Sustainable Development Goals Targets Research Articles

Female and male treatable mortality: socioeconomic and public finance related factors across European countries

BackgroundAbout 36.5% of premature deaths in European Union countries could have been avoided through prompt and effective medical treatment. This treatable mortality is even a priority established in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.4. Given the gap in the literature about the socioeconomic drivers of this type of mortality, as well as the increasing importance of public financial management in defining priority policies, this study aims to analyze the socioeconomic and public finance drivers associated with treatable mortality for women and men across European countries.MethodsEurostat data is collected for 31 countries for the period 2011–2019 stratified by sex. Panel data quantile regression with fixed effects and conditional mean panel data model using feasible generalized least squares are estimated to explain treatable mortality in women and men.ResultsKey findings point to a positive association between the public finance indicator proxying health priority and the treatable mortality rate for both sexes; a difference between drivers of treatable mortality between men and women; and a different set of drivers across the different quantiles of treatable mortality.ConclusionDrivers of male and female treatable mortality may differ according to the country’s level of mortality rate. Government health priority seems to account for previous treatable mortality rates as a reactive measure. Policymakers aiming to reduce treatable mortality are likely to use instruments such as health expenditure, improved employment, education levels, and perhaps proactive policy-setting priorities concerning health.

Concurrent validity of scores from phone-based caregiver reports on early childhood development: Evidence from the Early Childhood Development Index 2030 implementation in Nepal

The Early Childhood Development Index 2030 (ECDI2030) is a caregiver-reported tool designed to monitor progress toward Sustainable Development Goal target 4.2, which aims to ensure universal access to quality early childhood development (ECD), care, and pre-primary education to prepare children for primary education and inform national policies. Using the ECDI2030 through phone-based administration for remote data collection is expected to contribute to efficient evidence generation. However, the existing evidence for caregiver-reported ECD measures are exclusively drawn from studies on assessments through face-to-face interviews. We conducted a validation trial in Nepal, comparing randomly divided in-person and telephone interviews groups. The results support the concurrent validity of phone-based ECDI2030 scores for measuring ECD at a group level while highlighting administrative challenges specific to the phone-based method. This study contributes to the literature on ECD measurement and provides insights into the practical implications of different modes of data collection.

Unraveling smallholder food loss and value for sustainable cold chain investments: a case of horticultural value chains in Kiambu County, Kenya

Initiatives to address food loss and waste (FLW) are gaining attention especially in smallholder-dominated food systems in developing regions. This is in effort to meet some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets. Countries are seeking innovative solutions to address the FLW challenge to contribute food and nutrition security and to reduce environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions through food waste. The lack of effective sustainable cold chain targeting smallholders is a key gap and driver of this challenge. There are gaps in system diagnostic of key factors and practices related to value preservation of food loss but is equally important in capturing value in market opportunities for smallholders and other value chain actors that can guide structuring of such cold chain investments. This article provides findings from a diagnostic study conducted to understand these factors and practices in smallholder focused horticultural value chains in Kenya. The mixed-method study collected quantitative and qualitative data through a household survey of 460 farmers and 25 key informant interviews. Results showed that postharvest loss (PHL) is a major challenge affecting all horticultural crops but with different magnitude. Despite the high PHL experienced, most farmers (96%) don’t undertake any postharvest management measures during and/or after harvest. Market related challenges were rated as the most (85%) causes to PHL followed by pest and disease (56%), weather impacts (24%), lack of storage facilities (17%), and damage during harvest (8%). Most smallholders sell to brokers at farm gate, capturing a small share of the value that is linked to lack of aggregation, gaps in cold chain infrastructure along value chain and the transactions costs of marketing. Results showed that other market outlets other than brokers offered higher prices linked to quality and safer product handling. Thus, integrating end-to-end cold chain solutions in smallholder systems through inclusive business models will shape interactions with markets and enable farmers to tap into new opportunities. Enhancing access to cold chain is key to supporting farmers and other value chain actors reduce PHL and facilitate better market integration, contribute to profitability of smallholder farming enterprises and improve socio-economic development.

