Sustainable Development Goals Fund 

ObjectivesFund scope

The objective of the SDG Fund was to bring together United Nations organizations, national governments, academia, civil society, local businesses, and private sector leaders to address development challenges, promote the 2030 Agenda, and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal achievement. Building on experience and lessons learned from the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Fund that was active between 2007 and 2013, the SDG Fund was a bridge from one era to another, providing concrete evidence for how to achieve sustainable and inclusive communities through integrated and joint approaches.

Multi-dimensional and cross-sector approaches were applied when tackling complex problems. In bringing together the expertise of various stakeholders the SDG-F was able to be the umbrella for a diverse array of solutions and methods covered multiple issues such as nutritional education, gender equality, empowerment of women, agricultural innovation, and health. Each joint programme, regardless of locale, was designed and launched to overcome limitations seen in traditional sector (“silo”) approaches and usher in a new era and brand of development initiatives.

Projects

Sustainable Development Goals Fund

Sustainable Development Goals Fund is currently supporting count_projects ongoing projectscount_globalInterregional and count_countries country-specific. This table shows the most recently approved ongoing projects.

All project financial information can be found in the Financials section, including delivery analysis by organization, theme and project; project financial status by country and by theme.

Sustainable Development Goals Fund

Results

For an extensive catalogue of results across all SDG-F countries visit the archived site here.

Human impact in Ecuador: Nancy, a single mother who lives with her grandmother, mother, sister and nephews in the town of Zuleta, smiles when asked about the “1,000 Days” project launched in Imbabura with SDG Fund support. Selected as one of 350 beneficiaries, Nancy received a monthly basket of diverse foods that provides the necessary nutrients for her family. Small, local producers distributed baskets during training sessions on health, hygiene, and food and nutritional security. To receive assistance, mothers and babies attended monthly check-ups at local health centres.

"Now my children eat more vegetables and feel better too. The support of the program means I can now put healthy food on my table," says Nancy.

Human impact in Nigeria: David Israel, a 19-year-old from the province of Kaduna, Nigeria, is aware of the difficulties many farmers face in West Africa. Not only has he seen his neighbours plots succumb to the threat of a moth that ruins entire yields of tomatoes, but he has also seen how the price of tomatoes has decreased to the point where many producers end up abandoning their goods on the roadside. Because David knew the SDG Fund Food Africa project was offering training courses on organic agriculture, he showed up despite not being on the list of selected of beneficiaries.

With no finances other than his own savings, David joined and was an enthusiastic participants of the sessions on value addition, market links and food safety and quality. David says he plans to study Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kaduna where he will obtain a degree and, one day, be a successful local producer of maize, beans, guinea corn, cashews, and palm oil.

Human impact in Guatemala: In the rural department of San Marcos a network of women volunteers known as "Mother Counselors" joined forces against child malnutrition. Esmeralda Barrios, 46, leads one of the community-based educational interventions that started in early 2015 with the aim of changing feeding practices and care for children under two years. "I am a counselor in my community. I identify children with malnutrition and advise mothers to take them to the health center and help them,” said Esmeralda.

“I also teach mothers with children over six months to prepare recipes that can be combined with breastfeeding." Mothers Counselors provide adequate information to pregnant women and mothers with children under the age of two in their communities, through support groups, home visits and individual counseling.

Human impact in Samoa: Warriors play a large role in the culture of Samoa. A group of young women and men, known as the “Organic Warriors,” use this cultural marker to produce food through more sustainable techniques. The SDG Fund initiative promoted youth employment, especially those who dropped out of school and young women. Iese Mata’ia is a proud organic warrior grateful for the programme and the ways it has boosted community and individual growth.

Iese and other warriors are now building their own small vegetable gardens using their knowledge to generate new income opportunities by selling their organic products to local restaurants and tourist markets.

"It taught us important things about how to become a successful farmer. And I think this is a great programme for all the youth who didn’t do so well in school.”

Human impact in Sri Lanka: The principal of Mylambvelo Sri Vigneswara Vidyalayam School in Batticaloa is an advocate for health. “Children are from poor families and most come to school without breakfast. The meals we give them are very nutritious, healthy and clean. So, not only is attendance is high, but children are happy to learn.” School nutrition innovations work through canteens and food service staff  in sharing guidelines on nutrition practices and making such food available. Nutritional education combines classroom learning with practical activities, creating a nutrition supportive school environment that involves the entire school community.

Human impact in Vanuatu: Monica tends to her plot, which (in addition to coffee arabica) includes taro, banana, cassava, kava, and sandalwood. Monica and other small farmers in her community were taught about crop diversification with the re-introduction of native species like island cabbage, kava, maize, manioc, sandalwood and taro. Efforts helped improve farming practices, families’ diets, livelihoods and revenue streams.

Human impact in State of Palestine: At a time when only 5% of businesses in Palestine are owned by women, the SDG Fund Joint initiative provided women with the small business skills needed to bring their products to larger commercial markets. A large part of the programme fostered growth of local business associations.

