Jul 1, 2018 — capacity and the development of a National Statistical System. civil society and private sector initiatives to specific SDGs.
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2 1.0 Table of Contents 1.0 Opening Statement .. .. .. 6 2.0 Highlights .. .. .. .. 8 Integration of the SDGs into the National Development Plan .. .. 8 Institutional Arrangements .. .. .. . 9 Leaving No – One – Behind .. .. .. 9 Areas where support is needed for finance, capacity – building, technology, partnerships, etc. 10 3.0 Introduction .. .. .. 11 4.0 Methodology and process for preparation of the review. .. 13 5.0 Policy and Enabling Environment .. .. 14 Creating Ownership of the Sustainable Development Goals: National Level Discussions 15 Creating Ownership of the Sustainable Development Goals: Community Discussions Public, Private Sec tor and Civil Society Discussions .. .. .. 17 Incorporation of the Sustainable Development Goals in National Framework 19 Alignment of the NDP with the SDGs .. .. 23 Integration of the 3 Dimensions of Sustainable Development .. .. 35 Leaving No One Behind .. .. .. 36 National Institutional Mechanisms for the Ongoing Implementation of the SDGs 37 National Mechanisms for Monitoring Progress and Data Reporting .. .. 38 Data Availability for Monitoring the SDGs .. .. . 39 Challenges Faced Monitoring the SDGs .. .. 40 6.0 Progress on Goals and Targets .. .. 41 SDG1: Ending Poverty in all its Forms .. .. 41 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG1 .. .. . 43 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG1 Programmes .. 47
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3 SDG2: End Hunger, Achieve Food Security & Improved Nutrition & Promote Sustain able Agriculture .. .. .. .. 48 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG2 .. .. . 49 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG2 Programmes .. 51 SDG3: Ensure Healthy Lives & Promote Well – Being for all at all Ages .. . 52 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG3 .. .. . 54 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG3 Programmes .. 57 SDG4: Ensure Inclusive & Quality Education for all & Promote Lifelong Learning .. 57 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG4 .. .. . 60 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG4 Programmes .. 63 SDG5: Ac hieve Gender Equality & Empower all Women & Girls .. . 64 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG5 .. .. . 65 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG5 Programmes .. 69 SDG6: Ensure Availability & Sustainable Management of Water & Sanitation for All . 69 Key Interventions for Implement ing SDG6 .. .. . 70 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG6 Programmes .. 71 SDG7: Ensure Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable & Modern Ene rgy for All. . 72 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG7 .. .. . 73 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG7 Programmes .. 76 SDG8: Promote Sustained, Inclusive & Sustainable Economic Growth, Full & Productive Employment & Decent Work for All .. .. 76 Key Interventions for Implementi ng SDG8 .. .. . 77 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG8 Programmes .. 85 SDG9: Build Resilient Infrastructure, Promote Inclusive & Sustainable Industrialisation & Foster Innovation .. .. .. .. 86 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG9 .. .. . 88
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4 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG9 Programmes .. 92 SDG10: Reduce Inequality within & among Countries .. . 92 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG10 .. .. .. 93 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG10 Programmes .. . 94 SDG11: Make Cities Inclusive, Safe, Resilient & Sustainable .. .. 94 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG11 .. .. .. 97 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG11 Programmes .. .. 102 SDG12: Ensure Susta inable Consumption & Production Patterns .. 103 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG12 .. .. 103 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG12 Prog rammes .. .. 104 SDG13: Take Urgent Action to Combat Climate Change & its Impact .. . 104 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG13 .. .. 106 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG13 Programmes .. .. 108 SDG14: Conserve & Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas & Marine Resources .. 109 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG14 .. .. 111 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG14 Programmes .. .. 115 SDG15: Protect, Restore & Promote Sustainable Use of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Sustainably Manage Forests, Combat Desertification & Halt the Reverse Land Degradation & Halt Biodiversity Loss .. .. .. 117 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG15 .. .. 118 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG15 Programmes .. .. 122 SDG16: Promote J ust, Peaceful & Inclusive Societies .. 122 Key Interventions for Implementing SDG16 .. .. 123 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG16 Programme s .. .. 129 SDG17: Strengthen the Means of Implementation & Revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development .. .. .. .. 130
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5 Key Interv entions for Implementing SDG17 .. .. 131 Challenges Faced Implementing SDG17 Programmes .. .. 134 7.0 Means of Implementation .. .. .. 135 The Current Situation .. .. .. .. 135 Mechanisms for Mobilizing Domestic Resources .. .. .. 137 Mech anism to Address Internal Resource Gaps for Implementing the SDGs 138 Global Integration .. .. .. . 138 Development Assistance .. .. .. 138 Next Steps .. .. .. . 139 8.0 Conclusion .. .. .. .. 140 9.0 Annexes .. .. .. . 142 REFERENCES .. .. .. . 152
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7 particularly critical to support effective policy and decision – making and to ensure the continuous The Bahamas understands that meaningful sustainable development is critical for its very survival. The Bahamas is therefore fully committed to achieving the 2030 A genda for Sustainable Development. The Bahamas looks forward to continuing its partnership with the United Nations as it strives to implement the 2030 Agenda and extends its appreciation to the Secretary General for the United continued support to The Bahamas. The Bahamas is pleased to present its National Voluntary Review at the 2018 High Level Political Forum of ECOSOC to showcase the work which has been done towards meaningful devel opment for its citizens and residents and also to learn from the experiences of the other 46 countries presenting this year.
