Objective(s) / Learning outcome(s)
The learning objective of this Unit is to: Familiarise ourselves with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), how they are linked to inclusion and start thinking about their social, economic and environmental dimensions. Understanding these components will allow the readers of this module to link their work to social inclusion and use the suggested methodology to assess their own projects and/or organisations.
By the end of this unit, each participant will be able to…:
a) Identify the sustainable development goals
b) Understand the link between the SDGs and the social, economic and environmental dimensions of inclusion
c) Link their projects’ goals to SDGs and use indicators to monitor and assess their impact in relation to selected SDGs
Introduction
Understanding social inclusion in the context of Agenda 2030 is not merely an academic pursuit but a critical necessity for fostering a sustainable and equitable future. The Agenda 2030, with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), serves as a global roadmap to address pressing issues, and social inclusion stands at its core. Delving into the dynamics of social inclusion enables individuals, communities, and policymakers to comprehend the multifaceted nature of inclusivity, extending beyond economic parameters. By exploring this intersection, we gain insights into the intricate relationships between poverty, inequality, and exclusion, realising that progress must be comprehensive and leave no one behind. In the pursuit of Agenda 2030, the understanding of social inclusion becomes a catalyst for transformative change, driving actions that foster diversity, empower marginalised populations, and create societies that prioritise the well-being and opportunities of all individuals. Embracing social inclusion within the framework of Agenda 2030 is not just interesting; it is imperative for shaping a more inclusive and sustainable world for generations to come.
This section provides an overview of what the Sustainable Development Goals and what they entail, assessment methods and some examples of Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment Tools. This information, methods and examples are intended to be used by adults working in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Topic 2 of this module, shows the connection between social inclusion and SDGs as well as other dimensions of the topic.
Overview of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted at the United Nations Summit in New York from 25 to 27 September 2015. The Agenda is a broad and universal policy agenda, with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 169 associated targets which are integrated and indivisible. The term integrated refers to the fact that the 17 SDGs recognise that action in one area will affect outcomes in others and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.
Building on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the 2030 Agenda seeks to guide Member States to transform their approach to achieve inclusive, people-centred and sustainable development with no one left behind.
About the Sustainable Development Goals:
1. No Poverty
This SDG involves targeting the most vulnerable, increasing basic resources and services and supporting communities affected by conflict and climate-related disasters. It aims, among others, to a) reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions and to b) build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.
- Zero Hunger
This SDG aims to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, making sure all people–especially children–have sufficient and nutritious food all year. This involves promoting sustainable agriculture, supporting small-scale farmers and equal access to land, technology and markets. It also requires international cooperation to ensure investment in infrastructure and technology to improve agricultural productivity.
- Good Health and Well-Being
Progress has been made in addressing major causes of death and disease, leading to increased life expectancy, reduced infant and maternal mortality, successful efforts against HIV, and a 50% decrease in malaria deaths. However, challenges persist, including economic and social inequalities, urbanisation, environmental threats, infectious diseases like HIV, and the emergence of non-communicable diseases. Universal health coverage is critical for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to end poverty and reduce inequalities. Some global health issues not explicitly covered in the SDGs, like antimicrobial resistance, also require attention.
- Quality Education
The goal of achieving inclusive and quality education for all underscores the idea that education is a potent tool for sustainable development. This objective strives to ensure that by 2030, all boys and girls will successfully complete free primary and secondary education. It further aims to offer equitable access to affordable vocational training, eradicate disparities related to gender and economic status, and attain universal access to high-quality higher education.
- Gender Equality
It is vital to give women equal rights in land and property, sexual and reproductive health, and to technology and the internet. Today, there are more women in public office than ever before, but encouraging more women leaders will help achieve greater gender equality.
- Clean Water & Sanitation
Water use efficiency has risen by 9 per cent, but water stress and water scarcity remain a concern in many parts of the world. In 2020, 2.4 billion people lived in water-stressed countries. The challenges are compounded by conflicts and climate change.
- Affordable and clean energy
The world continues to advance towards sustainable energy targets – but not fast enough. At the current pace, about 660 million people will still lack access to electricity and close to 2 billion people will still rely on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking by 2030. To ensure access to energy for all by 2030, we must accelerate electrification, increase investments in renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and develop enabling policies and regulatory frameworks.
