The media has been identified as vital in amplifying and accelerating progress towards achieving the Goals by 2030.
This was revealed by Chief Economist at the ministry of finance Patrick Seitiso in his opening remarks at the just ended training for journalists across the country on reporting Sustainable Development Goals so as to forge partnership in efforts to advance their knowledge and understanding of SDGs.
The five-day training held in Maun, was a partnership between the ministry and UN Botswana in partnership with MISA Botswana was mainly focused on strengthening skills and capacities to effective reporting on SDG indicators linking them with everyday life to contribute towards achieving the 17 SDGs.
Participants were on the last day given an exercise to write news articles from their field work after visiting Sankoyo Tshwaragano Community Trust, Kazikiini camp, Shorobe basket Cooperative, Women Against Rape and Bana ba Letsatsi.
“Our Ministry fully acknowledge that our wishes to see the media participating in amplifying and accelerating progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs will not become possible if the media fraternity is not made part of the key stakeholders join hands with us towards building the necessary capacities,” Seitiso indicated.
He noted that media personnel’s role is to develop content focused on SDG related issues and raise awareness as well as unpacking the human story behind the data and numbers of Botswana’s domesticated SDG targets and indicators.
Meanwhile in his closing remarks, Director of Population and Sustainable Development Coordinator at the Ministry of Finance Moremi Moremi has assured to offer media practitioners support in this cause, going forward. He pleaded with the media fraternity to find more effective ways to communicate the SDGs to the people in every corner of this country.
Moremi noted that representatives from Botswana were recently in New York City, United States of America, where they presented her second Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs at the 2022 High Level PoliticalForum (HLPF).
“Going forward, we need the presence of the Media Fraternity of Botswana even at such Forum like the High Level Political Forum to publicise the successes and achievements that Botswana is making on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its underlying SDGs,” Moremi said.
Following the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, Botswana developed a National SDGs Roadmap to facilitate domestication and implementation of SDGs. Government and UN Botswana currently work closely together to support fulfilment of Vision 2036 and the National Development Plan 11, as well as national implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.
Botswana and UN in partnership with various stakeholders are also working towards achieving the 17 interconnected and ambitious Goals which address the major development challenges faced by people in Botswana and around the world.
The 17 SDGs include no poverty, zero hunger, Good health and well being, Quality education, Gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industrial innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on water, peace justice and strong institutions and partnerships for the goals.
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