Advancing social value analysis: challenges and opportunities to understanding social outcomes in the United States and in the United Kingdom

This paper addresses the comparability and related scalability constraint of Maier et al. (VOLUNTAS 26: 1805–1830, 2015) of social impact measurement by deploying experimental mapping of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target indicators onto social return on investment (SROI) data proxies. Datasets on the unit cost database model hosted by the Greater Manchester Authority are derived for the UK and for the US. Discreet differences in data terminology between financial proxies in the UK and in the USA are translated with a contextual approach for data optimization. The resultant mapped datasets of financial proxies offer early evidence in support of the scalability of SROI. This is valuable for local measurement of progress towards the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This research finds that there are comparatively wide differences in sufficient data both within and across the UK and the US datasets. Yet, mapped data counts show sufficient cross-geographic financial proxy overlaps, pointing to the viability of data collection with financial proxy sampling and mapping both for the better understanding of place-based social value creation and for comparative localised social value contribution. This paper concludes that initial mapping of data onto the SDG target indicators improves the comparability constraint of SROI.

The Prevalence of Stunting in Indonesia: An Examination of the Health, Socioeconomic Status, and Environmental Determinants

Background: Stunting is a significant public health concern in Indonesia. It represents a form of chronic malnutrition that manifests not only as a short stature for one’s age, but also as a profound challenge affecting children’s physical and cognitive development. This study aims to provide more research basis for the government to formulate stunting policies by exploring the ecological factors associated with stunting, consistent with the goal of reducing stunting according to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets by 2030. Methods: Data were collected on stunting and ecological factors from 34 provinces in Indonesia from 2015-18, sourced from Statistics Indonesia and the Ministry of Health. A framework of ecological factors that influence stunting, consisting of health, socioeconomic status, and the environment was developed. A panel data model to test the influence of each ecological factor on stunting was created. Results: Among the 27 independent variables of health, economic status, and environment, the results of this study show that malnutrition, diarrhea, dependency ratio, and hygiene significantly affect the risk of stunting. Meanwhile, antenatal care, nurses, and sanitation have an effect on reducing the risk of stunting. Conclusion: To achieve the SDGs targets associated with malnutrition by 2030, addressing stunting in Indonesia requires a comprehensive and multisectoral approach that addresses the fundamental causes of stunting, including health, socioeconomic status, and environmental factors. Addressing stunting is crucial for Indonesia, not only to improve the health and well-being of its children, but also for the long-term benefits of enhancing educational outcomes and economic productivity.

Do we need additional indicators for the Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.5 on strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse? An analysis of recent submissions to the UN Inter-Agency and Expert Group.

Do we need additional indicators for the Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.5 on strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse? An analysis of recent submissions to the UN Inter-Agency and Expert Group.

Prevention and control of cardiovascular disease in "real-world" settings: sustainable implementation of effective policies.

Global progress in addressing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has been insufficient to attain the nine WHO non-communicable disease (NCD) targets and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing premature NCD mortality by one-third by 2030. Progress has been slowest in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where addressing the CVD burden is a foremost development imperative. This review examines the reasons for this situation to propose a way forward. First, we review policy instruments to address behavioral and metabolic risk factors of CVD and health system interventions to improve cardiovascular outcomes. Second, we illustrate the financial, health workforce, health system challenges, and weak national capacity that impede the implementation of these policy instruments. Third, we discuss how LMIC might move forward despite these challenges by (a) giving due consideration to contextual and other factors that determine the success of policy implementation (b) including affordable, high-impact interventions as the core of the universal health coverage health benefit package with primary health care as the foundation and (c) by taking note of the WHO guidance provided in the 2023-2030 implementation roadmap for the Global Action Plan for prevention and control of NCD.

A systematic review of progress in food security research and implications for achievement of the UN’s zero-hunger goal in Bangladesh

Abstract Despite numerous policy initiatives to achieve food security, more than 2 billion people are food insecure across the world. Food security research can help addressing food insecurity effectively by summarizing the state of knowledge and providing future research direction to make sure no one is left behind. Yet, there are no comprehensive studies of food security research in Global South countries such as in Bangladesh, where nearly one-third of the population is food insecure. Here, this systematic review aims to identify the progress, gaps, and future research directions for food security in Bangladesh by investigating current research trends and the influence of socioeconomic and environmental drivers on food security and recommend policy interventions for achieving the zero-hunger goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We systematically reviewed articles both quantitatively and qualitatively and summarised the trends, methods, challenges, and opportunities of food security research in Bangladesh. Our findings reveal that longitudinal trends and inequality in food security across administrative and agroecological zones are underexplored. Moreover, most studies focused on the influence of socioeconomic drivers, with insufficient attention to environmental drivers, and none examined the causal relationships among them. The access and availability dimensions of food security are the most studied, while stability and utilization are the least addressed in food security research. Addressing these gaps is essential for establishing a sustainable food system that may help Bangladesh achieving the SDG target of ending hunger (SDG 2) and ensuring no one is left behind.