- Decent work and economic growth
Multiple crises are placing the global economy under serious threat. Global real GDP per capita growth is forecast to slow down in 2023. Challenging economic conditions are pushing more workers into informal employment. As economies start to recover, the global unemployment rate has experienced a significant decline. However, the youth unemployment rate continues to be much higher than the rate for adults, indicating ongoing challenges in securing employment opportunities for young people.
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure
The manufacturing industry’s recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic remains incomplete and uneven. Global manufacturing growth slowed down to 3.3 per cent in 2022, from 7.4 per cent in 2021. Progress in least developed countries (LDCs) is far from sufficient to reach the target of doubling the manufacturing share in gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030. However, medium-high- and high-technology industries demonstrated robust growth rates.
- Reduced inequalities
The incomes of the poorest 40 per cent of the population had been growing faster than the national average in most countries. But emerging yet inconclusive evidence suggests that COVID-19 may have put a dent in this positive trend of falling within-country inequality. The pandemic has also caused the largest rise in between-country inequality in three decades.
- Sustainable cities and communities
To achieve this goal, efforts must focus on implementing inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban development policies and practices that prioritise access to basic services, affordable housing, efficient transportation and green spaces for all.
- Responsible consumption and production
The material footprint per capita in high-income countries is 10 times the level of low-income countries. The world is also seriously off track in its efforts to halve per capita food waste and losses by 2030. Global crises triggered a resurgence in fossil fuel subsidies, nearly doubling from 2020 to 2021.
13. Climate action: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasises that deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are essential in all sectors, beginning now and continuing throughout this decade. To limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, emissions must already be decreasing and need to be cut by almost half by 2030, just seven years away.
- Life below water
There have been some advancements in areas such as expanding marine protected areas and combating illegal fishing, efforts to meet Goal 14, which pertains to the conservation of oceans and marine life, are not progressing quickly or comprehensively enough. To address this, there is an urgent need for swift and coordinated global action, which includes: increased funding for ocean science, intensified conservation efforts, nature-based solutions, addressing the interconnected impacts of human activities, and taking urgent steps to combat climate change in order to protect the world's oceans and marine ecosystems.
- Life on Land
Despite some progress in sustainable forest management, protected areas, and the uptake of national biodiversity values and natural capital accounting, most improvements have been modest. The recently adopted Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework provides renewed impetus for Goal 15, outlining four outcome-oriented goals to be achieved by 2050 and 23 targets to be achieved by 2030.
- Peace, justice and strong institutions
As of the end of 2022, 108.4 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide – an increase of 19 million compared with the end of 2021 and two and a half times the number of a decade ago. Structural injustices, inequalities and emerging human rights challenges are putting peaceful and inclusive societies further out of reach. To meet Goal 16 by 2030, action is needed to restore trust and to strengthen the capacity of institutions to secure justice for all and facilitate peaceful transitions to sustainable development.
- Partnerships for the Goals
Developing countries are grappling with an unprecedented rise in external debt levels following the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by challenges such as record inflation, escalating interest rates, competing priorities and constrained fiscal capacity, underscoring the urgent need for debt relief and financial assistance. While official development assistance (ODA) flows continue to reach record peaks, the increase in 2022 is primarily attributed to spending on refugees in donor countries and aid to Ukraine.
Linking the SDGs to social, economic, and environmental dimensions of inclusion
As seen in Topic 1 the SDGs are interconnected and linked to one or more dimensions of inclusion. To understand the link of SDGs to the social dimensions of inclusion, one needs to first define social inclusion.
Social inclusion is the process of improving the terms for individuals and groups to take part in society. People take part in society through markets (e.g. labour, or credit), services (access to health, education), and spaces (e.g. political, physical).
SDGs such as No Poverty, Zero Hunger as well as Reduced Inequalities are all linked to the social dimensions of inclusion as well as to the economic ones.
