About
The Curriculum on Governance for the Sustainable Development Goals aims to promote critical understanding of sustainable development issues, enhance governance capacity, and strengthen public servants' awareness of their active role in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. It aims at developing the knowledge and capacities required to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and support concrete outcomes and lasting impact.
Why a Curriculum on Governance for the SDGs?
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights (including the right to development), on effective rule of law and good governance at all levels and on transparent, effective and accountable institutions”. Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda specifically calls for effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Indeed, institutions play a critical role in the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets. However, public sector reforms needed to implement the SDGs continue to be a major and vexing challenge in many countries. The 11 Principles of Effective Governance for Sustainable Development, developed by the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration and endorsed in 2018 by the Economic and Social Council, provide practical, expert guidance to interested countries in a broad range of governance challenges associated with implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The Curriculum Toolkits address the 11 Principles of Effective Governance (see Figure below). The Curriculum on Governance for the Sustainable Development Goals aims to provide a holistic and integrated framework for capacity development in the area of governance and public institutions. It aims to promote critical understanding of sustainable development issues, enhance governance capacity, and strengthen public servants' awareness of their active role in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs.