Sustainable Development Goals
Goals Are Good
Other than being alliterative, it is a true statement with few exceptions. Goal setting leads to improved performance and, in turn, greater success in most areas of use. You can dig deep into the science of goals and why human cognitive processes and emotional order are impacted by goals. There is some excellent research by Andrew Elliot and Holly McGregor out of the University of Rochester (NY) back in 2001, but that is a deep-dive for another day. What is important is that when we set goals correctly and then work to implement a strategy to achieve the goal, there is an increased occurrence of success. At the very least, there is the ability to analyze performance against the target and see what fell short.
While FastPrayGive, as a program, is a grassroots movement of individuals, the goal is a world without hunger. Those in our faith community do not merely hold that goal. In considering how to “end hunger,” it is essential to look to the experts. The United Nations have reached the broadest consensus on ending hunger through a key agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). With roots at least as early as 1992, nations have banded together to move toward more sustainable (longterm, resilient) development. By 2000, the UN adopted Millennium Development Goals, whose purpose was to cut poverty in half by 2015. It is the opinion of this writer that more was on track before the severe worldwide economic downturn of 2008-2009, but by 2015, 72 nations had achieved the goal of cutting poverty in half. While it’s not a complete success, it is worthy of celebration, as long as we keep setting goals and digging in.
Let’s Dig In
In 2015, the “next level” Sustainable Development Goals were adopted. Together, the goals’ purpose was/is to end poverty by 2030. Activists, researchers, students, and casual observers will recognize the interconnectedness of the seventeen goals. No single entity/effort will end hunger! It will take a vast variety of visionaries and organizations willing to work together to achieve this achievable purpose. It is on this universal platform that we at FastPrayGive.org have built our work.
We are posting this article amid the 2020 worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, this is another “great disruptor” in the movement to end hunger. May we redouble our efforts to do so!
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
The 17 SDGs are Integrated1 —that is, they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability. Who could deny that poverty, hunger, education, and good health are all interconnected. The UNDP has helped to connect the dots on how many of the 17 SDGs are interconnected.
Through the pledge to Leave No One Behind2, countries have committed to fast-track progress for those furthest behind the goals. That is why the SDGs are designed to bring the world to several life-changing ‘zeros,’ including zero poverty, hunger, AIDS, and discrimination against women and girls.
Everyone is needed to reach these ambitious targets. The creativity, know-how, technology and financial resources from all of society is necessary to achieve the SDGs in every context. 3
Footnotes
- UNDP website, integrated – a term used by the United Nations Development Programme
- UNDP Website, August 9, 2018 – https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/poverty-reduction/what-does-it-mean-to-leave-no-one-behind-.html | Discussion Paper, Brochure.
- UNDP Website, United Nations Development Programme website
