September 24, 2019 — In 2015 the European Union played a leading role in negotiating global support for the Sustainable Development Goals, championing the concept of “Leaving No One Behind,” driven by belief that the fulfilment of the SDGs by 2030 must include the most vulnerable and hardest to reach populations. Four years later, however, the exclusion of conflict and crisis affected populations from SDG targets and the lack of a joined up response by international actors are seriously undermining the implementation of Agenda 2030.
Over recent years, the Sahel has been rising up the EU’s political agenda, due to its strategic position for migration routes, the surge of terrorism threats, and the devastating effects of climate change on livelihoods. Yet despite this increased attention and significant EU investment in the region, the countries of the Sahel continue to rank at the bottom of the UN Human Development Index, and their progress towards key SDGs such as ending poverty, gender equality, decent work and economic growth is stagnating.
Imogen Sudbery, Europe’s Director of Policy and Advocacy for the International Rescue Committee said:
“The focus of the European Union on the Sahel region is welcome, but its engagement tends to be driven by a security agenda and overly focused on migration management, often at the expense of more long-term peace and development outcomes. The International Community must catalyse a more integrated and effective response to crisis in the Sahel by adopting the SDGs as the guiding principle across humanitarian, development and peacebuilding interventions. Crucially, crisis affected populations, particularly women and girls, must be included in Agenda 2030 in order to fulfil the commitment to ‘Leave No One Behind.’”
Read IRC's report Left Out and Left Behind here.