiela McCoy
Islamic Renaissance
Front (IRF): Dr. Ahmad Farouk Musa
KOMAS: Jerald Jospeh
Malaysian Chapter, ASEC
– Asian Solidarity Economy Council; Dr Jun-E Tan
National Council of
Women's Organisation (NCWO): Prof Emerita Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah & Omna
Sreeni Ong
PROHAM- Society for the
Promotions of Human Rights: Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, Ms Ivy Josiah & Dr
Lin Mui Kian
Researcher : Dr Khoo
Ying Hooi
Scope Group: Dr Shariha
Khalid & Jonson Chong
Tokoh Belia Negara 2014:
Jufitri Joha
Yayasan Budi Penyayang
Malaysia: Dato' Leela Mohd Ali & Stephen Doss
Yayasan Kajian &
Pembangunan Masyarakat (YKPM): Kon Onn Sein
Feb 23, 2016
Appendix 1 – Recommendations for SDGs
implementation
1.
CSO
Engagement:
• Engagement of relevant CSOs throughout
the policy cycle from agenda setting through to implementation;
• Formation of working groups with
representatives from government, private sector, civil society, academicians
based and professional bodies based on all clusters, goals and targets;
• Engagement with CSOs at the relevant
levels including federal, state and local as the SDGs will require
collaboration and competencies at all levels; and
• Engagement of youth organisations as
SDGs is a long term agenda.
• Engagement of women’s organisations
and other often overlooked groups to ensure maximum inclusivity
2.
Strong
Institutional Framework for SDGs:
• Undertake a mapping of organisations
and competencies available relevant to the SDGs Goals and Targets at all
levels;
• Propose that an institutional
framework for sustainable development be established to oversee implementation
and nationalise the SDGs beyond global reporting;
• Explore the possibility of the
establishment of a National SDG Council with the EPU Minister chairing and
including representatives from government, private sector, professional bodies
and civil society as members. In addition, for the proposed Council to be
effective, the Government must establish a strong and well-resourced
secretariat which must be inter-agency, inter-disciplinary (including social,
economic and environmental experts) and include staff from academia, think
tanks and civil society;
• Consider alternative institutional
approaches such as the suggestion that EPU align its overall function to
sustainable development, as economic planning is only one aspect of the
planning focus. Another suggestion is to appoint a Sustainable Development
Commissioner; and
• Explore financing mechanisms
(including social financing) such as a special SDG Fund to finance the implementation
of the SDG goals and targets.
3.
Comprehensive
monitoring and evaluation mechanism:
• Ensure inclusive development across
the various dimensions such as gender, ethnicity and sub ethnicity, location,
class (T20, M40 & B40) is taking place. This is in line with the
requirement for disaggregated data which requires data collection and
publishing to monitor the progress across many dimensions;
• To ensure that ‘no one is left
behind’, the SDGs must be inclusive and account for marginalised communities
including indigenous peoples with the need to undertake assessments ‘on the
ground’;
• The monitoring and evaluation must
include all goals and targets including social, economic and environmental
dimensions of the SDGs; and
• Improve access to information through
providing public access to data and information on SDGs monitoring and
evaluation.
4.
Raising
awareness and understanding:
• A commitment to popularise SDGs by
creating greater awareness among all the stakeholders with government, private
sector, civil society and grassroots communities; and
• Improve coherence and understanding
across the fivefold SDG framework of people, planet, prosperity, peace and
partnership including the commitment towards sustainable development namely
economic, social and environmental including human rights in a balanced way.
