University of Mumbai

REG/ICC/2023-24/08
CIRCULAR
Respected Madam/Sir,

All the Principals of the affiliated Colleges and Recognized Institutions, as well as the
Heads/Directors of the various Departments and Sub-Campuses of the University, are
hereby informed that, among other things, the recently concluded G20 Summit under
India's Presidency expressed concern regarding achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).

In this context, NITI Aayog is organizing a webinar with think tanks and universities
on ‘Accelerating progress on SDGs’, In the webinar, besides the plenary session, it is
proposed to have three technical sessions on (a) Eliminating Hunger and Malnutrition,
(b) Ensuring Good Health for all, and (c) Delivering Quality Education. The tentative
program agenda and background note of the webinar are enclosed herewith. A live
webcast link is given below:

Date : 6th November, 2023

Time: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Link : https://youtube.com/live/l0p7f818ftc?feature=share

In this regard, you are requested to share the webcast link with all faculty members and
students of your institution and encourage them to join the live Webcast of the webinar
as per the date and time mentioned above.

Date : 4th November, 2023 (Prof. Sunil Bhirud)

Place : Mumbai – 400 032 I/c. Registrar

To,
All the Principals/Directors of the Affiliated Colleges and Recognized Institutions and
Heads/Directors of the University various Departments and Sub Campuses of
University of Mumbai.
Copy for information
1. P.A. to Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, University of Mumbai
2. P.A. to Hon’ble Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Mumbai
 Webinar (Hybrid mode) on “Accelerating Progress on Sustainable Development Goals” for
Adoption and Implementation of G20 New Delhi Leader’s Declaration SDG G20 Workshop
BACKGROUND NOTE

Date: 06 November 2023

Venue: Dr Ambedkar International Centre, Delhi

Knowledge Partners: Institute for Human Development (IHD), Centre for Social and Economic Progress
(CSEP) in collaboration with UNDP India
***

