Kathmandu : Stakeholders have emphasised the need for bringing meaningful changes in people’s lives for the country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

As the SDG deadline is approaching fast, they called for collective efforts to tackle challenges towards the advancement of these goals, echoing the importance of increased progress as well as accountability on the part of authorities concerned.

Addressing a workshop ‘Nepal Civil Society Conference for the Summit of the Future,’ organised in Lalitpur on Tuesday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr.Arzu Rana Deuba expressed her belief that Nepal would timely achieve SDGs. She took a reference of a report released last month that suggests Nepal is on track to achieve 41 percent of the SDGs.

Saying that Nepal stands for global good governance, promotion of multilateralism and international solidarity, she said, ” It is preparing to graduate to the status of developing country from the Least Developed Country by 2026, and a Smooth Transition Strategy has been formulated for this.”

The Minister also lauded the role of civil society in the overall development of the country while valuing the ‘Summit of the Future’ to be held alongside the United Nations’ Summit of the Future scheduled for September 22-23, 2024, and highlighting Nepal’s preparations for the participation of its Prime Minister in the Summit.

The Conference was jointly organised by the NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN), the Association of International NGOs in Nepal (AIN), and the United Nations in Nepal.

On the occasion, Ram Subedi, NFN President, called for addressing the main challenges facing civil society that stem from the government’s insufficient use of the budget and a lack of fund while emphasising countries’ investment in peace and development than in militarism and war. “We need to seek ways of retaining youths in the country for their important role in development.”

S.P. Kalaunee, AIN chairperson, underscored collective efforts in Nepal’s LDC graduation. “LDC graduation comes with many consequences, and change won’t happen overnight. The status of people won’t shift immediately. So we must continue our efforts, always keeping people at the center,” he said.

Bhawana Bhatta, NFN Vice-Chair, expressed her pride in the collaboration between civil society organizations and other agencies to create a better global future.

As she said, the event serves as preparation for the Summit of the Future. “Youths can also be powerful agents of change, and their enthusiasm has been commendable. As we look ahead, we should consider how to incorporate these discussions into the Summit of the Future.”

Jose Luis Vineusa-Santamaria, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal expressed the EU’s pride in Nepal’s vibrant democracy and the crucial role of civil society in its democratic journey. “Nepal is a strong ally of the European Union, and civil society has played a key role in shaping our partnerships. EU member countries are collaborating with the UN to advance the Pact of the Future.”

Similarly, Micheal Croft – UNESCO representative to Nepal said Nepal has excelled in social cohesion, democracy, and tolerance, while lauding the country for the progress, surpassing many other countries in terms of the global goals.

The SDGs are a global goal that everyone must prioritise, he said, “Your (Nepal) dedication and commitment have been vital on a global scale. The first step is to foster open dialogue to enhance accountability and transparency.”

The event saw three sessions of panel discussions on various subjects, including Nepal’s peace process, inclusive governance and sustainable development, and youth and digital transformation for gender, social and climate justice.

The first session themed consolidating Nepal’s peace process to promote international peace and security featured Dr Bishnu Raj Upreti, former executive chairperson of the Policy Research Institute, Bandana Rana, CEDAW Committee member, Renu Sinjapati, FEDO Secretary General, and Rakesh Karna, AIN Steering Committee member and Country Director of dZi Foundation, as panellists.

Moderated by Arjun Bhattarai, NFN Secretary General, the discussion highlighted the ongoing challenges of transitional justice for marginalized groups in Nepal, emphasizing the need for data-driven approaches at the local level and addressing smaller challenges before tackling larger ones.

Speaking at the panel, panellist Rana said, “It is essential to adhere to the framework for reporting in line with the recommendations provided by the CEDAW committee regarding peace and security for women, and to ensure state accountability.”

Similarly, panellist Sinjapati pointed the need for ending regional, social, racial, cultural and gender-based discrimination for bringing sustainable peace while fostering political and policy inclusion.

The second session, “Strengthening inclusive governance and sustainable development,” presented Krishna Kumari Waiba, Chairperson of Beyond Beijing Committee Nepal, Shivahari Gyawali, writer, Dalit scholar, and civil society activist, Peter Rai from the Blue Diamond Society, and Ichhya K.C., member of the National Federation of the Disabled Nepal, as panelists.

Moderated by Subhash Nepali, economist/SDG advisor at UNRCO, the discussion explored the challenges and opportunities in enhancing inclusive governance and achieving inclusive growth in Nepal, with particular attention to intersectionality within inclusivity, the ongoing struggles of the LGBTIQ community, and the importance of adhering to the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and formulating an effective action plan.

The third session, “Youth and Digital Transformation for Gender, Social, and Climate Justice,” featured panellists, Alisha Dhungana, Vice President of Youth Initiative Nepal, Jiya Rajbhandari from Youth Advocacy Nepal, Ashmita Badi, social activist, and Upama Acharya from Nepalese Youth for Climate Action.

Moderated by Aastha Subedi, President of YUWA, the discussion delved into the vital role of youth in society, discussing issues such as digital deprivation, lack of access to the internet in some areas, and the intersectionality of basic human rights while calling for state guardianship to retain youth in Nepal, preventing them from leaving the country to settle elsewhere.

Additionally, a demand letter representing Civil Society Organizations was released in the conference. Hum Bhandari, NFN team leader presented the letter, which articulates citizen perceptions and demands related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the upcoming Summit of the Future.

It stresses the importance of actionable plans with accountability, equitable resource distribution, and stronger international commitments, particularly from developed countries.