Kathmandu: Stakeholders are cautioning that Nepal may only achieve 60 percent of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets by 2030 if corrective measures are not promptly implemented. The warning comes as progress towards the SDGs in the country is deemed unsatisfactory, according to the Nepal Civil Society Report on SDGs-2023 published by the NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN).

While Nepal has outperformed global projections, with 7 percent of the targets achieved and 2 percent in progress, concerns arise as 18 percent are regressing. Additionally, 39 percent show some progress, 26 percent have limited progress, and 36 percent have missing values.

At a press conference organized by the NFN, President Ram Prasad Subedi attributed the sluggish progress to factors such as the impacts of COVID-19, the economic fallout of the Russia-Ukraine war, and geopolitical dynamics. He emphasized the lack of coordination among governments at all levels, stakeholders, and civil society, calling for improved implementation.

Subedi expressed concerns about weak data collection and monitoring mechanisms for SDG implementation. He underscored the need to empower local and provincial levels, highlighting their current lack of awareness about the SDGs.

Arjun Bhattarai, the NFN Secretary General, called for increased youth participation in social, economic, and political development, citing their crucial role in SDG implementation. He advocated for the creation of a local-level mechanism for SDG data collection.

Stakeholders collectively called for immediate action to enhance women's representation in leadership roles. They emphasized meaningful government participation at all levels, systematic data collection, processing, and utilization for program verification, and the efficient management of budget, resources, and partnerships to ensure effective SDG implementation. The stakeholders urged swift corrective measures to address the identified challenges and accelerate progress towards meeting the 2030 SDG targets.