Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals Research Articles

Towards an Inclusive Development Framework for Governing Freshwater Resources

There is considerable literature on governing freshwater resources, where one group of water scholars employs power theory to improve freshwater governance while another group focuses on an institutional approach to enhance the governance of freshwater resources. Among these scholars, few take an explicit inclusive development approach to consider the importance of ecosystem services for effective freshwater governance and human wellbeing. Hence, the purpose of this research is to investigate how inclusive development techniques might enhance freshwater resource governance. Building on a literature review of the concept of inclusive development, this conceptual paper builds a framework for assessing freshwater governance by investigating the socio-ecological roots of inclusive development in the post-2015 sustainable development goals. The paper concludes by identifying different instruments of inclusive development in order to enhance the governance of freshwater resources.

Decomposition Analysis of Antenatal Care Utilization Inequities in Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Health equity has emerged as a global issue in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, and Ethiopia is no exception. Despite positive improvements, inequities in maternal health service utilization among demographic groups continue to be one of Ethiopia's significant challenges in decreasing maternal mortality. This study focuses on antenatal care service discrimination among a local poor group known as the "golden hands" community in Ethiopia's Kembata Tembaro zone. The subgroup community consists of outcast artesian groups known as "golden hands," formerly known as "Fuga," who face discrimination in all aspects of life owing to their living conditions and ethnic background. A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Ethiopia's Kembata Tembaro, zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR), from January to February 2022. The study focused on two groups, "golden hands" and "non-golden hands," consisting of women aged 15-49 years. Using stratified and multistage cluster sampling, 1,210 participants were selected, with 440 from golden hand communities and 770 from non-golden hand communities. Data was collected through translated questionnaires, and data quality was rigorously monitored. The concentration curve and index, as well as logistic-based decomposition analysis, were used to examine inequality. The statistical significance threshold was set at p < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval. This study comprised 1,210 eligible participants, 440 of whom were golden hand community members. Discrimination accounted for 60.23% of the decreased antenatal care (ANC) service use by the golden hand community. Age, urban residence, and wealth index were the most important independent factors with statistically significant contributions to changes owing to differences in effects (discriminated difference). Since ANC service discrimination is prevalent, the government and nongovernmental organizations should take steps to ensure that marginalized groups in society, such as golden hand women, the poor, the uneducated, and rural people, have equal access to service utilization opportunities.

Nexus of energy efficiency, carbon emission and economic growth in Nigeria

Given rising temperatures, climate change, the alarming increase in energy demand, and the importance of energy efficiency, there is a need for an increasing review subject matter. In this sense, policymakers develop various measures, including renewable adoption and energy efficiency. This study examined the causal effect of oil production and carbon emission from gas flaring on the economic growth rate in Nigeria from 1980-2021. The findings revealed that economic growth and energy consumption significantly increases energy-related emissions. An increase in income level influences investors and industrialists to invest in the industrial sector, increasing production, diversification, and expansion. However, increased production and expansion of industries increase energy demand. Energy demand met by consuming fossil fuel increases energy-related emissions in Nigeria and negatively affects environmental quality. More importantly, carbon emission impedes environmental sustainability and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria. The study is relevant to the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals agendas for two fundamental reasons: the world needs Sustainable Development Goal 7 – ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030. (b) Large extractive industries primarily drive growth in Nigeria, and the country's population is expected to double in about 30 years. Energy efficiency for inclusive development is very welcome. This is essential because studies have shown that the increase in unemployment (resulting from the underlying demographic change) would be accommodated by only the private sector, not the public sector.

The United Nations millennium development and post-2015 sustainable development goals: Towards long-term social change and social stability An Introduction

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Towards an integrative post-2015 sustainable development goal framework: Focusing on global justice – peace, security and basic human rights

Following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, the adoption of the United Nations (UN) Millennium Declaration by 189 nations, including the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), has been hailed as a unique achievement in international development. Although the MDGs have raised the profile of global health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, underpinned by the urgent need to address poverty worldwide, progress has been uneven both between and within countries. With over one billion people, Africa is a case in point. Aside from children completing a full course in primary school and achieving gender equality in primary school, none of the twelve main targets set for SS Africa has been met. A key reason suggested for this lack of progress is that the MDGs fall far short in terms of addressing the broader concept of development encapsulated in the Millennium Declaration, which includes human rights, equity, democracy, and governance.To strengthen the likelihood of realizing the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly with regard to “planet and population” health and well-being , UN and other decision-makers are urged to consider the adoption of an integrated SDG framework that is based on (i) a vision of global justice - underpinned by peace, security and basic human rights; (ii) the development of interdependent and interconnected strategies for each of the eleven thematic indicators identified in the UN document The World We Want; and (iii) the application of guiding principles to measure the impact of SDG strategies in terms of holism, equity, sustainability, ownership, and global obligation. While current discussions on the SDGs are making progress in a number of areas, the need for integration of these around a common global vision and purpose seems especially crucial to avoid MDG shortcomings.

