We believe that governments hold the longest levers to catalyze change.
Here are two things that governments should consider
to supercharge progress on SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
The first is looking for ways to align SDGs with national priorities
and shaping the political narrative accordingly.
Whether you are a low-income country attempting to reduce poverty
or a high-income country hoping to reduce environmental footprint,
there are SDGs that clearly link to our national agenda.
Governments should articulate a clear vision
outlining the local benefits that come with tackling priority SDGs,
and this may involve making public commitments
to mobilize key stakeholders for action.
Second, once a vision and political narrative have been established,
governments should consider the tools they have to enact
change and deploy them strategically.
The levers that governments have on hand are not new,
but there is room for innovation.
Our experience suggests that government should adopt an impact
acceleration framework by thinking big,
starting small, and scaling fast.
This means designing transformative,
paradigm shifting programs with ambitious long-term goals
complete with short term milestones.
Establishing these sorts of programs will enable governments to secure
not just near-term financing, but long term commitment
to budgets and partnerships that can scale impact.
Governments can also deploy bespoke regulations and policies,
focusing on incentivizing the right set of behaviors
versus solely addressing the wrong.
By considering these themes, governments can realize national goals
while setting us back on the course to achieve critical progress
on SDGs, on a national and global scale.