IMF Support for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

July 19, 2017

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[caption id="attachment_20651" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Schoolchildren in line in Mali: Reducing the large gap between men’s and women’s education in some low-income states is one of the 2030 goals which IMF advice can address (photo: Stringer/Reuters/Newscom)[/caption]

Since the adoption of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, we at the IMF have supported countries to reach their goals through policy advice, training, and financial support. Results will accrue over time, and we already see some notable progress.

 

Our help for countries pursuing their development goals has become more crucial as economic circumstances deteriorated for many countries, including commodity exporting low-income economies: global growth is gaining momentum, but it remains uneven, amid a large drop in commodity prices and rising debt levels.

The IMF’s job is to promote international economic and financial stability and help countries achieve strong, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth. Maintaining economic stability and achieving strong growth are key foundations from which countries can pursue their goals to eradicate poverty, provide decent work and reduce inequality. The IMF also helps countries strengthen their public finances, which in turn provides additional resources for improving public health, education, and infrastructure.

In recent years, the IMF has also given countries policy advice on inequality, gender, financial inclusion, and climate change. Here are some examples of how IMF advice in these fields can contribute to countries’ efforts to reach the development goals:

As the examples show, we at the IMF assist countries to create sustainable economic conditions for carrying out their plans. At this week’s UN High-Level Political Forum 44 countries presented the actions they are taking to achieve the goals, as well as the challenges of measuring success across many different goals. Next year, we will prepare an in-depth assessment of the scope and effectiveness of IMF support for the implementation of the 2030 development agenda.

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