Today, we face multiple challenges of great magnitude that no single government or institution can address alone. The number of people fleeing their homes is at a record high. Climate change is ravaging the planet. Many young people are starved of economic opportunities. Inequalities continue to deepen and widen, fraying the fragile fabric of even peaceful societies.
We also live in an interconnected world and our futures are inextricably linked. We need principled and people-centred partnerships that can drive the inclusive implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, partnerships that go beyond borders, sectors, industries and societies can help us reach the commitments to which we hold ourselves accountable.
Enhanced international cooperation is needed to ensure that countries have the means to achieve the SDGs and progress is being made on some of the targets of SDG 17. For example, personal remittances and the proportion of the global population with internet access are at an all-time high. Yet, there are challenges in achieving other targets, with official development assistance (ODA) declining and trade tensions persisting.
This month, we focus on Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships – the backbone of the 2030 Agenda and the connective tissue that brings us together to create the change that we want to see in the world.
It could also be called the Goal of Goals.
To find out more about SDG 17 check out these resources:
Message from the Deputy Secretary-General