"The work of non-governmental organisations plays an essential role in our country's sustainable development, not only in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, but also in a narrower and more specific way within each individual field," the chair of the Saeima's Sustainable Development Committee, Uģis Mitrevics, said at the committee's sitting on 2 October. Today the members of parliament learned about the work of non-governmental organisations – associations and foundations – and their contribution to achieving the sustainable development goals.
"Sustainable action within each of the goals set out must be the backbone of Latvia's National Development Plan for the next period, and the involvement of non-governmental organisations in drafting the strategic documents will be decisive in achieving a better outcome," the committee chair noted.
The director of the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (LAPAS), Inese Vaivare, informed the members of parliament that the organisation brings together 43 associations and foundations, and that its focus covers health, education, agriculture, the environment, good governance, community development and issues of concern to young people, as well as sustainability in the private sector. The organisation also runs educational campaigns, for example on food safety, migration, fair payment of taxes and forest policy.
Representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) noted that much remains to be done so that, through joint cooperation and active efforts by state institutions and the non-governmental sector, the world we live in can be made safer and more sustainable. At present, sustainability issues lack a political vision and a coordinated approach, and sectoral sustainability policies and goals have either not been set or are fragmented, the NGO representatives pointed out.
Meanwhile, the Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrejs Pildegovičs, assessing the contribution of NGOs, noted to the members of parliament that Latvia's 2022 report to the UN on progress in implementing sustainable development also included an overview of the NGO sector, an assessment of the implementation of the goals and recommendations. Latvia continues to implement the Sustainable Development Goals approved by the UN member states in 2015 in its development policy, demonstrating a balanced approach to economic growth, environmental protection and social welfare, while at the same time sharing its experience and examples of good practice in order to support other countries on their path towards a more sustainable future, A. Pildegovičs said.
The members of parliament invited the NGO representatives to discuss sustainable development issues as part of the European Sustainable Development Week, which is taking place across Europe from 18 September to 8 October. Latvia is implementing the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through its sectoral policies, while residents, businesses and associations are doing so in line with their own field of activity and capacity, representatives of the State Chancellery, which is responsible for the implementation of the goals, noted at the committee sitting.