Zimbabwe has taken significant steps in achieving the SDGs through various development projects across sectors, in line with the global goals set in 2015. The government of Zimbabwe has conducted two voluntary national reviews (VNRs) in 2017 and 2021, with another scheduled for 2024.
These reviews aim to assess progress in implementing the UN 2030 Agenda and Africa's Agenda 2063, highlighting successes, challenges and lessons learned. The next VNR will be presented in New York in July 2024, focusing on key findings and strategies to improve SDG implementation.
Tasked with preparing the VNR, Zimbabwe's Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare held consultative meetings in seven provinces to gather data on the progress of SDG implementation in the country, which will help the government improve its policies.
"This consultative meeting is meant to get inputs from provincial stakeholders, which will be incorporated into the voluntary national report," Sylocious Chakutura, the deputy director in charge of SDGs at the Ministry of Public Service, told local media. "This document is of national importance as it tracks progress on SDGs implementation in Zimbabwe, the challenges, opportunities and strategies that will be implemented to accelerate the implementation of SDGs in Zimbabwe."
As of the current time, at least three, out of the 17 SDGs, have been "moderately" improved in Zimbabwe, while progress have been achieved in other fields, according to Chakutura.
"The reports that we have show that only three SDGs have moderately improved, yet there is a lot of development that has been recorded under various sectors which need to be documented, hence the need to improve on our reporting system," she said.
The government plans to use a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure inclusivity and address cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, youth empowerment, climate change and partnerships with the aim of revitalizing the industry to advance the SDGs and promote sustainable development in Zimbabwe.