India and the SDGs (Dan Banik)
Readings:
- Niti Aayog, Government of India (undated) "India's Commitment To The SDGs".
- Government of India (2017) "Voluntary National Review Report: On the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals".
- Niti Aayog, Government of India (undated). "SDG India Index and Dashboard".
Reflection:
- What do you consider to be the most impressive SDG-related activity in India?
- Reflect on the naming and shaming approach that India undertakes to ensure a greater focus on the SDGs at the regional level.
Continue the conversation on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. Please use the hashtag #UiOSDG if you wish to respond to or reflect on any of the issues raised in the lectures.
China and the SDGs (Dan Banik)
Readings:
- Government of China (2016) "China’s National Plan on Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development".
- CIKD (2017) "China's Progress Report on Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development".
- CIKD (2019) "China's Progress Report on Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development".
- Banik, D. and Lin, K. (2019) “Business and Morals: Corporate strategies for sustainable development in China”, Business and Politics.
Reflection:
- How consistent is China's embrace of sustainable development?
- China has successfully encouraged many private sector actors to embrace the SDGs. Do you agree?
Continue the conversation on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. Please use the hashtag #UiOSDG if you wish to respond to or reflect on any of the issues raised in the lectures.
Explaining enthusiasm for the SDGs in India and China (Dan Banik)
Readings:
- Banik, D. (2019) "Leaving no one behind: Indian perspectives". Oslo SDG Blog.
- Banik, D. (2018) "Can China’s Belt and Road Initiative help achieve the SDGs?". Oslo SDG Blog.
- Banik, D. (2019) "Global goals and the national interest: China's embrace of the SDGs". Oslo SDG Blog.
- Banik, D. (2019) "Fighting air pollution". Oslo SDG Blog.
Reflection:
- Which explanation provided by Prof. Banik do you consider to be the most important?
- Are there other explanations that you would highlight?
Continue the conversation on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. Please use the hashtag #UiOSDG if you wish to respond to or reflect on any of the issues raised in the lectures.
Rwanda and the SDGs (Dan Banik)
Readings:
- Government of Rwanda (2019) Rwanda Voluntary National Review (VNR) Report, 12-28.
- Ndagijimana, Uzziel (2020) "Strategies for delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals: Some lessons from Rwanda”, Brookings Institution.
Reflection:
- Do you consider Rwanda to be a success story of economic development on the African continent? If so, what would you highlight as the most important factor that explains Rwanda's status as an international donor darling?
Continue the conversation on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. Please use the hashtag #UiOSDG if you wish to respond to or reflect on any of the issues raised in the lectures.
Malawi and the SDGs (Dan Banik)
Readings:
- Chasukwa M. and Banik, D. (2019) “Bypassing Government: Aid Effectiveness and Malawi’s Local Development Fund”, Politics and Governance, 7(2): 103–116.
- Government of Malawi (2017) “Executive Summary” and “Ch. 1: Overview” (xvi-5), in The Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) III.
- Adams, E. A., & Smiley, S. L. (2018) “Urban-Rural Water Access Inequalities in Malawi: Implications For Monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals”, Natural Resources Forum: 1-8.
Reflection:
- What strategies should low-income countries like Malawi pursue to achieve the SDGs?
- How best can decisionmakers in Malawi achieve greater policy space for ensuring the achievement of the SDGs?
Continue the conversation on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. Please use the hashtag #UiOSDG if you wish to respond to or reflect on any of the issues raised in the lectures.
Combating plastic pollution (James Chavula)
Readings:
- Chavula, James (2019) "What's burning with plastics?", The Nation Malawi.
- Chavula, James (2018) "Hundreds march against plastics in Malawi", Climate Reporters.
Reflection:
- Several countries on the African continent have successfully introduced legislation to combat plastic pollution. Do you think these are being implemented properly?
- Are such bans having the desired impact?
Continue the conversation on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. Please use the hashtag #UiOSDG if you wish to respond to or reflect on any of the issues raised in the lectures.
Clean and affordable energy (James Chavula)
Readings:
- Chavula, James (2020) "Rural mini-grid powering development", The Nation Malawi.
- Chavula, James (2020) "Malawi's $3bn question", The Nation Malawi.
- Chavula, James (2020) "Lights on the rural darkside", The Nation Malawi.
- Chavula, James (2018) "Smoky kitchens: Malawi's cooking crisis", The Nation Malawi.
Reflection:
- Are solar energy and hydroelectric power projects viable options for countries such as Malawi?
- Should Malawi promote cheaper and quicker options for electricity generation such as coal-fired power plants?
Continue the conversation on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. Please use the hashtag #UiOSDG if you wish to respond to or reflect on any of the issues raised in the lectures.