India's G20 presidency has been structured around the theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’
or ‘One Earth-One Family-One Future,’ a theme that is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text
of the Maha Upanishad. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life – human, animal,
plant, and microorganisms – and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the
wider universe. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that nations have committed
to achieving by 2030, mirror the same interconnectedness in the universe. This presidency
presents a unique opportunity to assess progress, impact, and chart the future course of the
G20 in accelerating the achievement of SDGs.
The G20 Summit attended by the world leaders in India in the month of September 2023
adopted the G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration (NDLD). Amongst the various focus areas
of the Declaration, ‘Accelerating Progress on the SDGs’ is a key area. The declaration goes
beyond rhetoric, suggesting substantial, pragmatic steps to bolster developing nations in
their quest to achieve the SDGs. Moreover, a resolute G20 2023 Action Plan, aimed at
expediting progress on the SDGs, underscores an unwavering commitment to driving the
global advancement of these crucial development objectives.
At the midway point to 2030, the global progress on SDGs is off-course with only 12 percent
of the targets on track. During this Decade of Action, NDLD aims to leverage the G20’s
convening power and its collective resolve to fully and effectively implement the 2030
Agenda and accelerate progress toward the SDGs, in a timely manner, to shape the world we
want to see for our future generations. India's wealth of think tanks and the extensive
experience of its diverse s are invaluable resources for upholding their commitment through
indigenous leadership and support. The workshop will endeavour to ascertain the key
elements of NDLD and develop a national roadmap with stakeholders ranging from State
Governments, private sector, engagement groups, among others, towards achieving the
same. India's pursuit of the 2030 Agenda is critical for its rapid and sustainable
development, aligning with the aspirations of its large, youthful, and dynamic population. In
a diverse nation like India, the localisation of SDGs becomes imperative, given the range of
issues at the local level and the magnitude of the challenges. Each of the twenty-eight States
and eight Union Territories have embraced the SDGs. The States have taken the leadership
in SDG localisation, through developing implementation mechanisms, monitoring
frameworks, and driving action at ground level till blocks.
For tracking the progress of SDGs, India has established a robust monitoring framework,
overseen by top policymakers both at the national and State levels. This system encompasses
a range of SDG Indices developed by NITI Aayog, including the SDG India Index and
dashboard, NER District SDG Index and dashboard, and Urban SDG Index & dashboard.
These indices have emerged as essential policy instruments, serving not only as progress
metrics but also as catalysts for actionable measures.
India has shown notable progress in its SDG journey, evident in the improvement of the NITI
Aayog SDG India Index & Dashboard score over the years. The positive momentum toward
SDG achievement is particularly driven by the outstanding nationwide performance in Goal
1(No Poverty), Goal 3 (Good Health & well-being), Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and
Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Goal 11(Sustainable Cities), Goal 13(Climate Action)
etc.
Segment-1: Eliminating Hunger and Malnutrition
The NDLD focuses on some priority areas for accelerating the progress of SDGs including
Eliminating hunger and malnutrition, strengthening global health and implementing One
Health Approach and Delivering quality education. The performance of the SDGs in these
areas need concerted and accelerated action. The scorei for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) is 2020 is
47, up from 35 in 2019. The NDLD underscored the need to strengthen research cooperation
on climate-resilient and nutritious grains such as millets, quinoa, sorghum, and other
traditional crops including rice, wheat and maize. Building more sustainable and climate-
resilient agriculture and food systems is a key aim in this context.
The initial part of the workshop, which centres on nutrition, will broadly address the
following issues:
1. Strengthening research cooperation on climate-resilient and nutritious grains
2. Building more sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture and food systems
(including focus on soil health)
3. Enabling access to affordable, safe, nutritious, and healthy diets, and to foster the
progressive realization of the right to adequate food.
4. Utilising technology to revolutionise fight against malnutrition.
Segment-2: Ensuring Good Health for All
India’s progress regarding SDG 3 (Good health and wellbeing) is better with a scorei of 74 in
the year 2020, up from 61 in 2019. In this regard, the NDLD focuses on building more
resilient, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive health systems to achieve Universal Health
Coverage, implement One Health approach, enhance pandemic preparedness, and
strengthen existing infectious diseases surveillance systems. The aim would be to strengthen
primary health care and health workforce and to improve essential health services & health
systems to better than pre-pandemic levels, ideally within the next 2-3 years. The One Health
approach is an integrated, unifying approach that recognizes that the health of people,
animals and ecosystems are closely linked and interdependent. Although the health, food,
water, energy and environment are wider topics with sector-specific concerns, a
collaborative approach across sectors and disciplines would contribute effectively to protect
health, address health challenges such as the emergence of infectious diseases, antimicrobial
resistance, and food safety. Simultaneously it would promote the health and integrity of our
ecosystems.
The second segment of the workshop, dedicated to health, will focus on the following:
 1. Strengthening primary health care and health workforce and improving essential
health services and health systems
2. Eradicating and ending ongoing epidemics including AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria,
hepatitis and water-borne and other communicable diseases.
3. Promoting the One Health-based approach to implement and prioritise tackling
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
4. Promoting role of evidence-based Traditional and Complementary Medicine in health
Segment-3: Delivering Quality Education
The third focus area in the NDLD is ‘Delivering quality education’. India has not shown
adequate progress in the related SDG 4 (Quality education); rather there has been a slight
regression as the scorei declined from 58 in 2019 to 57 in 2020. Yet investment in human
capital development is a crucial area for any nation. The NDLD focuses on delivery of
inclusive, equitable, high-quality education and skills training for all, including for those in
vulnerable situations. Just as the foundational literacy and numeracy along with socio-
emotional skills are key areas, the importance of digital skills cannot be over-emphasized.
With majority of the SDG targets directly influenced by digital technologies, there is a need
to enhance high-quality data and sustainable data infrastructure, bridge the digital divides,
including gender digital divide and growing data-divide, as well as to focus on capacity
building. Another area of critical importance, given the existing potential of reaping
demographic dividends is quality technical and vocational education.
The third and final segment of the workshop on Delivering Quality Education will centre on
the following:
1. Improving foundational learning
2. Harnessing digital technologies and overcoming the digital divides for all learners
and equipping educational institutions and teachers to keep pace with emerging
trends and technological advances including AI.
3. Expanding access to high-quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training
4. Enabling life-long learning focused on skilling, reskilling, and upskilling especially for
vulnerable groups.
Acknowledging that meeting targets for the SDGs is a complex process which needs the
active involvement and efforts of States, the workshop will comprehensively attempt to
outline a plan of action in implementing the SDGs. It will also delve into the detailed aspects
of implementing SDGs at the regional level within States, closely evaluating their
effectiveness in managing this critical aspect of the global agenda.
The journey towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in India is a multifaceted
and collaborative effort, driven by the combined endeavours of States, central ministries, and
various stakeholders with a whole of society approach. The 2030 Agenda stands as a
unifying vision for a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future. With NITI Aayog leading
the way and demonstrating innovation and commitment for SDGs, there is a strong
foundation for progress. The workshop offers an invaluable opportunity to share good
practices, learn from one another, and further solidify our collective commitment to leaving
no one behind in our pursuit of a better world. The workshop will also focus on
strengthening and broadening domestic engagement in the ownership and implementation
of SDGs and create a forum of Think Tanks and Researchers for accelerating the
implementation of SDGs. As India's G20 Presidency aligns with the spirit of the SDGs, the
nation is poised to play a pivotal role in fostering global cooperation and advancing the
shared goal of sustainable development for all.

NITI Aayog serves as the primary agency responsible for SDG implementation in the nation.
The workshop is being organised by NITI Aayog and its three knowledge partners.

1. Institute for Human Development (IHD)

IHD specialises in socioeconomic and human development research. The institution aims to
contribute towards building a society that fosters and values an inclusive social, economic
and political system that is free from poverty and deprivations.

2. Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP)

The Centre for Social and Economic Progress is an independent, public policy think tank with
a mandate to conduct research and analysis on critical issues facing India and the world and
help shape policies that advance sustainable growth and development.