Inequality and poverty are results or consequences, while social exclusion encompasses both outcomes and the ongoing process. Social exclusion frequently extends beyond the realm of poverty and, in certain instances, has no connection to poverty whatsoever. Moreover, while concepts like poverty and inequality frequently entail tangible or material circumstances, social inclusion predominantly pertains to intangible aspects of an individual's life. Consider, for instance, a hypothetical homosexual man residing in an affluent neighbourhood. He might not be experiencing poverty or even be impacted by economic inequality, yet he is unquestionably marginalised, and in certain countries, he may even face life-threatening risks. One's identity can serve as a primary indicator of their exclusion.
The following graph shows how inclusive development and sustainable development are linked and presents in a visual manner how the economic, social and environmental dimensions of inclusion are embedded in the sustainable development goals.
Monitoring and evaluation of progress towards social inclusion goals (indicators and targets for measuring progresses)
A suggested way of monitoring and evaluating progress towards social inclusion goals is the following:
1. Define Clear Objectives:
- Clearly define the specific social inclusion goals that the project aims to achieve. For instance, increasing access to education or improving economic opportunities for marginalised individuals.
2. Identify Key Indicators:
- Choose relevant indicators that directly measure progress towards social inclusion. These could include:some text
- Educational Access:some text
- Indicator: Enrollment rates of marginalised groups in educational programs.
- Target: Increase enrollment by X% within the project's duration.
- Economic Inclusion:some text
- Indicator: Employment rates or income levels of the targeted individuals or groups.
- Target: Achieve a specific employment rate or income increase for the participants.
- Access to Services:some text
- Indicator: Improved access to healthcare or social services for the marginalised communities.
- Target: Decrease the time/distance to access essential services by X%.
- Educational Access:some text
3. Baseline Data Collection:
- Collect data on the chosen indicators before the project starts. This serves as the baseline against which progress will be measured.
4. Regular Progress Tracking:
- Continuously track the chosen indicators throughout the project's implementation.
- Collect data on a regular basis to understand how the situation is evolving.
5. Periodic Assessment:
- Conduct periodic assessments to evaluate progress against the targets.
- Identify any deviations from the expected outcomes and reasons behind them.
6. Stakeholder Feedback:
- Seek feedback from the target groups and other stakeholders (e.g., community members, beneficiaries) to understand their perceptions and experiences regarding social inclusion.
7. Adjust and Adapt:
- Based on the assessment results, make necessary adjustments to project activities and strategies. Flexibility is key in addressing emerging challenges.
8. Impact Evaluation:
- At the project's conclusion, perform a comprehensive impact evaluation to assess the overall effectiveness of the project in achieving social inclusion goals.
9. Reporting and Documentation:
- Maintain clear records of all data, assessments, and evaluations.
- Regularly report on progress to project funders, stakeholders, and the wider community.
10. Knowledge Sharing:
- Share insights and lessons learned with other NGOs and organisations working on similar social inclusion initiatives to collectively advance best practices.
11. Continuous Learning and Improvement:
- Use the project's outcomes and evaluations to inform future projects and initiatives. Continuously learn and improve strategies to enhance social inclusion.
By following this framework, NGOs and adult education organisations can effectively monitor and evaluate their progress towards social inclusion goals, ensuring that their projects make a meaningful impact on marginalised individuals and communities.
Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment Tools
Neighbourhood Sustainability Assessment (NSA) tools are optional rating systems used to certify the sustainability of neighbourhoods undergoing new constructions or urban renewals. These tools comprise categories and indicators designed to assess specific performances. Their aim is to quantify planned interventions, assigning a final score that reflects the overall sustainability performance of the district.
The way they are applied illustrates other issues such as inclusivity and healthy living in different neighbourhoods. In other words, by using these tools to assess the environmental sustainability of a neighbourhood, the results underline the social dimension of sustainability.
NSA examples
Some NSA tools are the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) that was the first sustainable assessment tool. The published name is BREEAM Communities and it contains the following categories: governance; social and economic wellbeing; Resources and energy; Land use and ecology; Transport and movement; innovation). Another one is DGNB Districts that assesses five thematic areas: environmental quality, economic quality, sociocultural and functional quality, technical and process quality. According to this protocol people’s health and happiness are at the centre of decision-making regarding design and construction.
