The most challenging part of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is financing. Availing the required recourses for the implementation process will be difficult without an effective public-private partnership. Mr Asif Ibrahim, Member of the Core Group of the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh and Vice Chairman of the Newage Group, shared these observations while presenting the key note at the seminar titled Strategies for Business Benefits from SDG for the Private Sector on 1st March 2017. The seminar was organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at its auditorium in Dhaka.
In his presentation, Mr Ibrahim, outlined a 5-stage frameworks for business organisations to be engaged with the SDG implementation process. The first stage would be understanding the SDGs and related challenges, through which the second stage will appear that is defining relevant priorities for the organisation. The third stage is setting goals based on the priorities and the fourth stage is integrating those goals with organisational activities. The final stage is reporting and communicating the learning and achievements with various stakeholders. Thus a business organisation could be involved with SDG implementation process and contribute towards achievement.
Mr Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs), Prime Minister’s Office, Government of Bangladesh (GoB) was also present at the event as the Chief Guest. Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, former Adviser to the Caretaker Government and Executive Chairman, Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and Dr Shamsul Alam, Member, General Economic Division, Planning Commission, GoB attended the seminar as the Special Guests.