3. UNDP India
UNDP's core areas of focus encompass poverty reduction, democratic governance,
peacebuilding, climate change and disaster risk management, as well as addressing
economic inequality. UNDP is the leading UN organisation to act as integrator of the SDGs at
the national level. In India, UNDP collaborates with NITI Aayog through a Memorandum of
Understanding to assist in the integration of SDGs into the country's national development
plans and policies.

i
As per NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index
Webinar (Hybrid mode) on “Accelerating Progress on Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)” for
Adoption and Implementation of G20 New Delhi Leader’s Declaration
Tentative Agenda

Date: 06 November 2023

Venue: Dr Ambedkar International Centre, Delhi

Knowledge Partners: Institute for Human Development (IHD), Centre for Social and Economic
Progress (CSEP) in collaboration with UNDP India

Agenda
• Follow up on recommendations and implementation of the G20 New Delhi Leaders’
Declaration (NDLD) on SDGs.
• Facilitate the exchange of experiences on SDG localisation for cross-learning to accelerate the
progress on the Goals.
• Devising sectoral strategies for implementing SDGs, specifically regarding Hunger and
Malnutrition, Health and Education.
• Strengthen and broaden domestic engagement in the ownership and implementation of SDGs
and bring together Think Tanks and Researchers in India to accelerate the implementation of
SDGs.
• To highlight best practices that may be replicated across States/ UTs to accelerate SDG
progress.
• Identify key action points for concerned stakeholders.

Programme Schedule

Time Programme Speaker/Moderator/Presenter

10:00 – 11:15 High-level Inaugural • Inaugural address: (5 mins)
AM segment: • Special address: (15 mins)
• Keynote address 1: (20 mins)
Plenary Session on • Keynote address 2 (20 mins)
"Nutrition, Health and • Keynote address 3: (15 mins)
Education: Prime
Enablers of Human
Capital and
Prosperity"
11:15 – 11:30
Tea Break
AM
11:30– 12:45 Segment 1: Chair and Moderator: Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member,
PM Eliminating Hunger NITI Aayog
and Malnutrition
Opening Remarks: Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI
Aayog (5 minutes)

Presenters (7 mins each)

Sub-topic 1: Strengthening research cooperation on

climate-resilient and nutritious grains
 Sub-topic 2: Building more sustainable and climate-
resilient agriculture and food systems (including a
focus on soil health)

Sub-Topic 3: Enabling access to affordable, safe,

nutritious and healthy diets and to foster the
progressive realisation of the right to adequate food

Sub Topic 4: Utilising technology to revolutionise the

fight against malnutrition

Lead Discussants to comment and add on the above

presentations (any two based on availability) for 7
minutes each.

Open discussion (20 mins)

Closing Remarks: Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI

Aayog (8 minutes)
12:45 – 01:45 Lunch
PM
01:45 – 03:00 Segment 2: Ensuring Chair and moderator: Dr V K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog
PM good health for all
Opening Remarks: Dr V K Paul, Member, Member, NITI
Aayog (5 minutes)

Presenters (7 mins each)

Sub-Topic 1: Strengthening primary health care and

health workforce and improving essential health
services and health systems
Sub-Topic 2: Eradicating and ending ongoing
epidemics, including AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria,
hepatitis and water-borne and other communicable
diseases
Sub-Topic 3: Promoting the One Health-based
approach implement and prioritising tackling
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Sub-Topic 4: Promoting the role of evidence-based
Traditional and Complementary Medicine in health

Lead Discussants to comment and add on the above

presentations (any two based on availability) for 7
minutes each.

Open discussion (20 mins)

Closing Remarks: Dr V K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog (8

minutes)
03:00 - 03:15 Tea
03:15 – 04:30 Segment 3: Delivering Chair and moderator: Dr V K Saraswat, Member, NITI
Quality Education Aayog

Opening Remarks: Member, NITI Aayog (5 minutes)

Presenters (7 mins each)

Sub-Topic 1: Improving Foundational Learning

Sub-Topic 2: Harnessing digital technologies,

overcoming digital divides and equipping educational
institutions to keep pace with emerging trends and
technological advances, including AI

Sub-Topic 3: Expanding access to high-quality

Technical and Vocational Education and Training
(TVET)

Sub-Topic 4: Enabling life-long learning focused on

skilling, reskilling, and upskilling, especially for
vulnerable groups

Lead Discussants to comment and add on the above

presentations (any two based on availability) for 7
minutes each.

Open discussion (20 mins)

Closing Remarks: Dr V K Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog

(8 minutes)
04:30 - 05:00 Key Takeaways and Chair: Dr. Arvind Virmani, Member, NITI Aayog
PM Way Forward • Opening Remarks: Dr. Arvind Virmani, Member,
NITI Aayog (5 mins)
• Key Highlights of the Workshop: IHD & CSEP (5
mins each)
• Comments: Enam Gambhir, JS, G20 Secretariat (5
mins)
• Way Forward: CEO, NITI Aayog (8 mins)
• Vote of thanks: Senior Adviser (SDGs), NITI Aayog
(2 mins)
05:00 High Tea