Government to continue collaborating in evaluation and monitoring of SDGs on environment and human development

Published on April 14, 2022

Speaking at the opening of the workshop on availability and accessibility of data and statistics on environment and sustainable use of natural resources and human development, the Permanent Secretary in the Vice President’s Office (Environment), Prof. Faustin Kamuzora, said the government meant to implement the 2030 global agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Africa Agenda as well as other East African regional plans in line with national development programmes, the country would continue work with all stakeholders to produce official statistics which are used to measure the implementation of SDGs and national development plan and required sector.

Prof. Kamuzora said, "We, in Tanzania, were among the first few countries to ratify the SDGs 2030 in 2015 soon after they were endorsed by the United Nations".

"We meet here today in a two- day workshop to discuss how to implement the agreed agenda for SDGs; I hope we will come up with solutions on how we can better achieve our targets of meeting those targets of SDGs and other programmes," said Prof. Kamuzora.

He said the workshop also discussed on how stakeholders can contribute to fill the data gap that has been identified including establishment or strengthening of multi-stakeholder partnership.

In addition, The Permanent Secretary said, "You are all aware that we, in Tanzania, were among the first few countries to agree to SDGs 2030 soon after was endorsed by the UN," Prof. Kamuzora stated.

He added that SDGs were international goals and that they formed the post-2015 development agenda succeeding the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They focus on sustaining and improving on the performance achieved during the MDGs era.

He also clarified that the SDGs can be turned into opportunities and hence play a role in eradicating all forms of poverty, hunger, improve availability and accessibility of social services for all and improved infrastructure by 2030.

Prof. Kamuzora also added that the country has made great efforts in harmonising the environment issues and sustainable use of natural resources and SDGs domestication for increased awareness and partnership with stakeholders on 2030 agenda as well asdiscussing the availability of data and existing gaps for monitoring different programmes. Prof. Kamuzora said Tanzania has done a number of things to go in line with sustainable environment such as formulating national environment policy of 1997 and legislation of environment act No. 20 of 2004.

Welcoming the Permanent Secretary in his remarks, the Director of Statistical Operation with National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Mr Irenius Ruyobya, said NBS will collaborate with all statistical stakeholders in making sure all the required data which are important in implementing programmes and initiatives on environment and natural resource use related to SDGs and other national and international programmes are produced.

"Besides monitoring international development agendas, national agenda have to be monitored as well. For example, the National Five-Year Development Plan of 2016/17-2020/21 has around 282 indicators that must be monitored and reported.

"We have done assessment of data requirement and we have come to the conclusion that NBS and other stakeholders, including development partners, have to work together for the good cause on data availability and accessibility. We, at NBS, cannot do it alone; and that is why we are here; to stress the importance of coordination and partnership," said Mr Ruyobya.

The Director of Statistical Operation said the Bureau would continue to cooperate with all stakeholders to share the thinking on the implementation and monitoring and evaluation of SDGS and other plans.

According to him, the started with goals number 13 and 15 touching on environment statistics and will continue to host workshops to discuss together with partners and other statistical stakeholders in covering the gaps that occurred while the progress of implementing SDGs and other programmes.

Mr Ruyobya said the series of workshops with stakeholders will be continue for feedback and improvement in future to discuss other goals.