The 2023 Gerard W. Ostheimer Lecture. A Contemporary Narrative Review of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Opportunities to Improve Peripartum Outcomes.

The Gerard W. Ostheimer lecture is given annually to members of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology. This lecture summarizes new and emerging literature that informs the clinical practice of obstetric anesthesiology. This is a narrative review of 2022 literature pertinent to maternal morbidity and mortality in all income settings globally. Themes associated with worse maternal mortality rate (MMR), challenges health care workers face, public health priority areas, and initiatives to help countries achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets for MMR are discussed. MMRs are higher in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries (HICs). Cesarean delivery rates are rising most rapidly in LMICs, warranting urgent maternal health care workforce planning efforts in these settings. Globally racial, ethnic, and geographical disparities in maternal mortality continue to be evident in global health care settings. In the United States, the MMR is rising. The evolving changes in abortion legislation in the United States may further negatively impact maternal morbidity and mortality. The need to implement American Society of Anesthesiologists-recommended obstetric anesthesia quality metrics to facilitate benchmarking and to improve patient experience and outcomes is discussed as well as the need for professional society guidance on minimum staffing levels in American labor and delivery units.

Assessing social risks in Greek and Dutch economies: A product social impact life cycle assessment approach

Abstract Purpose Input–output tables describe monetary relationships between producers and consumers within an economy and have been used to assess the effects on job creation and gross domestic product (GDP). The objective of this study was to apply the social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) to assess direct social risks in national economies and explore whether S-LCA can replace or support beyond-GDP metrics. Methods S-LCA was applied in three ways. First, a hotspot assessment was conducted using the Product Social Impact Life Cycle Assessment (PSILCA) database to assess the direct social risks of monetary outputs of the Dutch and Greek economies in 2018. Classification 1 regarded the comparison of the Dutch and Greek economies based on direct social risks classified as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Classification 2 grouped the calculated social risks into sub-sub-topics of the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Standards (CSRS) directive. In each classification, the calculated risks were normalized by the total monetary output of the national economy. Results and discussion This study showed that the Dutch economy results in lower normalized risk values for all S-LCA stakeholders and impact subcategories, except for “Respect of indigenous rights” and “Health and safety (Workers).” The main contributing parameters were sectorial monetary output and the risk levels of the indicators. Classification 1 showed that using input–output tables and PSILCA to simplify the calculation of SDGs was partially successful, because the SDGs also consider environmental aspects and PSILCA is limited to social aspects. Classification 2 showed that the Greek economy resulted in higher normalized risk values than the Dutch economy for almost all sub-sub-topics of the CSRS. Conclusions The results indicate that input–output tables can be extended to incorporate social dimensions with S-LCA and PSILCA. However, the nature of the SDGs means that S-LCA is not capable of simplifying the evaluation of countries’ societal progress, but S-LCA combined with PSILCA can assist national governments in taking targeted actions to reach SDG targets and enforce European CSRS directive compliance in the most impactful economic sectors for social performance monitoring and reporting.

Trends in Financial Affordability of Healthcare Among Tribal Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study From India.

Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. UHC is one of the targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 which India is trying to achieve with various initiatives and health programs. Tribal communities form an integral part of India's population. Due to various geographic barriers to access to thelocation of their settlements, it becomes problematic to provide essential services including healthcare without good expenditure. Moreover, as a result of various disadvantages, employment and subsequently the affordability for tribal groups poses an issue for availing healthcare services or those which are affordable are far away from the usual reach. With this study we would like to track the progress towards SDG 3 forthe tribalcommunities in India. To assess the trends of ability to afford healthcare for self among tribal women in India over five years and to assess the determinants of this affordability among the same population. We used the Individual Recode (IR) datasets of Demographic & Health Surveys (DHS) data of Fourth and Fifth round for secondary data analysis. 670,384 and 689,454 cases from National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 4 and 5 were included for analysis. Under "svy" command, design adjusted chi square test was used, followed by binary logistic regression to derive unadjusted and adjusted odds ratio for various determinants. 6.38% and 6.23% of women belonged to tribalcommunities during NFHS 4 and NFHS 5 respectively. Only 0.24% and 0.35% had education above secondary education during NFHS 4 and NFHS 5. Majority of the tribal women were married during both surveys and around 0.3% were pregnant during the interviews. Consequently, most of the women were the wife of the head of household. Majority of the tribal women were followers of the Hindu religion and resided in the rural areas of the country. During NFHS 4, the major proportion of women belonged to the East zone and during NFHS 5, they belonged to the Northeast zone of India. For women in the age group of 25 to 29 years the odds of facing difficulty was the highest (aOR: 1.55 during NFHS 4 and 1.88 during NFHS 5). Moreover, those with no education showed highest odds of facing difficulty in arranging money for healthcare for self during both surveys (aOR: 1.69 during NFHS 4 and 1.45 during NFHS 5) when compared with those with higher education. In addition, the odds of facing affordability issues had increased from NFHS 4 to NFHS 5 for poorest tribal women (aOR 6.65 during NFHS 4 to aOR 8.91 during NFHS 5). There has been significant decrease in odds of facing affordability as a barrier among tribal women residing in Northeast zone of India (aOR: 5.01 during NFHS 4 and aOR: 3.45 during NFHS 5). The odds for facing affordability issues for tribal women residing in rural areas remained similar during both surveys. There has been a slight decrease in the proportion of tribal women facing financial affordability as abarrier to accessing healthcare. Further factors like middle age groups of 25 to 29 years, no education, divorced or separated marital status, and belonging to poorest category of the Wealth Index were significant determinants due to which financial affordability has become a barrier to avail healthcare for self.

