The new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have set out an ambitious agenda for global development for the next fifteen years, leading up to 2030. Unlike the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the SDGs are universal and applicable to “developed countries” as much as “developing countries”. The Sustainable Development Goals also seek to be exactly that: sustainable. Balancing the social, economic and environmental elements of development; using our resources and capacities for both present and future generations. Informed and influenced by the most open and consultative process in United Nations (UN) history, the SDGs are born out of our collective vision for a more equal, just and fair world.
Now is the time to start implementing new people-centred, people-led accountability mechanisms - to fulfill the promise of ambitious and transformative change. In the 2030 Agenda, all governments have signed up to supporting “accountability to our citizens” and promised a follow-up and review framework that is “open, inclusive, participatory and transparent for all people and will support reporting by all relevant stakeholders”. This means building social accountability mechanisms at local, national, regional and global levels where citizens and civil society - particularly the poorest and most marginalised - play a decisive and formal role in the monitoring and accountability system. In doing so, leaders will be giving a voice to those traditionally excluded from development processes whilst strengthening government’s own monitoring efforts, especially when addressing gaps in the implementation of policy affecting youth.
There are a number of proposals on the table for follow-up, review and accountability for national governments to consider and we have many lessons to learn from the review processes of the MDGs. Empowering young people to hold governments and duty-bearers accountable is one of the most important means of implementation for an agenda that “leaves no one behind”. More than half the world is currently under the age of 30 but decision-making processes largely remain in the hands of older generations. Young people, particularly young women, are not adequately represented in formal political processes or institutions - including parliaments, political parties, elections, and public administrations. Young people are also among the hardest hit by the effects of poverty, climate change and inequality.
Despite these barriers to participation in formal or conventional spaces, young people are frequently at the forefront of change and development, such as mass citizen and digital activism. Where traditional structures are failing to include them, young people are finding new ways to engage. Youth have driven many of the high impact social movements of recent years (e.g. on climate change and inequality) characterised by self-organising and the innovative use of new technologies. Youth-led action can help governments fill gaps in implementation, follow-up and monitoring, as well as programmes and policy.
Young people are often more likely to speak freely on newly emerging issues, rather than refraining from ‘non-negotiable demands and being a more ambitious voice’. We saw this in the post2015 consultations, as young people around the world called for more transparent and responsive governments and effective governance and accountability systems. Goal 16 (“Promote peaceful and inclusive societies [...] and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”) is a testament to young people’s efforts. Youth-led accountability mechanisms are going to be vital for ensuring the success of the SDGs.