How states engage in and exercise power in global health: Indonesian and Japanese engagement in the conceptualization of Sustainable Development Goal 3

While long overlooked, power is central to understand how actors engage in global health policymaking. We reviewed how the Japanese and Indonesian governments exerted power and engaged in global health diplomacy during negotiations to conceptualize the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goal for health (SDG3). We conducted deliberative policy analysis including semi-structured, in-depth, interviews with more than 71 policymakers, which we analyzed adapting Barnett and Duvall's power framework. We find that both Japan and Indonesia exerted non-material power (institutional, productive and structural power) to advance largely domestic political interests. Japan's government mainly exerted institutional power, leveraging relationships within the World Bank and the World Health Organization, whereas Indonesia's government focused on structural power, with its president serving as co-chair of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Post-2015 Panel. Our analysis suggests that the ways in which states engage in global health diplomacy is shaped by the relationship between different intra-state institutions, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, and is further determined by broader foreign policy and diplomatic priorities. We find that the decline of states' influence is over-stated: states continue to exercise significant power in global health diplomacy, pursuing domestic political imperatives and strategies to improve population health. As states expand their global health engagement, researchers should seek to better understand how states participate in an increasingly crowded and contested global health field.

Assessing linkages between public health and population densities in cities and urban environment

The global challenges and trends of our time include natural ecosystems disturbances and the global burden of disease attributable to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and emerging infectious diseases like coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Summed to this problem is the still undervalued accountability of economic and environmental sustainability in most nations. Many densely population settled cities around the world account for up to 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions mainly because of their substantial use of energy for buildings, industries, and transportation. Continued increases in urbanization are also driving more exposure to air pollution, water shortages, and waste-related risks to the population.This research aimed to show key connections between the multi-sectoral and interdependent determinants of health. The method followed a systematic review of primary and secondary data on various topics, including global health, environmental health indicators, socio-economic factors, and linkages between economic and environmental sustainability.Literature determines by 2050, 66% of the world's population projected to inhabit urban areas mostly. In 2012, the global burden of disease study by using the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) metric estimated that 23% of global deaths were attributable to the environment. DALYs metric compares years of life lost due to mortality and years of life lost due to disability by a specific cause, including the burden of risk factors, diseases, lifestyles, or individual's socio-economic status. Leading causes globally due to road traffic injuries, interpersonal violence, and suicide, take a substantial toll on those socio-economic factors.Health is a crucial attribute of human development in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievable by scaling up the implementation of these goals in universal, holistic, and inclusive pathways. Hence, advancing sustainability policies to prosperous, healthier humanity.Key messages Public health's diverse components attained when there is a shared vision in the multidisciplinary teams to disease prevention and health promotion of all individuals that make up societies.Research and science communication should translate both the ideas of scientific progress and its implications for policies, economies and people's lifestyle choices.

Explaining socioeconomic inequalities in immunisation coverage in India: new insights from the fourth National Family Health Survey (2015\u201316)

BackgroundChildhood vaccinations are a vital preventive measure to reduce disease incidence and deaths among children. As a result, immunisation coverage against measles was a key indicator for monitoring the fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG), aimed at reducing child mortality. India was among the list of countries that missed the target of this MDG. Immunisation targets continue to be included in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and are a monitoring tool for the Indian health care system. The SDGs also strongly emphasise reducing inequalities; even where immunisation coverage improves, there is a further imperative to safeguard against inequalities in immunisation outcomes. This study aims to document whether socioeconomic inequalities in immunisation coverage exist among children aged 12–59 months in India.MethodsData for this observational study came from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (2015–16). We used the concentration index to assess inequalities in whether children were fully, partially or never immunised. Where children were partially immunised, we also examined immunisation intensity. Decomposition analysis was applied to examine the underlying factors associated with inequality across these categories of childhood immunisation.ResultsWe found that in India, only 37% of children are fully immunised, 56% are partially immunised, and 7% have never been immunised. There is a disproportionate concentration of immunised children in higher wealth quintiles, demonstrating a socioeconomic gradient in immunisation. The data also confirm this pattern of socioeconomic inequality across regions. Factors such as mother’s literacy, institutional delivery, place of residence, geographical location, and socioeconomic status explain the disparities in immunisation coverage.ConclusionsIn India, there are considerable inequalities in immunisation coverage among children. It is essential to ensure an improvement in immunisation coverage and to understand underlying factors that affect poor uptake and disparities in immunisation coverage in India in order to improve child health and survival and meet the SDGs.

