Indonesia has been able to achieve some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) according to target, although some others remain to be addressed.
Indonesia\'s best achievement is in the Quality Education goal. However, we still have serious problems with the Reduced Inequalities goal, particularly the income gap. Our other achievements that are within their targets are No Poverty, Clean and Affordable Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, as well as Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
In addition to Quality Education, the goals showing good achievements and which need further management to meet the 2030 target include Gender Equality and Sustainable Cities and Communities.
As an international agreement, the SDGs involve the collective action of all countries to end poverty, protect the Earth, and ensure that everyone lives in peace and prosperity. There are 17 SDGs targeted for achievement from 2016 to 2030. They are a continuation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which aimed to reduce the number of poor people by half by the end 2015, and are considered to have been successful.
Speaking at the 2018 SDGs Annual Conference in Jakarta on Monday, Vice President Jusuf Kalla acknowledged that Indonesia was one of the countries that had not succeeded in achieving the goals of equality and justice.
Reducing inequality is a serious challenge, not only for Indonesia but also for many Asia-Pacific countries. The Asia-Pacific’s achievements in reducing inequality have actually declined. In fact, no country has realized the target in all 17 SDGs.
The government continues to work to reduce inequality, which is measured by the Gini ratio. Indonesia\'s Gini ratio declined from 0.414 in 2014 to 0.389 in 2018. Although the Gini ratio fell, which means that inequality is declining, the figure is still too high.
Achieving the SDGs by 2030 requires development efforts that engage all stakeholders, transforming the education system, health services, energy use and urban planning, as well as applying information technology. This transformation requires government leadership that enables businesses and civil society to work together.
By committing ourselves to the SDGs, we have an obligation to achieve these goals, the performance measures of which have been set by the international community. The clear indication measures should clearly define our policy direction and achievement targets. We want to be a developed, prosperous and just country based on human development, so that nothing and no one is left behind.
The government incorporated the SDGs and the Human Development Index into the Nawacita program of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. As we have yet to reach the targets of a number of objectives, improving public policy, especially in the regions – which are the spearhead of development – should be our shared duty.