Turning commitments into action
Why is SDG16+ relevant for Somaliland?
What is the next step in Somaliland on SDG16+?
SDG5.5 – Women’s political participation
Turning commitments into action
Why is SDG16+ relevant for Somaliland?
What is the next step in Somaliland on SDG16+?
SDG5.5 – Women’s political participation
Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda – an ambitious development framework consisting of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Saferworld has focused on translating the global commitment to peaceful, just and inclusive societies into practical action.
Over the past three years, we have worked with government and civil society to promote SDG16+ (the term used to refer to all peace-related targets across the 2030 Agenda) and to use this framework to contribute to peacebuilding in conflict-affected contexts.
Here is a brief overview of our story so far:
Turning commitments into action: Saferworld’s SDG story
We have focused our recent work on SDG16+ in East Africa. For example, this approach has taken off in Somaliland, where we’ve been working with a range of partners to mobilise action on SDG16+. This experience shows how the SDG framework can help activists articulate their own priorities for peace, justice and inclusion, and galvanise collective action.
A Somaliland SDG16+ story
On the International Day of Peace in 2018, civil society organisations working on SDG16+ in Somaliland formed the ‘SDG16+ Coalition’ to sustain positive momentum and coordinate action across the country.
Why is SDG16+ relevant for Somaliland?
An important part of Saferworld’s approach is to encourage the integration of SDG16+ into national planning processes so that major targets are supported by government and civil society alike.
What is the next step in Somaliland on SDG16+?
A fundamental element of the localisation process is the identification of short- and long-term SDG16+ priority targets through civil society consultations covering each region of Somaliland.
SDG5.5 – Women’s political participation
Increasing women’s political participation (SDG 5.5) was one of three targets that Somaliland civil society prioritised for action over the next three years.
SDG5.3 – Eliminating female genital mutilation
Ending female genital mutilation (SDG 5.3) was one of three targets that Somaliland civil society prioritised for action over the next three years.
Ensuring access to justice for all (SDG 16.3) was one of three targets that Somaliland civil society prioritised for action over the next three years.
These are early steps, but they have laid the foundations for action on SDG16+ in Somaliland. Over the coming years, Saferworld will continue to support the implementation of SDG16+ in Somaliland and elsewhere, to help translate the 2030 Agenda’s commitment to more peaceful, just and inclusive societies into action.
