Mission East and the Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, world leaders agreed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aim to end poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change by 2030. Mission East wholeheartedly supports these aims, which resonate strongly with our work.

The SDGs also aim to “leave no one behind” in the process – something that is core to Mission East’s work as we seek out the most vulnerable people and include those who are marginalized.

How Mission East’s work links to the Sustainable Development Goals

Out of the 17 SDG goals, Mission East’s work particularly contributes to the achievement of the following 7 Sustainable Development Goals.

No poverty

Eradicate extreme poverty; reduce the number of people living in poverty; ensure all groups have equal rights to economic resources and access to services; build the resilience of the poor and reduce vulnerability to disaster; and promote pro-poor policies.

Mission East programmes focus on assistance to people in poverty.  Whether trapped in chronic poverty in remote mountains of Nepal, or recently reduced to a situation of poverty having lost assets and livelihoods to conflict in Iraq, Mission East aims to give relief to those in need, and  in early recovery and development phases, to help people to help themselves.

Mission East livelihood interventions are concrete examples of actions designed to support achievement of target 1.1 (eradicating extreme poverty), our inclusive approach promotes vulnerable and marginalised groups having access to economic resources and basic services (target 1.4), and Mission East’s work on disaster risk reduction contributes to target 1.5 (reducing vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and disasters).

Relevant ME countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar, Nepal, Tajikistan, Syria, Lebanon, North Korea

Zero hunger

End hunger; end malnutrition; increase agricultural productivity and income of small-scale producers (including women, family farmers, etc.) and their equal access to resources/inputs/knowledge; and ensure resilient/sustainable agricultural practices.

Target 2.3, which aims to increase agricultural productivity of small-scale food producers, including women and family farmers, fits well with Mission East’s food security programs which have a specific focus on vulnerable households. These programs, in countries such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nepal and DPRK aim to improve nutritional outcomes (target 2.1-2.2) and promote agricultural methods that are resilient and environmentally sustainable (target 2.4). In the first phases of crises, we also provide food assistance to meet immediate nutrition needs (ex. Iraq, DPRK and Syria).

Relevant ME countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Syria, North Korea, Iraq (previously)

Gender Equality

End discrimination against women and girls; eliminate violence (including trafficking, sexual or other exploitation); eliminate harmful practices (ex. child/forced marriage); ensure women’s full participation in leadership in political, economic and public life; and promote reforms to give women equal rights to resources.

Seeking to support women’s needs and promote their rights is a cross cutting issue in Mission East programming. Some of our development programs also focus specifically on awareness raising and promotion of the rights of women and girls, for example in Nepal and Myanmar, where we work towards target 5.1 and 5.5 (ending discrimination against women and promoting their participation in leadership and public life). In Nepal, we work specifically on ending some harmful practices towards girls and women like chhaupadi (target 5.3), and equipping women with information to prevent trafficking (target 5.2)  In Iraq and Lebanon community centers and case management services provide safe spaces for young women and girls at risk of gender-based violence in a crisis context and awareness campaigns are carried out on issues such as early/forced marriage (target 5.2-5.3).

Relevant ME countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar, Nepal, Tajikistan, Syria, Lebanon

Clean water and sanitation

Universal access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for all (including women/girls/vulnerable groups), and participation of local communities in improving water/sanitation management.

Targets 6.1 and 6.2 (access to safe water & sanitation) are served by Mission East’s WASH programs in several target countries. Our WASH programs also aim to promote participation and ownership of local communities in improving water/sanitation management (Target 6.b)

Relevant ME countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nepal, Tajikistan

Reduced inequalities

Income growth for the poorest; empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all (irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status); and ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities – including promoting legislation/policy on this.

Inclusion of vulnerable/excluded groups is a key operational approach for all Mission East countries and programs. Whether in our relief efforts, the delivery of basic services, livelihoods activities or disaster risk reduction efforts, we promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all members of a community, regardless of factors such as sex, disability, ethnicity or religion (target 10.2). Livelihood efforts, in particular promote income growth for the poorest and marginalized groups (target 10.1). Our work with civil society organizations enables them to better represent these groups and to advocate for better legislation and policy for their rights (target 10.3 and 10.4).

Relevant ME countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar, Nepal, Armenia, Tajikistan, Syria, Lebanon

Peace, justice and strong institutions

End abuse/ exploitation/ trafficking/ violence against children; ensure responsive/ inclusive/ participatory/ representative decisions-making; and promote non-discriminatory laws/ policies.

Mission East’s priority of working with and through civil society actors whenever possible, and particularly civil society actors who represent the needs and rights of vulnerable and excluded groups has the aim of achieving responsive, inclusive, participatory, representative decision-making (target 16.7). Together with these groups we advocate for non-discriminatory laws and policies (target 16.b). Additionally, Mission East’s child protection activities in Iraq respond to target 16.2, to protect children from violence, abuse and exploitation during conflict in Iraq and their vulnerable situation while displaced.

Relevant ME countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar, Nepal, Armenia, Tajikistan, Syria, Lebanon

Partnerships for the goals

Promote civil society partnerships.

Mission East’s emphasis on working in partnership with local organizations and within networks of NGOs, helps achieve the target of promoting effective civil society partnerships which build on experience (target 17.17).

Relevant ME countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar, Nepal, Armenia, Tajikistan, Syria, Lebanon

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