IndoGovBERT: A Domain-Specific Language Model for Processing Indonesian Government SDG Documents

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires collaboration among various stakeholders, particularly governments and non-state actors (NSAs). This collaboration results in but is also based on a continually growing volume of documents that needs to be analyzed and processed in a systematic way by government officials. Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing (NLP) could, thus, offer valuable support for progressing towards SDG targets, including automating the government budget tagging and classifying NSA requests and initiatives, as well as helping uncover the possibilities for matching these two categories of activities. Many non-English speaking countries, including Indonesia, however, face limited NLP resources, such as, for instance, domain-specific pre-trained language models (PTLMs). This circumstance makes it difficult to automate document processing and improve the efficacy of SDG-related government efforts. The presented study introduces IndoGovBERT, a Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT)-based PTLM built with domain-specific corpora, leveraging the Indonesian government’s public and internal documents. The model is intended to automate various laborious tasks of SDG document processing by the Indonesian government. Different approaches to PTLM development known from the literature are examined in the context of typical government settings. The most effective, in terms of the resultant model performance, but also most efficient, in terms of the computational resources required, methodology is determined and deployed for the development of the IndoGovBERT model. The developed model is then scrutinized in several text classification and similarity assessment experiments, where it is compared with four Indonesian general-purpose language models, a non-transformer approach of the Multilabel Topic Model (MLTM), as well as with a Multilingual BERT model. Results obtained in all experiments highlight the superior capability of the IndoGovBERT model for Indonesian government SDG document processing. The latter suggests that the proposed PTLM development methodology could be adopted to build high-performance specialized PTLMs for governments around the globe which face SDG document processing and other NLP challenges similar to the ones dealt with in the presented study.

Integrating the SDGs into capital investments: an interventionist research study informed by a serendipitous approach

ABSTRACT This research explores how and to what extent companies can integrate sustainable development goals (SDGs) into their capital investment decisions. For a company that wants to become sustainable, evaluating where best to invest one's capital presents a practical problem because most tools for assessing returns on investment rely solely on financial indicators, not on broader measures of worth, such as environmental or social impacts. Additionally, existing frameworks that incorporate non-financial indicators tend to be targeted at shareholders looking to invest in entire companies, not at companies looking for ways to embed the SDGs into their capital outlays. To solve this problem, we undertook interventionist research devised around serendipity theory where we worked with a group of companies to develop a tool for helping companies to align their capital investments with specific SDG indicators. The result was a co-developed framework for supporting decisions about a company's capital investments informed by the SDGs. The research lasted for 17 months and evolved through five phases: identifying the problem; selecting a pilot investment and identifying the SDG targets; identifying key performance indicators (KPIs); critically assessing the KPIs and finalising the KPIs. This research contributes to accounting theory and practice in two ways. First, it outlines serendipity theory as an effective framework for guiding interventionist research towards finding helpful solutions to practical accounting problems. Second, it offers a 4-step method for integrating the SDGs into capital investment decisions. This answers the call for accounting research to engage with companies in the SDGs' pursuit.

