Libraries as agents for development: The potential role of Egyptian rural public libraries towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals based on the UN 2030 Agenda

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-136
Author(s):  
Essam Mansour
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The United Nations

The key purpose of this study is to investigate the potential role of Egyptian rural public libraries, being one of the social agents for development, towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals according to the United Nations Agenda for 2030. To meet the objectives and questions of the study, a multi-faceted research methodology was adopted and conducted in the period from September to November 2017. The study used a qualitative approach in terms of personal interview, discussion and observations of group meetings, and examination of documents to investigate the implementation of community development programmemes and services in 34 rural public libraries representing the four main administrative divisions comprising Egypt. The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals have been discussed with ways in which Egyptian rural public libraries can include and meet them. Challenges facing libraries in the provision of information (poor infrastructure, inappropriate collections and related facilities and services, high levels of illiteracy, lack of funding and cooperation between related agencies, inappropriate training of library and information professionals, lack of studies and surveys, as well as analyses of information needs of rural communities) have also been emphasized. This study concluded that Egyptian rural public libraries have struggled to be part of the United Nations Agenda for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. They have tried as much as possible to integrate and adapt to the surrounding community in light of the common economic, political and social factors and conditions. Despite these challenges, these libraries showed a good response that is characterized as somewhat positive, though not sufficient, toward the achievement of these goals.

scholarly journals Brazilian Hydropolitics under the United Nations 2030 Agenda

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabela Battistello Espindola ◽  
Maria Luisa Telarolli de Almeida Leite ◽  
Luis Paulo Batista da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The United Nations

The global framework set forth by the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) include water resources in their scope, which emphasizes how water assets and society well-being are closely intertwined and how crucial they are to achieving sustainable development. This paper explores the role of hydropolitics in that Post-2015 Development Agenda and uses Brazilian hydropolitics set to reach SDG6 as a case study.

scholarly journals Utilizing Zakat for Attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 231-242
Author(s):  
Rafiu Ibrahim Adebayo
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Expiry Date ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Year 2000

At the United Nations Conference in Stockholm in the early 1970s, the idea of sustainable development was mooted. It became a global phenomenon in the year 2000 when the United Nations (UN) declared the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with over one hundred and eighty-nine member states and about twenty-three international organizations. With the expiry date of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came in vogue. The SDGs as a global project could only be attained through joint efforts of all sectors of human life, religion being one. In human history, religion plays significant developmental roles, hence a strong factor in attaining developmental goals. Islam in particular could not be left out in any developmental project, as it is not only a religion and but also a way of life. Indeed, the maqasid ash-shari’ah are meant for all-round development and protection of human life – religion (Din), life (Hayat), procreation (Nasl), Property (Māl) and Intellect (cAql). This study is designed to specifically relate the institution of zakat in Islam to attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with particular reference to Nigeria as a country. Historical, descriptive and exegetical methods are adopted for this purpose. The paper therefore concludes that zakat can be a veritable tool for achieving the SDGs if properly harnessed, monitored and utilized for the purpose it is meant.

scholarly journals Tackling the Big Challenges of the Future

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Garcia Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The Future ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Year 2000

AbstractThe end of 2015 was the deadline that 189 countries gave themselves to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a list of eight goals that were agreed upon and approved by the UN after the Millennium Summit in year 2000. Despite some legitimate criticism, the MDGs were revealed as an important tool towards building a more equitable and sustainable world. Yet our planet still faces many challenges. In September 2015, the UN approved a new set of 17 goals, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to develop and implement strategies to create “The Future We Want”; strategies that 192 countries agreed upon to work together towards a more sustainable planet [

Knowledge Societies in China, Portugal, and Uganda

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-50
Author(s):  
Nuno Vasco Lopes ◽  
Kenneth Bagarukayo ◽  
Jun Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
International Telecommunication Union ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
The World ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The United Nations

In September 2015, the United Nations (UN) Member States subscribed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the 2030 Agenda (General Assembly 2015). This work makes an analysis on how Knowledge Societies can effectively contribute for the achievements of the Agenda's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, it will be presented the research overview conducted by UNU-EGOV for producing the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Knowledge Societies Handbook (UNESCO/IFAP and UNU-EGOV 2016). In addition, three countries from three different Continents of Asia, Europe and Africa - China, Portugal and Uganda respectively - will be analyzed in the context of the knowledge societies architecture proposed in the handbook. For making that analysis a set of indicators collected from the “The World Bank” (The World Bank 2016) and “International Telecommunication Union” (ITU) (ITU 2015) databases have been selected. The indicators have been interpreted taking into consideration the socio-cultural, political, and economic context of each of the three countries.

scholarly journals The Role of Fire in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Artemi Cerdà
Keyword(s):  
Water Pollution ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Water Yield ◽  
Earth System ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations do not mention Fire as a key factor in achieving an environmentally-friendly human society. This paper reviews the key aspects of the impact of fire that make it necessary to update the SDGs. Upon reviewing the scientific literature, it was found that fire has been part of the Earth System for the last 400 million years, and that it is part of biogeochemical cycles. From a geological perspective, fire shaped the current Earth System. Humans have used fire in the last million years as hunter-gatherers, and the last Pleistocene period evolved with the presence of fire. Since the Neolithic revolution, humankind spread the use of fire, without which agriculture would not have progressed as it did. Fire is still used today as a tool to clear forests, scrublands and meadows in order to establish agriculture fields. To achieve the SDGs, we cannot ignore the role of fire. Fire should be present, as it is part of the geological cycle of the planet; it is part of rural culture and plays a key role in hydrological, erosional and biological cycles. We discuss the following issues related to fire in connection with the SDGs: (i) biota; (ii) soil properties; (iii) carbon cycle; (iv) sediment and water yield; (v) air and water pollution; and (vi) risk assessment. We conclude that: (i) fire is key to flora and fauna diversity; (ii) soil properties are temporally changed after exposure to fire; (iii) the carbon cycle is disturbed by fire, but the long-term impact can be a reduction in the CO2 content in the atmosphere; (iv) sediment and water yield are enhanced by forest fires, but only during the period of disturbance; (v) air and water pollution are ephemeral; and (vi) the risk associated with fire necessitates careful planning. Prescribed fires may be part of the solution, but there is a need to educate citizens on the role that fire plays. More research is necessary due to the diversity of the biomass and the complex history of fire on the planet. Fire is part of the Earth System and the SDGs should include it as a key element in their agenda.

scholarly journals Animal Welfare and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals—Broadening Students’ Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3328
Author(s):  
Gabriela Olmos Antillón ◽  
Håkan Tunón ◽  
Daiana de Oliveira ◽  
Michael Jones ◽  
Anna Wallenbeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Doctoral Training ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Responsible Consumption ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The United Nations

The mutually beneficial relationships between improving animal welfare (AW) and achieving the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) were further explored and compared to previous work. This was done in the context of a doctoral training course where students selected at least six SDGs and reasoned around their impact on AW and vice versa. Then, students rated the strength of the SDG—AW links. Lastly, students engaged in an assessment exercise. Students reported an overall mutually beneficial relationship between AW and all SDGs, yet with significant differences in strength for SDGs 4, 11, 10, 12 and 13 to that previously found by experts. Students considered SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production the most promising way to integrate AW targets. This study further supports the positive role of AW in the success of the UN’s strategy. Still, the magnitude of the anticipated impacts is modified by stakeholder, context and experience.

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