SDG 16 as a Key Vector for Eliminating Poverty

In 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development led with a bold aspiration to eradicate poverty in all of its forms by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1). There were grounds for optimism at the time, as the number of people living in extreme poverty (736 million) was lower than it had been 15 years before (UNDP n.d.). Even if unforeseen circumstances might prevent a total eradication of poverty, surely halving it or eliminating its worst forms would be within the realms of possibility. However, there has simply been insufficient political—and therefore financial—commitment to achieving the SDGs.

The SDG 16 Data Initiative (SDG16DI), a consortium of 18 partner organizations with a shared commitment to open tracking of the global commitments made on SDG 16, will facilitate an online panel discussion to showcase the launch of the Initiative’s annual report, which has the overarching theme of bringing out the interlinkages between SDG16 and poverty eradication (SDG 1). 

The event will highlight the SDG16DI's work on non-official data as a crucial tool for providing a holistic view of the implementation and achievement of SDG16 targets. The panel will also provide recommendations on what needs to be done, and show how more concerted efforts to meet SDG16 targets will strengthen efforts to eradicate poverty globally.