Integrating the SDGs into Urban Regeneration: A Madrid Nuevo Norte Case Study Using an Adapted Voluntary Local Review Framework

While the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have emerged as the preeminent sustainability framework across various spatial scopes, the reporting and assessment of new urban developments and regeneration projects often remain tethered to sustainability frameworks that lack direct alignment with SDG targets. This paper proposes a framework to integrate SDG reporting within urban regeneration initiatives. This approach leverages existing resources, such as the Joint Research Center’s (JRC) European Handbook for SDG Voluntary Local Report (VLR) and UN-Habitat’s Global Urban Monitoring Framework (UMF), to report potential contributions towards SDG progress. The framework is validated through the case study of Madrid Nuevo Norte (MNN), one of the largest urban regeneration projects currently developed in Europe, located in the northern district of the Spanish capital and encompasses the regeneration of a 3.2 million square meter area. The methodology evaluates MNN potential contributions through a set of indicators based on input–output/outcome–impact framework to track the causal pathways arising from MNN activities. This paper presents an analysis of the methodological framework developed for the MNN SDG report during the project-planning phase, with a focus on evaluating the framework’s capacity to accurately estimate the project’s contributions to the SDGs.

A systematic study of interactions between sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Hainan Island

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development issued by the United Nations is an important foundation for countries to achieve common economic, social and environmental development. Important progress has been made in the evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Hainan Island; nevertheless, there is still a lack of understanding around the trade-offs and synergies between the SDGs. Studying the trade-offs and synergies between Hainan Island’s sustainable development goals is of great significance for the coordinated development of these goals and the promotion of the construction of free trade ports. Therefore, based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Assessment System and the existing SDG indicator system on Hainan Island, this paper identifies and quantifies the trade-offs and synergies within and between SDGs and targets on the county scale. Based on the different impacts of different spatial, dimensional and geographical directions, the results show the following: (1) Hainan Province made good progress on multiple SDGs between 2010 and 2021. (2) The most significant synergies between SDGs exist between SDG1 (No Poverty) and SDG10 (Reduce Inequalities), while the most significant trade-offs exist between SDG2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG4 (Quality Education). (3) Obvious spatial characteristics in trade-offs and synergies exist, with the highest level of synergy being in the Haikou and Sanya Economic Circles and their surrounding areas, and in the central region of Hainan Island which has a higher level of trade-offs. (4) The synergistic effect between the SDG targets and indicators in Hainan is much greater than the trade-off effect: the four aspects of people’s livelihood improvement, economic development, resource utilization and environmental quality all show synergistic effects in different regions.

Fostering Multicultural Community Harmony to Enhance Peace and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)

Purpose: This service aims to foster harmony in a multicultural community in the city of Solo as a concrete step to increase peace and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Theoretical Framework: This study uses a cultural integration thinking framework and a participatory approach to building social harmony. The focus is on developing an understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity, as well as increasing positive interactions between ethnicities and religions to create an inclusive environment. Methods: This service uses a participatory approach involving a variety of local stakeholders, including ethnic and religious communities, local governments, and community institutions. Activities include organizing intercultural dialogue workshops, cultural diversity training, and public campaigns to promote tolerance and peace. Results and Conclusion: The results of this service show an increased awareness of cultural diversity and appreciation for differences among the people of Solo. Inter-ethnic and religious interactions are increasing, creating a stronger foundation for social harmony. In conclusion, participatory and integrative approaches are effective in building harmony in multicultural societies to support peace and sustainable development. Implications: This service has a positive impact by increasing tolerance, reducing social conflicts, and strengthening social cohesion in the city of Solo. The impact is also seen in increasing community participation in local development activities and achieving related SDGs targets. Originality/value: Its uniqueness lies in its participatory approach that actively involves all relevant parties, as well as focusing on cultural integration as the main foundation for the development of sustainable social harmony in a multicultural environment such as the city of Solo.

Measuring Children’s Developmental Status in China Using the ECDI2030: Comparing with Direct Assessment and Teacher Report

AbstractThis study compared different approaches for monitoring progress towards Sustainable Development Goal Target 4.2, which focuses on the proportion of children who are developmentally on track. UNICEF’s Early Childhood Development Index 2030 (ECDI2030), a parent report measure, was compared with a corresponding direct assessment measure using a sample of children aged 3 and 5 (N = 309; 154 girls) in China at two time points. In the second wave, the study also investigated the correlations and agreement between the ECDI2030 and a teacher report measure for children’s development. Although Cronbach’s alpha indicated that both adult report measures had lower reliability, McDonald’s omega showed comparable reliability among the three measures when the assumption of tau-equivalence was relaxed. Moreover, both adult report measures tended to overestimate children’s developmental levels, and were less effective in capturing the development of older children compared to the direct assessment measure. The correlations between parent report and direct assessment were significant for both girls and boys, urban children, and children from higher socioeconomic quartiles in both waves. Parents’ education levels did not substantially moderate the correlations. Moreover, parent report may not predict children’s development as effectively as direct assessment. Compared to parent report, teacher report was less effective in differentiating children’s development across socioeconomic status and urbanicity. Parent and teacher judgements were more consistent on children’s early learning competencies than on children’s motor and psychosocial skills. Implications of the findings for population-based measurement of early childhood development are discussed.