Wealth-based equity in maternal, neonatal, and child health services utilization: a cross-sectional study from Ethiopia

BackgroundDespite the pro-poor health policies in Ethiopia, the utilization of maternal, neonatal, and child health services remains a challenge for the country. Health equity became central in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals globally and is a priority for Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess equity in utilization of a range of maternal and child health services by applying absolute and relative equity indices.MethodsData on maternal and child health utilization emanated from a baseline survey conducted for a large project ‘Optimizing the Health Extension Program from December 2016 to February 2017 in four regions of Ethiopia. The utilization of four or more antenatal care visits; skilled birth attendance; postnatal care within 2 days after childbirth; immunization with BCG, polio 3, pentavalent 3, measles and full immunization of children aged 12–23 months; and vitamin A supplementation for 6–23 months old children were stratified by wealth quintiles. The socioeconomic status of the household was assessed by household assets and measured by constructing a wealth index using principal component analysis. Equity was assessed by applying two absolute inequity indices (Wealth index [quintile 5- quintile 1] and slope index of inequality) and two relative inequity indices (Wealth index [quintile5: quintile1] and concentration index).ResultsThe maternal health services utilization was low and inequitably distributed favoring the better-off women. About 44, 71, and 18% of women from the better-off households had four or more antenatal visits, utilized skilled birth attendance and postnatal care within two days compared to 20, 29, and 8% of women from the poorest households, respectively. Skilled birth attendance was the most inequitably distributed maternal health service. All basic immunizations: BCG, polio 3, pentavalent 3, measles, and full immunization in children aged 12–23 months and vitamin A supplementation were equitably distributed.ConclusionUtilization of maternal health services was low, inequitable, and skewed against women from the poorest households. In contrast, preventive child health services were equitably distributed. Efforts to increase utilization and reinforcement of pro-poor and pro-rural strategies for maternal, newborn and immunization services in Ethiopia should be strengthened.

Inequalities in sub-Saharan African women's and girls' health opportunities and outcomes: evidence from the Demographic and Health Surveys.

BackgroundMaternal and reproductive health services are far from universalization and important gaps exist in their distribution across groups of women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The aim of this study is to determine the magnitude of this unequal distribution of maternal and reproductive health-related opportunities and outcomes and to identify the major sources of inequality.MethodsDemographic and Health Surveys data were used to analyse 15 opportunities for women of reproductive age (15-49), pregnant women and older adolescent girls (15-19), across 29 SSA countries. The tool employed is the Human Opportunity Index (HOI), a composite indicator that combines the availability of an opportunity (the coverage rate) with a measure of how equitably it is distributed among groups of women with different characteristics (or circumstances). Decompositions are used to assess the contribution of each individual circumstance to inequality.ResultsThe maternity care package of services is found to have lowest average HOI (26%), while exclusive breastfeeding among children aged 0-6 months has the highest HOI (77%). The other indicators show low HOIs, sometimes lower than 50%, indicating low coverage and/or high inequality. Wealth, education and area of residence are the main contributors to inequality for women of reproductive age. Among adolescent girls, marital status is the major contributor.ConclusionsReproductive and maternal health opportunities for women in SSA are scarce and far from reaching the global goals set by the post 2015 agenda. Further progress in improving women’s and adolescents’ health and well-being can only be achieved by a strong expansion of coverage to produce a more equitable and efficient distribution of health care. Failure to do so will compromise the likelihood of achieving the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). New metrics such as the HOI allows better understanding of the nature of challenges to achieving equity in perinatal and reproductive health, and offers a tool for monitoring progress in implementing a strong equity agenda as a part of the SDG initiative.

Governance commitment to reduce maternal mortality. A political determinant beyond the wealth of the countries.

