UN Libraries MENA Libraries and Sustainable Development Lebanese

UN Libraries, MENA Libraries and Sustainable Development Lebanese Library Association and UN/ESCWA, Beirut 7 October 2019

Integrated and knowledge-based Sustainable Development Goals Najeeb Al-Shorbaji, Ph. D, IAHSI e. Marefa Advisor Amman, Jordan

Introduction • The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 17 Goals to Transform Our World. It’s the World agenda for development by 2030; • Achieving these Goals requires data, evidence, science, knowledge and information and communication technology as clearly stated in many parts of the SDGs final Declaration; • These goals and objectives are not new to librarians and information specialists; • Libraries and information centers develop projects focusing on: • information literacy, • full utilization of knowledge resources, rational, equitable, ethical and free access to information; and • proper utilization of information and communication technology; • Networking and collaboration.

UN Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), officially known as “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, are an intergovernmental set of aspirational Goals with 169 targets. The Goals are contained in paragraph 54 of the United Nations Resolution A/RES/70/1 of 25 September 2015. Source: https: //documents-ddsny. un. org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N 15/291/89/PDF/N 1529189. pdf? Open. Element

The New Agenda: General features and differences with the MDGs • The SDG are "integrated and indivisible, global in nature and universally applicable": • they are applicable to all countries; • they are about addressing the needs of the poor or otherwise disadvantaged groups wherever they may live (not just in poor countries); • The SDG are "unprecedented in scope and significance“: • The MDGs were about a limited set of human development targets; • The SDGs cover the economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainable development with a strong focus on equity; • The wide range of SDG goals more closely reflect the range of issues with which a government has to contend in reality; • People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership.

17 Goals covering 169 targets of the three dimensions of development: Economic development, social integration and environment protection

Integration between the SDGs (Examples) • The relationship between education and health is never a simple one. Poor health not only results from lower educational attainment, it can also cause educational setbacks and interfere with schooling. Health conditions, disabilities, and unhealthy behaviors can all have an effect on educational outcomes (https: //societyhealth. vcu. edu/work/the-projects/why-education-matters-to-health-exploring-thecauses. html) • Poverty impacts education just as much as education impacts poverty; poverty has a direct impact on a child's ability to learn. Poverty affects children on several levels, including physical, social-emotional and cognitive. . Children's ability to concentrate is affected by poor nutrition and poor health (https: //borgenproject. org/what-is-therelationship-between-poverty-and-learning/)

Integration between the SDGs • The relationship between water, energy, agriculture and climate is as important as it is complex. Climate change has the potential to tip out of balance the relatively stable climate in which civilization has been built and jeopardize the security of water, food and energy systems (https: //www. watercalculator. org/water-use/climate-change-water-resources/); • One of their key findings is that less privileged groups have lost consistent access to basic energy services like warm homes and affordable transport, leading to huge disparities of climate damaging emissions between rich and poor (https: //www. elsevier. com/books/inequality-andenergy/galvin/978 -0 -12 -817674 -0).

Health is linked to many other SDGs and targets (examples) Goal 1: End poverty Target 1. 3: Implement social protection systems for all Health Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable education ………. . Target 4. 2: ensure access to early childhood development, care and preprimary education … Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Target 5. 2: end all forms of violence against all women and girls …. Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Target 6. 1: achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition Target 2. 2: end malnutrition, achieve targets for reductions child stunting and wasting Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, ……. . Target 16. 1: reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere Other goals and targets e. g. 10 (inequality), 11 (cities), 13 (climate change)

Knowledge-based SDGs • Para 15 of the resolution stated that “The spread of information and communications technology and global interconnectedness has great potential to accelerate human progress, to bridge the digital divide and to develop knowledge societies, as does scientific and technological innovation across areas as diverse as medicine and energy”. • Para 24: ensuring universal access to … information and education.

Knowledge-based SDGs • Para 25: should have access to life-long learning opportunities that help them to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to exploit opportunities and to participate fully in society. • Para 27: a healthy and well-educated workforce with the knowledge and skills needed for productive and fulfilling work and full participation in society. • Para 48: Data and information from existing reporting mechanisms should be used where possible.

Knowledge-based SDGs • Goal 2 c: …access to market information, • Goal 2. 3: double the agricultural productivity and incomes by … equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment • Goal 2. 5: … from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed.

Knowledge-based SDGs • Goal 3. 7: ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including for family planning, information and education. • Goal 4. 4: expand enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology. • Goal 4. 7: ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. • Goal 5 b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.

Knowledge-based SDGs Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Goal 9. c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020”.

Knowledge-based SDGs • Goal 9. 5: substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending. • Goal 12. 8: ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature. • Goal 12 c: integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

Knowledge-based SDGs • Goal 14. 5: conserve based on the best available scientific information. • Overall goal: Enhance scientific research and increase investment and support in agricultural research, research and development of vaccines and medicines, clean energy research and technology, .

Knowledge-based SDGs • Goal 16. 10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. • Goal 17. 6: access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms. • Goal 17. 8: enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology.

Knowledge-based SDGs • Goal 17. 16: mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. • Establish a forum on science, technology and innovation for the SDGs and an online platform to facilitate access to information, knowledge and experience, as well as best practices and lessons learned, on science, technology and innovation facilitation initiatives and policies”.

Role of libraries and librarians in achieving the SDGs

SDGs and libraries • The SDGs never included “libraries” or any of its synonyms in the text of the Declaration. • The IFLA Declaration and Lyon Declaration aimed at using relevant text to ensure that libraries are taken into account. • Reference in SDGs declaration was made to data, information and knowledge. • "Half of the world’s population lacks access to information online. In our knowledge society, libraries provide access and opportunity for all. " (Lyon Declaration on Access to Information and Development).

IFLA, Libraries and the SDGs • Libraries further development by helping people get the information they need to access economic opportunity, gender equality, quality education, improve their health or develop their communities. • Development projects that are working to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are most effective when they leverage existing resources and local institutions that people already know and trust, such as public libraries, rather than funding new, unproven infrastructure, or investing in narrow, technology-based approaches. • Libraries have staying power because of ongoing public support and dedicated funding, and therefore governments and development agencies should seek to strengthen and expand the services libraries offer. • Libraries support initiatives in a variety of fields, including health, agriculture, civic engagement, education, information literacy and others, and have a powerful impact in the community because they are connected to people needs at a local level. (https: //www. ifla. org/node/7408)

Libraries are best in facilitating access to information Access to information helps in: § Eliminate poverty; § Agricultural development; § Good education; § Good research; § Better health and well being; § Making available information and communication technology; § Cultural development; § Economic development; § Enabling civil society and individuals; § BUILDING THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY.

RESEARCH 4 LIFE Project • Research 4 Life project is a UN library project that has been sustainable and growing since 2000 (https: //www. research 4 life. org/r 4 l/): • HINARI : Research for HEALTH • AGORA : Research for AGRICUTURE • AORE : Research for ENVIRONMENT • ARDI : Research for INNOVATION • GOLI : Research for GLOBAL JUSTICE

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) • EMR is made of 22 countries, including Palestine; • Group A countries that have free access to R 4 L resources: • • • Afghanistan Djibouti Morocco Somalia South Sudan Syrian Arab Republic Occupied Palestinian territory Yemen • Group B countries that have access to R 4 L resources at a very low cost: • Iraq • Jordan • Tunisia

Questions and answers Thank you