30 August 2017 - Adopted in 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is intended as a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity that seeks to strengthen universal peace. With the mandate to make the world safer from drugs and crime, UNODC is committed to support Member States in reaching their targets under the Sustainable Development Goals.
Acknowledging that the successful implementation of this ambitious agenda requires mainstreaming the Goals into actions and strengthening staff capacity in the field, UNODC, through its Strategic Planning and Inter-Agency Affairs (SPIA), and Staff Development Units, recently delivered a workshop at its Pakistan Country Office.
The 5-day workshop focused on linking UNODC's expertise to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, familiarising staff with the monitoring framework and discussing strategies to leverage UNODC's leading role into increased effectiveness.
Speaking at the event, Gautam Babbar, the Officer in Charge of SPIA, said that the Sustainable Development Goals formed a key component of UNODC's contribution to the 2030 Agenda. "The Goals clearly define a consensus on how the international community should move forward in ensuring a safe, secure, and peaceful world."
The workshop, in this regard, aimed to align UNODC's programme portfolio with Member States' efforts and to report against indicators of relevance to the Office's mandate. It focused on the expansion of substantive knowledge in the field with the crucial development of soft skills.
Mr. Babbar said: "We have the opportunity to reshape the way we package the Goals and present them. It is very important that UNODC staff know the key features of the 2030 Agenda, and that they are equipped with the right tools to frame their work and achieve the Goals."
As part of the workshop, the UNOV/UNODC Staff Development Unit delivered a capacity building training with a view to ensuring that staff have the "right tools". The "Training of Trainers" session equipped 10 substantive experts with relevant presentations skills to enable staff to effectively communicate results to external partners and the host government as well as to advocate effectively for the 2030 Agenda.
The report writing training provided 30 participants with fundamental written communication abilities, such as expressing UNODC's work in a concise and persuasive manner. Similarly, the session entitled "Internal Communication and Difficult Conversations" challenged participants to improve their interpersonal skills while providing practical tips for managing workplace conflict. Among others, the team-based learning programme encouraged the development of teamwork by utilizing the 2030 Agenda as a backdrop for exercises that promoted cooperation and collaboration.
Speaking after the event, several staff said they found the workshops practical as it linked the Goals to the Pakistan country programme outcomes, acknowledging the opportunities for collaborative activities. The workshops improved staff's internal and external communication skills capabilities, which are paramount to the fulfilment of UNODC's mandate and the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Sustainable Development Goals implementation workshops will continue to be delivered by UNODC staff in the upcoming months.