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:

1. 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:
  • FAO on Zero Hunger
  • Video: FAO SDGs video explainer 

Responsible investment in agriculture and food systems and the Sustainable Development Goals

For general interest FAO Multimedia

 

3. 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:
  • WHO on Global Health

4. 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:
  • UNESCO’s Commitment to Education
  • UNESCO Culture: at the heart of Sustainable Development Goals

5. 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 

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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
• • Video: ILO News Room for a selection of videos and other material relating to the world of work

9. 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:

• UNIDO’s SDG-9 Industry Tracker

• • Video: Innovation and Infrastructure
  • UNIDO Knowledge Hub Ideas for innovation (including small scale)

10. 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

 

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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:
  • UNFCCC’s Role in Climate Action
  • Action for Climate Empowerment

•  

14. 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

15. SDG 15: Life on Land

• Lead Agency: UNEP and FAO
• Responsibilities: Protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
• Resources:

• About the United Nations Environment Programme

• • UNEP’s Efforts on Land
  • Video: UNEP Resources videos

 

16. 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

• •  

17. 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:
  • UNDP on Global Partnerships
  • Video: SDG 17: PARTNERSHIP FOR THE GOALS

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.