For Fatin Anani, a local entrepreneur, she discovered the collective power of working with an association, “It used to be that each of us had our own separate businesses. Now, we have established an alliance for our businesses, which makes us more powerful. We can now make decisions for ourselves and our products. We hope to share this feeling with other women and continue to support fair trade products which are produced by women only enterprises.”

Human impact in the Philippines: For Rene Celespara, mayor of Bobon, projects on water, sanitation and hygiene should remain a priority even when the SDG Fund iWASH programme ends. During the presentation ceremony in December 2016, the local representative said, "Water plays a critical role in the integration process and we all have a responsibility to contribute to development. After the evaluation last year, we were able to obtain data that reflects the real situation of our municipality. If there is no access to water, there cannot be sanitation and hygiene either.”

Projected costs and investments based on objectives over the next decade are 32 million Philippine pesos ($613,000 US dollars) for water supply and 3.7 million for sanitation.

Human impact in Fiji: Mario Keni is the village leader of Nabalabala, one of 12 communities involved in the national SDG Fund joint programme. Initiative stakeholders share information with participants about the organic certification of vegetables and root crops, and connects them with domestic markets. Following Winston, which devastated Fiji in 2016, communities have looked to get back on their feet and address long-term challenges like food security and high levels of unemployment.

“There is so much excitement! Our plantations were destroyed and it was hard to start again,” said Mr. Keni. “This province used to be labelled as one of the poorest in Fiji but has great potential in the form of resources.” The programme helped produce organic niche products and connect agricultural producers to new markets, while providing villagers with training on organic standards and certification.

Human impact in Paraguay: To address the financial inclusion of women SDG Fund programme supported networks of women entrepreneurs, promoting 50 savings groups made up solely of women, indigenous people, and individuals from poor households, and resulting in over 800 women having, for the first time, access to a savings account.

"We are extremely happy with the experience," said Regina Sosa, President of the Administrative Committee of the Toro Kangué Community Savings Group, rural department of Caaguazú. "Most beneficiaries thought it would be difficult to save, but as they developed the methodology of the program, they discovered that it was possible.

“This has been a blessing and my life will never be the same again.”

Human impact in Ethiopia: Ila Robale took part in the rural women’s economic empowerment joint programme in Oromia; her husband died 20 years ago, leaving her to raise five children. Ila has been a member of the Savings and Credit Cooperative Society in her village for over ten years. She values the “saving culture” she developed, as it allowed her to upgrade her house and keep her children in school. The loan she receives as part of the joint programme is an additional boon, bringing her closer to her goals.

“When I receive the loan through the programme I save for purchasing an ox with an estimated cost of 8,000 Birr [about $US 369],” she said. At the moment she has only one ox and spends her money on renting a second ox to plough the 1.5 hectares of land she owns. Once she has two oxen she will be able to afford to buy fertilizer to increase the yield of her land, providing long-term benefits for her family.

Human impact in El Salvador: In the small village of Las Vueltas, in the North of El Salvador, a movement has caused change to ripple through the community in the fight against child malnutrition and development of family livelihoods. "We are ten women who work to supplement the diet of families and combat children malnutrition,” said Dora Alicia Pineda, a farmer and ‘family demonstrator’. With SDG Fund support Dora Alicia has become an example of how to effectively administrate resources and grow a business.

"I think work with the new chicken incubator is excellent because it benefits all the women working in this group." Dora Alicia’s leadership in her community have led her to participate actively in decision-making bodies in her municipality, such as the Municipal Committee for Food and Nutritional Security, school purchasing and feeding committees, and committee of the Tamulasco River.

Human impact in Sierra Leone: Kono District in eastern Sierra Leone is the most productive mineral sector in the country, but revenue was not being reinvested in local development or job creation. Mining had degraded the environment and sources of local livelihoods. But community members, supported through an SDG Fund project, succeeded in creating a community-private sector-resource agreement so mining can benefit the communities. Despite earlier challenges, civil society organizations, local media, NGOs, local councils, traditional local authorities, and private sector representatives were advised on how to conduct negotiations. Chief Paul Ngabba Saquee V recognized, “This community-company arrangement brings high hopes as it will help to reduce the blame paramount chiefs receive in the communities for taking community money, and for not being transparent or accountable.”

Human impact in Tanzania: At the age of 18, Kazijya Kila dropped out of secondary school because she was pregnant. Although she married, life was tough for the new mother with no job to earn a living. “I was just a housewife. The first three years of my marriage were the hardest. I would wake up at night and hear my baby crying, and most times, it was because he hadn’t had enough to eat. That used to break my heart,” Kazijya recalls. But in 2013, Kazijya enrolled with the Tanzania Conditional Cash Transfers project, supported by the SDG Fund, and received her first instalment of 20,000 shillings ($10 US dollars).

“This has been a blessing and my life will never be the same again,” she said. Those transfers enabled Kazijya to start her own business, a story that represents the 1.1 million households living below the food poverty line in Tanzania.

Human impact in Peru: Quinoa producer Benjamina struggled for years to make a living. Among thousands of poor smallholder farmers in Peru, she was unable to benefit from the rising global demand of the “super grain.” Peru is the world’s biggest producer of quinoa followed by Bolivia, and together they account for 80% of global trade; yet, while exports of quinoa have increased in recent years, it has not led to higher incomes for Peruvian farmers like Nina.

