Addressing Inequality for a Sustainable Future: SDG 10 and Vision 2030
- Wilhelminah Juma
- Sep 17, 2024
- 3 min read
The vision for a more equitable world is central to both the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national long-term plans like Vision 2030. SDG 10, which seeks to reduce inequality within and among countries, highlights the importance of addressing disparities caused by factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and migratory status. These inequalities are often deeply entrenched and, at times, invisible, affecting individuals throughout their lives. Vision 2030, as pursued by various nations, represents a transformative agenda to achieve a more just and inclusive world by the end of the decade.
In 2015, UN Member States united in their commitment to the SDGs, a collection of 17 global goals aimed at securing prosperity, peace, and the well-being of both people and the planet, while ensuring that no one is left behind. With only a few years remaining until 2030, there is a pressing need for all stakeholders—governments, private sector players, civil society, and individuals—to accelerate efforts and work collaboratively to meet these goals.
A key component of this global effort is the national vision plans, like Kenya’s Vision 2030. This long-term development blueprint aims to transform Kenya into a newly industrialized, middle-income nation, offering a high quality of life to all its citizens in a clean and secure environment by the year 2030. Kenya’s vision is centered on creating a globally competitive and prosperous society, reflecting the broader goal of achieving social equity and economic growth for all its people.
Other countries have also embarked on similar paths. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, launched in 2016, focuses on several strategic objectives designed to position the Kingdom as a leading nation in various fields. One notable area of focus is the empowerment of the private sector. By privatizing government assets and boosting service delivery, Saudi Arabia aims to enhance economic diversity and competitiveness. A strong private sector will enable the Kingdom to focus on creating laws and regulations that promote innovation, ultimately driving its economy forward.
Similarly, Egypt’s Vision 2030 outlines a comprehensive development framework that seeks inclusive economic and social justice. By fostering national competitive advantages, Egypt aims to achieve sustainable development while preserving social equity. The country’s Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS), developed with broad participation from civil society, government agencies, and development partners, seeks to bring prosperity to all Egyptians through balanced geographical and sectoral growth.
Across the Middle East, other nations have also outlined bold visions for the future. The Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, for instance, is aimed at transforming the Emirate into a diversified economy that promotes entrepreneurship and innovation while integrating with the global economy. By fostering sustainability and urban planning, the vision focuses on developing policies to ensure that economic growth goes hand in hand with providing a high quality of life for all its citizens.
Qatar, too, has a national vision—Qatar National Vision 2030—that focuses on economic, social, human, and environmental development. Like other countries, Qatar seeks to address the challenges of inequality through targeted strategies that enhance human development and promote social cohesion.
As these national visions align with the global framework of the SDGs, particularly SDG 10, they illustrate how countries are tailoring global aspirations to their unique contexts. Each vision, while different in its specific objectives, shares the common goal of fostering inclusive growth and ensuring equitable opportunities for all. Vision 2030 in different countries seeks to dismantle barriers of inequality, whether through social justice reforms, economic diversification, or sustainable development.
With the 2030 deadline looming, it is more important than ever for countries to double down on their commitments to reduce inequality. Both SDG 10 and the national vision plans offer a roadmap for creating a future in which everyone, regardless of their background, have access to the same opportunities and a high quality of life. The transformative power of these initiatives lies in their ability to bring together diverse stakeholders, harnessing their collective efforts to create lasting change for a more equitable and sustainable world.
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