“How can human mobility be leveraged to rescue the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?” It is a pertinent and ambitious question, especially with the SDG summit in September, which will mark the half-way point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The realization of the SDGs is at the core of UNDP’s mandate. Working in over 170 countries and territories, we try every day, together with our partners, to bring the world closer to the vision of the 2030 Agenda. 

Therefore, it pains us to see the gloomy picture that the UN Secretary General drew in his Report on Progress towards the SDGs in April this year: Just 12 percent of the SDGs targets are on track; progress on a further 50 percent is weak and insufficient; and we have stalled or gone into reverse on more than 30 percent of the SDGs. 

Worldwide development is under threat. In our last Human Development Report, UNDP has shown that the global Human Development Index has declined for the first time two years in a row, thereby erasing the gains of the preceding five years. To put it simpler: In two years we have lost five years of development!

We are still in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing challenges to development persist, especially the conflicts in Ukraine or Sudan, and the global climate crisis.

In this set-up, it is important not to lose hope and to look for new and creative ways to accelerate the SDGs. This is why we are not looking at human mobility as an additional problem, but rather as an enabler of sustainable development. 

Migrants contribute their work, skills and knowledge to their countries of destination, while also sending remittances and supporting local development in countries of origin through diaspora engagement.

But for this to work, it is important to promote safe and regular pathways to make sure migrants’ rights are fulfilled and their contributions are enhanced. In addition, and because we live in a world of poly-crisis, no single entity or organization can overcome global challenges alone. 

In line with SDG objective 17, we at UNDP recognize the value of collaboration and partnerships. Extending much further than today’s side event I’m proud to say that we found in IOM a very strong partner to help us achieve the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Our Global IOM-UNDP Joint Programme on “Making Migration Work for Sustainable Development” (M4SD) is an excellent example of this partnership. With the support of the Swiss Development Cooperation, we have thus worked in 11 programme countries with the private sector, migrants´ associations and diaspora associations to create innovative solutions that harness the development benefits of human mobility and reduce the potential negative effects of migration on migrants themselves and their family members.

One last thought that needs to be very clear: people on the move must not be excluded from the realization of the SDGs. 

They are not an obstacle to the realization of the SDGs (even if some political forces pretend so). The opposite is true: people on the move can and should play an active role for more sustainable development in countries of origin and destination alike.