MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Deputy Finance and Development Planning Minister for Economic Management, Augustus Jonathan Flomo, has implored the United Nations (UN) to take practical steps to remove the hurdles that are preventing countries like Liberia from attaining the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Some challenges, according to Minister Flomo, range from global pandemics like the coronavirus, Russia – Ukraine war and extreme hunger.
Minister Flomo was addressing the Ministerial Segment of the 2022 High Level Political Forum of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations in New York, the United States of America.
The July 5th to 15th meeting was held under the theme: “Building Back Better from the Coronavirus disease while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
The annual meeting provides a space for ministers to develop a forward looking policy approach to put the world back on track, to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while advancing a more inclusive and network multilateralism.
Remarking the Liberian perspective, Minister Augustus Flomo said: “Countries like ours, it is important to note that we are still dealing with the lingering impacts of the Ebola virus that hit Liberia in 2014; and now the COVID pandemic, the Russia – Ukraine war impact which is evidently increasing the prices of major commodities and creating uncertainties and complexities”.
In his recommendations to the UN ECOSOC gathering, Minister Flomo urged the body to identify social economic and environmental impacts of the crisis, mainly short and medium terms that enable the UN to solve some of those challenges.
He said: “There is a need to identify the fiscal situations and post COVID recovery strategies that countries have developed. Designing and providing urgent support for input-dependent countries so that they are able to keep eye on the development initiatives that are ongoing as we work to meet our SDGs by 2030”.
According to him, the meeting was an incredible opportunity to reflect on key issues and renew transformational initiatives that underpin the idea of leaping forward in dealing with the challenges the world faces today.
The SDGs goals: Poverty, Erase Hunger, Establish Good Health and Well-Being, Provide Quality Education, Enforce Gender Equality, Improve Clean Water and Sanitation, Grow Affordable and Clean Energy, Create Decent Work and Economic Growth, Increase Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Reduce Inequality, Mobilize Sustainable Cities and Communities, Influence Responsible Consumption and Production, Organize Climate Action, Develop Life Below Water, Advance Life On Land, Guarantee Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions and Build Partnerships for the Goals.
The UN has said that despite the economic shocks caused by COVID-19, Liberia remains deeply committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda and achieving the SDGs.
However, with just eight more years to 2030 and a major presidential election coming up in 2023, Liberia is at 158th position with a score of 49.89 in the ranking of countries performing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, that’s according to the United Nations SDGs index.
