The seventeen sustainable development goals adopted at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last year, September 2015, aim to make a better world over the next 15 years. A number of goals were agreed by the world leaders which provide a pathway to reinforce commitments and prepare actions toward ending poverty and stabilizing peace on the planet.

Placing importance on the global commitments and responsibilities at country level, the Ministry of Planning has taken the lead in reviewing and discussing the foregoing agenda with relevant ministries, using the existing national technical working group mechanism. In stepping up this critical momentum and realizing the connection between SDGs and people, UNFPA has strongly supported the localization process of SDG into the Cambodia’s priorities.

Moving forward, the Ministry of Planning organized the second consultative workshop on 15 June 2016 in Phnom Penh with more than 100 technical working group members, representing government ministries, key development partners and UN agencies. Over a hundred indicators, the global targets set at the UN meeting, were further reviewed and discussed, following the first initial meeting held in Siem Reap in September last year.

“As we are taking pride in achieving many of the Millennium Development Goals, Cambodia is ready to take over another global agenda, Sustainable Development Goals for the benefit of her people,” says His Excellency Chhay Than, Senior Minister and Minister of Planning during the opening session.

Led by the Secretary of State, HE Tuon Thavrak, the one-day meeting was divided into four discussion groups, classified by relevant sectors and expertise. The group reviewed and scrutinized each indicator as well as proposed to drop some indicators considered not properly realistic and feasible for Cambodia to achieve by 2030. However, participants recognized that some indicators have been set as a framework to call upon the world leaders to reinforce their commitment in transforming socialpment and economic growth for their people.

As a way forward, there will be a series of consultations with all stakeholders including civil society and academia, given that everyone is accountable to and responsible for this global agenda and comprehensive perspectives should be heard during the entire localization process. This is the Sustainable Development Agenda for Cambodia.