INTER SECTORAL MEETING ON SOCIAL DIMENSION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) HELD AT REIZ CONTINENTAL HOTEL ABUJA, ON 4TH MARCH 2022 AND ATTENDED BY HAPI

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. As Nigeria moves towards the second decade of Agenda 2030, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria organized an inter-sectoral meeting on the Social Dimension of SDGs. The meeting was held on 4th March 2022 at the Reiz Continental Hotel Abuja and was attended by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, HAPI, and participants who joined online representing various states where they are implementing different Goals of the SDGs, and the media.

The theme of the meeting was “Strengthening Stakeholders’ Engagement and Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Social Dimension of SDGs.” The meeting aimed to prioritize women on social protection, capture multiple vulnerabilities in the data, and focus on girls’ involvement in Gender-Based Violence. The meeting also emphasized social protection on health for women and the need to re-orientate social protection for women.

The meeting made several recommendations that could significantly improve the social dimension of SDGs in Nigeria. Firstly, there is a need to prioritize women on social protection. The statistics show that women are more vulnerable and suffer the most from poverty, hunger, and disease. Therefore, there is a need to provide adequate social protection to women to help them cope with the harsh realities of life.

Secondly, multiple vulnerability is not captured in the data, and efforts should be made to capture them. This is important because some people are vulnerable to multiple forms of discrimination, such as women with disabilities, who are more likely to experience poverty, violence, and social exclusion. Capturing such vulnerabilities in the data will help policymakers and development practitioners to better address the specific needs of these vulnerable groups.

Thirdly, emphasis should be focused on girls’ involvement in Gender-Based Violence. Women and girls are more likely to suffer from Gender-Based Violence, and girls are particularly vulnerable. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there were reports of a high incidence of Gender-Based Violence against women and girls. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen policies and programs that address Gender-Based Violence and empower girls to protect themselves.

Fourthly, emphasis should be placed on social protection on health for women. Women in rural areas cannot afford good healthcare, and this puts them at risk of poor health outcomes. Therefore, there is a need to provide adequate social protection to women to enable them to access quality healthcare services, particularly in rural areas.

Finally, there is a need for the government to re-orientate social protection for women, recognizing that women are diverse and complex. Rural and urban women have different needs, as do women with disabilities and those without disabilities. Therefore, social protection policies and programs must be tailored to meet the specific needs of different groups of women.

In conclusion, the inter-sectoral meeting on the Social Dimension of SDGs provided an opportunity for policymakers, development practitioners, and stakeholders to discuss ways to improve the social dimension of SDGs in Nigeria. The recommendations made at the meeting are critical for achieving the SDGs in Nigeria, and it is essential that they are implemented to ensure that no one is left behind in the quest for a better and more sustainable future.