UN to train journalists about SDGs

By Carol Kasujja

AS heads of state will converge in New York to adopt Sustainable Development Goals which will replace the current millennium development goals, the United Nations in Uganda and the Uganda National NGO Forum have organized trainings for journalists to understand and promote the 2030 Agenda in Uganda.

The trainings are intended to enable journalists to obtain some understanding of the concept of sustainable Development as integrated, indivisible and balance of its three dimensions, the economic, social and environmental, within the Ugandan context.

Addressing journalists at Piato Restaurant in Kampala Esperance Fundira, the UNFPA representative who delivered the UN resident coordinator’s message, Ahunna Eziakonwa said that the new set of 17development goals,169 targets and indicators seek to build on the unfinished agenda of the millennium Development Goals and complete what they did not achieve.

“Most analysts have argued that SDGs are much more ambitious than the MDGs. It is true, we are not just talking about halving poverty, but we are talking about eliminating it. To achieve this, we have to be ambitious and set the bar high,” she said.

Ahunna noted that the SDGS are special in a way because they are universal, they emphasize that we have to address poverty issues in every part of the world, equality, human rights and finance.

Journalists who are interested to write about SDGS were advised to read and understand national development plans such as the Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan (NDP).

“As the UN in Uganda, we pledge to continuously engage each one of you as we start this new journey of transforming the world by 2030 for the people, for the planet and prosperity,” noted Fundira.

Most of the journalists talked to after the training expressed satisfaction with the content and knowledge gained. 

Those who are interested in writing about any SDGs were advised to always contact the UN communication team for information and facilitation.