Result 19 04 2022 16 09 34

The Economic Development and Planning Unit (EDPU) in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs are currently collaborating on the national process for preparing The Bahamas’
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) review, which is currently underway. However, it is widely
acknowledged that these institutional arrangements must be strengthened and formalized in order to ensure that
all segments of society are more involved in, and take ownership of, the Sustainable Development Goals in
order to achieve them. As a result, the government is establishing a Sustainable Development Goals Technical
Committee, which will include representatives from various government ministries and agencies, the private
sector, civil society, and academia, in order to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals are fully adopted
and that the three dimensions of sustainable development are fully integrated into economic, social, and
environmental policy in all of their dimensions.
Leaving no one in the dust
Groups and communities that have been marginalized or have not reaped the full benefits of the country’s
successes have been identified and are being supported. The recommendations and implementation framework
for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the National Development Plan have as a key goal the
enhancement of the resilience of these groups. It is critical, for example, to develop programs that address the
underlying causes of poverty and unemployment in the country, as well as their consequences. These programs
must take into account the unique issues faced by the elderly, at-risk youth, and the distinct, but similar,
challenges faced by men and women. This includes the requirement for applying a gendered lens to policy
solutions as well as program development and implementation. Within the country, there are also geographical
disparities – with some of the most vulnerable communities being found on the more sparsely populated islands
of The Bahamas, and also on the island of New Providence, which is one of the country’s oldest and most
historic communities. This is why the government, in collaboration with civil society, higher education, and the
private sector, established a special zone for a historically marginalized region known as the “Over the Hill
Community” as a pilot for a comprehensive poverty alleviation strategy focusing on social and economic
empowerment, revitalization, smart and green technology, and programs that are geared toward youth and older
people.
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