The United Nations (UN) plays a crucial role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its specialized agencies, each responsible for different aspects of the goals. Here’s a breakdown of key UN agencies and their responsibilities across the 17 SDGs, including links and media resources to help you explore their work further:
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- Lead Agency: UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
- Responsibilities: Poverty eradication, social protection systems, and equal rights to economic resources.
- Resources:
- Video: UNDP on Ending Poverty
- 2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- Lead Agency: FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)
- Responsibilities: Ending hunger, achieving food security, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
- Resources:
Responsible investment in agriculture and food systems and the Sustainable Development Goals
For general interest FAO Multimedia
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Lead Agency: WHO (World Health Organization)
- Responsibilities: Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
- Resources:
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- Lead Agency: UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
- Responsibilities: Inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
- Resources:
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Lead Agency: UN Women
- Responsibilities: Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
- Resources:
- UN Women on Gender Equality
- Video and Text In focus: Sustainable Development Goal 5
- UN Women Resource Centre Videos
- UN Women Digital Library
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Lead Agency: UN-Water
- Responsibilities: Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
- Resources:
Video : SDG 6 – Indicators of water use efficiency and water stress
Video: United Nations Video selection some simple ideas for projects
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Lead Agency: UNDP and IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency)
- Responsibilities: Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.
- Resources:
- UNDP’s Role in Clean Energy
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Lead Agency: ILO (International Labour Organization)
- Responsibilities: Promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work.
- Resources:
- ILO Decent work and the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development
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- Video: ILO News Room for a selection of videos and other material relating to the world of work
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Lead Agency: UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)
- Responsibilities: Building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.
- Resources:
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- Video: Innovation and Infrastructure
- UNIDO Knowledge Hub Ideas for innovation (including small scale)
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequality
- Lead Agency: UNDP
- Responsibilities: Reducing inequality within and among countries.
- Resources:
- UNDP’s Commitment to Reducing Inequality
- Video: Leading the fight against poverty and inequality
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Lead Agency: UN-Habitat
- Responsibilities: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
- Resources:
- UN-Habitat’s Work on Sustainable Cities
- Video: Sustainable Urban Development
- UN-Habitat Media Centre
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Lead Agency: UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
- Responsibilities: Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- Resources:
- UNEP on Sustainable Production
- Videos UNEP Media Centre Kenya
- UN Bonn Shaping a Sustainable Future Media Centre (a broad spectrum of videos)
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- Lead Agency: UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
- Responsibilities: Taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
- Resources:
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
- Lead Agency: UNEP and FAO
- Responsibilities: Conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
- Resources:
- UNEP’s Work on Oceans
- Video: UNEP Resources videos
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- Lead Agency: UNEP and FAO
- Responsibilities: Protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
- Resources:
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- UNEP’s Efforts on Land
- Video: UNEP Resources videos
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Lead Agency: UNDP
- Responsibilities: Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective institutions.
- Resources:
- UNDP’s Role in Justice and Peace
Video: The Sustainable Development Goals Explained: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
- Lead Agency: UNDP and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
- Responsibilities: Strengthening global partnerships to support and achieve the ambitious targets of the 2030 Agenda.
- Resources:
The UN Human Development Report is a useful source of country information. Click on the Data Centre drop-down menu to explore countries and topics.