Establishing the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) towards Water Security: The Jordanian Perspective

As per Jordan’s experience, and the country’s water situation as a country that represents the MENA region; the UN together with the member countries are engaged in the process of developing new framework beyond the year 2015 after relatively successful efforts in achieving development and sustainability goals mainly in reducing poverty, hunger, expanding on education, environment, human development, water and sanitation, etc. 

It is well known that MGDs addressed mainly poor countries and SDGs addressed all countries, regions and nations without proper consideration of regional needs, characterizations and specific challenges and the order of MDGs. In other world countries, globalization of objective is not necessarily fair and justice. In some regions, for example, access to water and sanitation in an arid and harsh environment supersedes other MDGs. In other cases, peace and security are preconditions for human development within the MDGs and SDGs.

The UNSGAB can play leading role in streamlining, harmonizing and integrating local and regional objectives with the global context in the, their role will also advance timely achievement, The UNSGAB are the best body to assign the Regional High Level Committees (RHLC).

In order to address such issues in terms of the real needs of the different regions and to avoid universality of the Development Goals which might not be applicable to so many countries and regions, a “mainstreaming” approach shall be adopted. For example, MENA countries shall have a standalone goal that deals with hunger including water and sanitation, peace and security. In addition to this specific regional goal, other universal development goals within the context of MDGs, SDGs and Post 2015 Development goals shall be also applicable to the same region with all needed interlinks and integration for better progress and results.