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8 3.0 Highlights The Bahamas is a low – lying, small – island, archipelagic developing state. The country has enjoyed the peaceful t ransition of Government within its Parliamentary democracy over its 45 years as an independent country, with 4 Prime Ministers serving during that period . The economy, driven by the twin pillars of tourism and financial services, has been generally strong , delivering a high quality of life evidenced by a strong Human Development Index score increasing from levels of 0.778 in 1990 to 0.792 in 2015. Nevertheless, there are some important negative trends which suggest that many have been left behind as the country progressed. Youth unemployment, for example, has remained high rising to as much as 30% in 2015. Some 13% of the population lives in poverty, with 25% of these being children between the ages of 5 – 14. Key industries are not producing enou gh growth to drive sufficient employment expansion. Challenges prevail in both the public education and health care systems leading to less than optimal results. The country is experiencing serious infrastructure gaps as there is a need to replicate expe nsive roads, bridges, schools, electricity generation and solid waste management systems throughout the archipelago , including to some sparsely populated islands and cays . As a result, there is marked uneven development. Development is further challenged by public institutions which require strengthening, increased accountability, transparency and effectiveness. Finally , like so many small island develop ing states (SIDS) , the rise. The country has experienced, for three successive years, 3 major hurricanes of category 3 or higher at a total cost of $$678 million or 5% of GDP. Sea level rise threatens major tourism properties, many of the airports, road networks an d of sea ports. Integration of the SDGs into the National Development Plan In 2014, The Bahamas began the process of developing a 25 – year National Development Plan: Vision 2040 . Recognizing the synergies between the National Development Plan and the Sust ainable Development Goals, the Government of The Bahamas ensured that the 2030 Agenda was localised into its national development planning process t hereby providing a roadmap for the implementation of the SDGs.
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9 Institutional Arrangements The national pro cess collaboration between the Economic Development and Planning Unit (EDPU) in the Office of the Prime Minister ( OPM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, it is recognized that these inst itutional arrangements must be strengthened and formalized to ensure that all segments of society are more involved in, and take ownership of , the Sustainable Development Goals. The Government is therefore establishing a Sustainable Development Goals Technical Committee with membership from various government ministries and agencies , private sector, civil society and academia to ensure full ownership of the Sustainable Development Goals and full integration of the three dimensions of sustainable devel opment in the areas of economic, social and environmental policy. Leaving No – One – Behind Groups and communities which are marginalized or have not benefited sufficiently from the successes of the country have been identified. Strengthening the resilienc e of these groups is a key goal of the recommendations and the implementation framework of the SDGs through the National Development Plan. It is important, for example, to develop programmes that address the underlying causes of poverty and joblessness in the country. These programmes must consider the special issues of the elderly, youth at risk and the particular, but different challenges for both men and women. This includes the need for applying a gendered lens to policy solutions and programme devel opment. There are also geographical disparities within the country with some of the most vulnerable communities being found on the more sparsely populated islands of The Bahamas and also on New Providence in one of the oldest and most historic communiti es. For this reason, the Government in collaboration with Civil Society, Academia and the Private Sector iation strategy focusing on social and economic empowerment, rejuvenation, smart and green technology and programmes which focus on youth and the elderly.
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10 Areas where support is needed for finance, capacity – building, technology, partnerships, etc. The Baha mas recognises that to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the country will also need strong institutions and access to the necessary resources. Notwithstanding the high GDP per capita of the country, The Bahamas remains a vulnerable, developing c ountry. The Government continues to take steps to strengthen its public institutions including, the introduction of a new programme to strengthen its financial and budgetary management systems, programme delivery capacity and the development of a National Statistical System . Strengthening statistical capacity to produce high quality, timely, reliable and disaggregated data, is particularly critical to support effective policy and decision – making and to ensure the continuous review of the cou
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