Some countries reached, in 2015, the Millennium Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality to 96 or less maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Others, however, did not. This paper analyses the strength of the association between maternal mortality and each of the six components of Governance-a political determinant scarcely explored in the literature-in 174 countries. It was found that the greater the governance, the lower maternal mortality, independently of a country's wealth. We used all six indicators of the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators Project in 2015: government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, control of corruption, voice and accountability, and political stability and absence of violence. Findings were encouraging as maternal mortality in low-income countries with higher government effectiveness and regulatory quality was similar to that of medium-income countries with lower government effectiveness and regulatory quality. To achieve the post-2015 sustainable development goal on preventable maternal mortality-which persists despite economic development-all governance dimensions are essential and represent interdependent cornerstones.

Rethinking Global Health Governance in a Changing World Order for Achieving Sustainable Development: The Role and Potential of the ‘Rising Powers’

The idea of this paper is inspired by the dismal experience and lessons from the initially ineffective global (WHO-led) response to the 2014–2016 West African Ebola virus epidemic. It charts the evolution of global health policy and governance in the post-World War II international order to the current post-2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals era. In order to respond adequately existing and emerging health and development challenges across developing regions, the paper argues that global health governance and related structures and institutions must adapt to changing socio-economic circumstances at all levels of decision-making. Against the background of a changing world order characterised by the decline of US-led Western international liberalism and the rise of the emerging nations in the developing world, it identifies the ‘Rising Powers’ (RPs) among the emerging economies and their soft power diplomacy and international development cooperation strategy as important tools for responding to post-2015 global health challenges. Based on analysis of illustrative examples from the ‘BRICS’, a group of large emerging economies—Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—the paper develops suggestions and recommendations for the RPs with respect to: (1) stimulating innovation in global health governance and (2) strengthening health systems and health security at country and regional levels. Observing that current deliberations on global health focus largely, but rather narrowly, on what resource inputs are needed to achieve the SDG health targets, this paper goes further and highlights the importance of the ‘how’ in terms of a leadership and driving role for the RPs: How can the RPs champion global governance reform and innovation aimed at producing strong, resilient and equitable global systems? How can the RPs use soft power diplomacy to enhance disease surveillance and detection capacities and to promote improved regional and international coordination in response to health threats? How can they provide incentives for investment in R&D and manufacturing of medicines to tackle neglected and poverty-related diseases in developing countries?

Inequality, ICT and financial access in Africa

This study investigates the role of information and communication technology (ICT) on income inequality through financial development dynamics of depth (money supply and liquid liabilities), efficiency (at banking and financial system levels), activity (from banking and financial system perspectives) and size, in 48 African countries for the period 1996 to 2014. The empirical evidence is based on Generalised Method of Moments. While both financial depth and size are established to reduce inequality contingent on ICT, only the effect of financial depth in reducing inequality is robust to the inclusion of time invariant variables to the set of strictly exogenous variables. We extend the analysis by decomposing financial depth into its components, namely: formal, informal, semi-formal and non-formal financial sectors. The findings based on this extension show that ICT reduces income inequality through formal financial sector development and financial sector formalization as opposed to informal financial sector development and financial sector informalization. The study contributes at the same time to the macroeconomic literature on measuring financial development and responds to the growing field of addressing post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) inequality challenges by means of ICT and financial access.

Addressing climate change through a nursing lens within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

BackgroundIn 2000, the United Nations (UN) introduced the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), described as a global movement with the primary aim of ending world-wide poverty (“Millennium Summit,” 2000). The second phase of the project, known as the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda offers an increased emphasis on lessening the mitigating factors associated with climate change and adapting to the negative effects of climate change. Nurses are in the unique position to address the health-related impacts related to climate change through community health approaches aimed at education and promotion of environmental stewardship. PurposeThe purpose of this scoping review was to examine the relationships among the health consequences of climate change, nursing literature on climate change, and nursing implications. The following will be addressed: “What is nursing's role in policy, practice, and advocacy when addressing the effects of climate change? What is the importance of the SDGs as a framework for addressing climate change in the role of nursing?” MethodThis scoping review of the literature was conducted which included the evaluation of a broad range of articles using scoping methods as frameworks. FindingsAn overarching theme regarding the nursing community's responsibility in addressing the effects of climate change and their role as advocates, educators, and global citizens was extracted from the scoping review. DiscussionThere are many opportunities for nurses to become actively involved in efforts aimed at mitigation, adaptation, and resilience efforts in climate change, including becoming involved in policy, advocacy, research, and practice opportunities.

Global implementation survey of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI): 20 years on

ObjectiveTo assess the extent to which Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) has been adopted and scaled up in countries.SettingThe 95 countries that participated in the survey are home to...