Parent-teacher partnerships to enhance education for sustainable development: Early childhood development education learning centres in Zimbabwe

Education is one of the fundamental tools necessary to achieve the global Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, Goal 4 advocates for quality education for all since it is important for all children to have a sound educational foundation. In this study, I focus on the second target of Sustainable Development Goal 4 that advocates for early childhood development and universal pre-primary education. The aim of this study was to explore how parent-teacher partnerships could be used to enhance education for sustainable development in early childhood development education learning centres in rural areas. The study was conducted in two primary schools in Bulilima district of Matabeleland, South province in Zimbabwe. The study called on Epstein's notion of parental engagement as the theoretical framework. A participatory action research methodological design was deemed suitable for this qualitative study because it allowed participants to have an opportunity to express their views in their natural settings. Data was generated by means of discussion meetings and reflections and Fairclough's (1992) critical discourse analysis was employed in its analysis. The findings, from early childhood development centres, highlight the importance of teacher-parent partnerships in promoting sustainable learning outcomes and children's well-being. Furthermore, it was found that such partnerships promote alignment between the school culture and the needs of communities and enhance communication and decision making as well as providing a basis for change in the parents' perceptions regarding early childhood development education. The study concluded that teachers and parents should work together at this level of education.

A methodology for prioritizing sustainable development goals targets at the local level: The case of Barcelona City Council

AbstractThe implementation of the 2030 Agenda relies heavily on the active involvement of local governments. The concept of “Localization”—the process of adapting and customizing the SDGs and translating them into local development plans and strategies—has gained prominence as governments address emerging challenges, necessitating innovative approaches. Practical insights from local governments are essential for guiding others in this process. A key debate focuses on “prioritization,” emphasizing the need to focus on a specific set of SDG targets based on available resources, the local government's experience with sustainable policies or the normative framework in which it operates. Prioritization is crucial to prevent fragmentation of efforts that could hinder the local government's contribution to the 2030 Agenda. This paper aims to introduce a methodology for prioritizing SDG targets within local governments. Using a multicriteria analysis tool, the paper shows the process undertaken by the Barcelona City Council to cluster the SDG targets around four priority groups based on four criteria: (i) distance to the goal, (ii) strategic coverage, (iii) normative competence, and (iv) budgetary effort. The prioritization approach contributes to a better monitoring and evaluation process to assess progress towards the SDGs and enhance collaborative efforts across municipal policy and management levels. The findings provide valuable insights and serve as a reference for other local governments aiming at contributing to the 2030 Agenda. The approach is adaptable and can be applied to different subnational governments by tailoring to their specific scope and requirements of the context of application.

Sociopsychological factors of drug abuse among young females in Bangladesh and gender-specific vulnerabilities: Aligning with SDG 3 and SDG 5.

Drug consumption among young women in Bangladesh is increasing day by day. The research aims to analyze the factors influencing young females to take drugs in Bangladesh. This exploratory study was carried out using a qualitative research method. Primary data were collected via in-depth interviews. Seventeen addicted young women from Bangladesh were chosen for this study by a snowball sampling technique. The data from the interviews were thoroughly examined. Intimate relationships with family and friends have the greatest impact on women's drug use. Aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 and SDG target 3.5, the study underscores the critical need for gender-sensitive approaches to address the unique vulnerabilities faced by young women. The findings revealed several factors that significantly impacted drug consumption among young women in Bangladesh, including the influence of social groups and peers, family-related issues, inadequate awareness and education on drugs, the ready availability of drugs, and psychological factors such as stress and curiosity. Additionally, women who use drugs often face severe social stigma and gender-based violence, which deters them from seeking help and exacerbates their addiction. Limited access to health services due to economic and societal constraints further hinders their ability to receive proper care and support. Implementing strategies that address these gender-specific factors will not only help mitigate drug abuse but also contribute to improved public health outcomes and advance sustainable development.