Result 19 04 2022 16 10 28

The Office of the Prime Minister’s Economic Development and Planning Unit (EDPU) 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 recognized that these
institutional arrangements must be strengthened and formalized in order to ensure that all segments of society
participate in and own the Sustainable Development Goals. As a result, the government is convening a
Sustainable Development Goals Technical Committee, comprised of representatives from various government
ministries and agencies, the private sector, civil society, and academia, to ensure that the Sustainable
Development Goals are fully implemented 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 behind
Identified and supported are groups and communities that have been marginalized or have not reaped the full
benefits of the country’s successes. The recommendations and framework for implementing the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) through the National Development Plan prioritize the enhancement of these groups’
resilience. It is critical, for example, to develop programs that address both the underlying causes and
consequences of poverty and unemployment in the country. These programs must consider the unique issues
confronting the elderly and at-risk youth, as well as the distinct but similar challenges confronting men and
women. This includes the requirement to approach policy solutions, as well as program development and
implementation, through a gendered lens. There are also geographical disparities within the country, with some
of the most vulnerable communities located on the more sparsely populated islands of The Bahamas, as well as
on the island of New Providence, which is one of the country’s oldest and most historic communities. This is
why, in collaboration with civil society, higher education, and the private sector, the government 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 centered on social and economic empowerment, revitalization, smart
and green technology, and youth and senior programs.
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