The SDGs and the ‘Leave No One Behind Agenda’ in South Asia: Projections of Progress and the Benefits of Early Action
Amina Khan*
Vaqar Ahmed**
Asia’s progress in development sets it up well to continue making gains, but there are a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and related targets that will not be met without major new efforts. This presentation synthesises findings from three studies by the Overseas Development Institute, UK. The first highlights Asia’s likely progress on the SDGs, if trends continue on current trajectories. The region is on track to do well on five: halting deforestation, ending extreme poverty, improving access to sanitation and to energy, and economic growth in Least Developed Countries. A further eight are progressing, but at speeds not fast enough to reach targets by 2030. Four are of particular concern: reducing slum populations and waste, combating climate change and marine conservation. These will need a reversal in current trajectories (Nicolai et al. 2016). 
The SDGs will not be met if the poorest and most marginalised continue to be left behind. Efforts to leave no one behind are vital in the first 1,000 days of the SDGs: the longer governments take to act, the harder it will be to deliver on their promises by 2030. The second study investigates the rates of change needed to meet selected SDG targets, and how these compare with past performance. It highlights in particular that South Asia is furthest behind on SDG target 8.6 (By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training, i.e. NEETs). It assesses how delayed action will amplify the amount of effort needed, and why it is imperative to take early action (Stuart et al. 2016). 

The third paper consolidates stakeholders’ views from the Asia regional dialogue held in Sri Lanka in 2016 on how South Asian countries need to identify next steps on implementing the SDGs and the leave no one behind agenda (Bhatkal 2016).

References
Bhatkal, T. 2016, ‘Implementing the SDGs during the first 1,000 Days: Briefing Note on the Asia Regional Dialogue’,  Development Progress, Overseas Development Institute, UK, <https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/10733.pdf>.

Nicolai, S. Bhatkal, T. Hoy, C. and Aedy, T. 2016, ‘Projecting Progress: The SDGs in Asia and the Pacific’, Development Progress, Overseas Development Institute, UK, <https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/10592.pdf>.

Stuart, E. Bird, K. Bhatkal, T. Greenhill, R. Lally, S. Rabinowitz, G. Samman, E. Sarwar, M.B. with Lynch, A. 2016 ‘Leaving No One Behind: A Critical Path for the First 1,000 Days of the SDGs’, Development Progress, Overseas Development Institute, UK, <https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/10692.pdf>.

*The presentation is based on three studies published by the Overseas Development Institute in 2016.

* Ms Amina Khan is Senior Research Officer at the Growth, Poverty and Inequality Programme at the Overseas Development Institute, UK. She writes on poverty, data, cities, the SDGs and the leave no one behind agenda. 
** Dr Vaqar Ahmed is Deputy Executive Director at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad, Pakistan. He also heads the Inclusive Economic Growth Unit responsible for macroeconomic analysis, international trade and public finance.