Measuring the contributions of an ODA project to SDGs : The case of a rural development project in Bolivia

In the past, various ways to measure performance of most rural development projects were used inconsistently and project results were not reliable enough that it was very difficult to generalize outcomes adopting the indicators of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This paper proposes a definition of the outcomes derived from development projects and describes how to measure the contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by applying SDG indicators based on a survey. It also aims to find out how to utilize SDG indicators in the field of agriculture and rural development cooperation in accordance with the paradigm shift to Post-2015 SDGs. From the survey, existing SDG indicators that can be applied to agricultural and rural areas were identified and used to analyze the case of an integrated rural development project in Bolivia. It also suggested a way on how to quantify the contributions of the project outcomes to SDGs. This study concludes that it is necessary to apply SDG's global indicators to development cooperation projects in a generalized and quantified way by using contribution rate.

Post-2015 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals: Where Are We Now? Global Opportunities to Address Malnutrition in all Its Forms, Including Hidden Hunger.

Combatting malnutrition in all its forms - undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight, and obesity - is one of the greatest challenges that countries are facing. Much has happened in less than 10 years to redefine the international nutrition landscape and place nutrition at the heart of global development efforts. The food crises of 2008 and the Lancet first series on maternal and child undernutrition helped galvanize world attention. The enormous health and economic consequences of malnutrition were recognized, and far more attention began to be paid to the multiple burdens of malnutrition. In 2014, the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) endorsed 2 outcome documents, committing world leaders to establishing national policies aimed at eliminating malnutrition in all its forms, including hidden hunger, and transforming food systems to make nutritious diets available to all. In 2015, 193 Member States of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global objectives to guide the actions of the international community over the next 15 years (2016-2030). Member States placed high priority on addressing malnutrition in all its forms by committing, under SDG 2, to "end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture." However, nutrition has also a role to play in achieving other goals of the 2030 Agenda, including goals related to poverty, health, education, social protection, gender, water, work, growth, inequality, and climate change. In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the ICN2 outcome documents and proclaimed the years 2016-2025 as the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition. The Nutrition Decade reaffirmed the commitments under the ICN2 and the 2030 Agenda to end malnutrition in all its forms. Together, the ICN2, the 2030 Agenda, and the Nutrition Decade have placed nutrition firmly at the heart of the development agenda with the recognition that transformed food systems have a fundamental role to play in promoting healthy diets and improving nutrition. This paper reviews the major international nutrition system changes called for, and provides an analysis of recent governance initiatives to address malnutrition in all its forms, including hidden hunger problems.

Inequality, ICT and Financial Access in Africa

This study investigates the role of information and communication technology (ICT) on income inequality through financial development dynamics of depth (money supply and liquid liabilities), efficiency (at banking and financial system levels), activity (from banking and financial system perspectives) and size, in 48 African countries for the period 1996 to 2014. The empirical evidence is based on Generalised Method of Moments. While both financial depth and size are established to reduce inequality contingent on ICT, only the effect of financial depth in reducing inequality is robust to the inclusion of time invariant variables to the set of strictly exogenous variables. We extend the analysis by decomposing financial depth into its components, namely: formal, informal, semi-formal and non-formal financial sectors. The findings based on this extension show that ICT reduces income inequality through formal financial sector development and financial sector formalization as opposed to informal financial sector development and financial sector informalization. The study contributes at the same time to the macroeconomic literature on measuring financial development and responds to the growing field of addressing post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) inequality challenges by means of ICT and financial access.

Combating maternal mortality in China: experience, challenges and opportunities

Abstract Since the People’s Republic of China founded, especially over the last 15 years, maternal mortality rate (MMR) has fallen dramatically. In 2014, China has achieved the target of a reduction of 75% MMR from 1990 to 2015 (MDG 5) ahead of schedule. This achievement can be attributed to the improvement of legislation and policy, government commitment and investment on maternal health, extensive international cooperation, implementation of the maternal health program, development of maternal and child health (MCH) service system and development of MCH surveillance systems. Although China has achieved MDG 5, there are many kinds of difficulties and challenges in achieving the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, multi-strategy actions need to be considered to seize the opportunities to further reduce the MMR in the future.

When cost-effective interventions are unaffordable: Integrating cost-effectiveness and budget impact in priority setting for global health programs.

Potential cost-effective barriers in cost-effectiveness studies mean that budgetary impact analyses should also be included in post-2015 Sustainable Development Goal projects says Joshua Salomon and colleagues.