It wasn’t until Nina took part in the Andean Grains joint programme, promoted by the SDG Fund, that her circumstances improved. “We have been taught to select and distinguish the types of seeds and which type of grain is most in demand. We now know the properties of each one and its benefits,” Nina said. “Previously, we produced little, but thanks to the cooperative business model we are more connected to the quinoa market.”

Human impact in Côte d’Ivoire: Adama, aged eight, lives in the coastal region of San Pedro where many people spend their lives battling cycles of poverty and inequality. Adama’s father abandoned his pregnant mother before he was born and because he was not registered at the civil birth registry, he could not exercise his right to go to school.

Things changed when Adama received legal support via the SDG Fund joint programme. Because of it he obtained a birth certificate and now attends school. "I am so proud of this child. He can now read and even started writing. Adama is a source of pride for the whole family and will follow his dreams to the end,” said Madoussou, his grandmother.

"Young people like me need opportunities to help pull us out of poverty,”

Human impact in Bangladesh: “The SDG programme on skills development and livelihood training helped me escape my frustration and build a dignified life for me and my daughter,” Anowara says, now employed in the public works sector since August 2015. Anowara, is divorced, a survivor of domestic violence, and mother to a young daughter. She lives in rural Bangladesh, 360km from Dhaka. The money she saved from her wages went towards the purchase of livestock, and savings to buy a parcel of land.

Because of the programme, Anowara opened a bank account, secured steady employment, and has better access to government services.

Human impact in Honduras: Xiomara Arriaga is a businesswoman, mother and community leader. Thanks to the SDG Fund joint programme in Honduras she went from spending cold nights selling handmade hats and scarves in a park to owning her own business selling artisanal goods made from traditional Lenca textiles and being an active member of the community. One of a number of local artisans, Arriaga received funding as part of an initiative to revitalize the native Lenca culture and help break the cycles of poverty many women find themselves in.

Fund support allowed her to establish a business that works on a large scale, providing thousands of lanyards for international events and summits. Her workload has grown to the point where she is now able to provide employment to others, through temporary positions to help fill large orders. “Before, I had no job and no way of making an income for my family. I never imagined I would be able to create jobs for other members of the group. Young people like me need opportunities to help pull us out of poverty,” says Xiomara.

Human impact in Bolivia: Rosse Mary Andia married at 16 to escape an oppressive and sexist family, but around 2011—living in Pocona with her husband and three children—she began to change her life. Rosse Mary finished her studies, joined a local network of rural women, learned about women in political leadership and was elected to lead 24 local agricultural unions. “Last year we were approached by the SDG Fund programme and they told us 27% of the children in our town are malnourished. I got worried and it’s why I support the initiative,” said Rosse Mary. Programme participants shared information on leadership and agricultural production, and the union received financial support for a new food processing plant.

“We will be able to start producing vegetables and greens that we will sell at the local school breakfasts,” said Rosse Mary. “We are happy and our children are eating healthier. I think we're moving forward.”

Human impact in Cuba: Inalvys Bueno, a resident of Santiago de Cuba, saw firsthand how the SDG Fund joint program strengthened the resilience of vulnerable families affected by the drought. Like many others, she coped with the drought by keeping her crops of alive in a neighborhoods "where more water evaporates than falls." With joint programme support, Inalvys and other women growers in the area can now sustain their incomes, covering the nutritional needs of a thousand children, seniors, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

"The people in Santiago do not fall asleep, especially women," said Inalvys, "Here we know how to turn things around and, out of everything bad, something better comes out.”

Human impact in Colombia: Twenty-three year old Martha Timana Imbachi is a local student in El Cauca. A rural region in the Colombian Massif, El Cauca is one of the greatest natural sites in the country and a place heavily affected by armed conflict. In 2015, thousands of hectares of land burned to the ground, placing a considerable burden on the rural communities that rely on the land for farming. With SDG Fund support, local students and teachers of El Rosal, one of the communities affected, joined efforts to protect the environment by turning their school nursery into a center for education and positive change.

“We have learned about unsafe practices, such as the felling of trees, misuse of water, or excess use of fertilizers. It’s been encouraging to see how people who suffered from the fire received new trees for their land,” explained Martha. At the end of the day, the school nursery is strengthening the fabric of El Rosal by raising environmental awareness and fostering peace in the region.

Human impact in Viet Nam: In the rural province of Ninh Thuan, parents, caregivers and farmers received information and training on nutrition, childcare and household food security thanks because of the SDG Fund programme. Chamaléa Thi Cuc, a resident of Phuoc Thanh took part in these information sessions and said, “After attending the technical training on chicken raising, vegetable and maize production, and nutrition I learned how to increase my crop and livestock productivity. The maize yield tripled, enough that I have additional funds to buy more nutritious food for my family."

The application of these lessons assisted beneficiaries like Chamaléa in significantly reducing child malnutrition rates from 62 per cent at the beginning of the program to 43 per cent two years later.

ContactsPoints of contact