Though the 2030 Agenda acknowledges that civil society organisations have a big role to play in ‘Transforming Our World’, it is not clear how civil society organisations can support the implementation, monitoring and review of the Sustainable Development Goals. While government has the mandate of the day to govern its citizens and ensure that their needs are taken care of, civil society and non-governmental organizations play a crucial role within their societies in providing policy input, following new initiatives, and holding governments accountable. They can be active actors in promoting democratic and market-oriented reforms based on shared values including but not limited to respect for democracy and human rights, the rule of law, good governance, principles of market economy and sustainable development. The National Coordination on the Implementation of SDGs (NACOS) Initiative seeks to ensure that there is a coherent, coordinated, and all-inclusive participatory approach to the effective localization, implementation, and coordination of the 2030 Agenda in Zimbabwe.

The first stage of the initiative has been the setting of the stage for implementation by the “Beyond 2015 Campaign”, which has for three years built momentum for implementation by engaging all relevant stakeholders, especially those most affected by poverty in awareness building and participation. In Zimbabwe this step has been concluded through the successful establishment of the Beyond 2015 Zimbabwe National Hub, the building of public-private partnerships, and the launching of the NATIONAL COORDINATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SDGs (NACOS). The final step of the first phase has been the formation of partnership frameworks leading to the development of a concept paper and a full project proposal with a comprehensive implementation and action plan. This last step has been carried out but the process of scoping and creating new partnerships is an ongoing process that will take place throughout the life of the project. This step will be concluded by a launch meeting for continued work for the implementation period of 2016 – 2030 after the 70th session of the United Nations’ General Assembly. The implementation phase of this work encompasses the alignment and localization of the 2030 Agenda by taking into account the Zimbabwe’s national realities, and then working within this framework in an effort to exert influence for positive transformation. The implementation phase will see the laying of the foundation for the next 15 years during which the sustainable development agenda will be pursued. The last phase will be the establishment of the programme and the achievement of the set down deliverables for the national implementation of the sustainable development agenda. The proposed project not only contributes to an ongoing or future national process, but seeks to build a strong foundation for the implementation of the said agenda by ensuring greater coherence of the national development plans and by fostering the new constitution as a tool for empowerment.

The successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Zimbabwe will require support to help further develop scientific, technological, professional and related capacities while taking into account existing technologies and capacities. The availability of technological information and on-going capacity building will enable informed choices in all spheres and achieve sustainable development. The technology transfer arrangements will employ human resource development and local capacity-building aspects by promoting transfer of technology and capacity that is neglected or displaced, paying attention to priority needs and taking into account the complementary roles of men and women, link technologies with national policies and supportive measures that promote technology cooperation. These should enable transfer of necessary technological know-how as well as building up of economic, technical and managerial capabilities for the efficient use and further development of transferred technology. We will also lobby for National capacities to assess, develop, manage and apply new technologies by strengthening existing institutions, training of personnel at all levels and education of the end-user of the technology.We will lobby for the strengthening of joint efforts by private enterprises, international agencies, and government to direct investment, technology and capacity management practices to effectively disseminate, apply, manage and use technology. We will advocate for systematic ongoing training and capacity-building at all levels nationally over an extended period of time. We will work through the existing international information networks which link national, sub regional, regional and local systems. The existing information systems will be linked through information hub centers at all levels covering all sectors of note in the nation. The network would collect relevant documentation and reports. It would operate on an information-demand basis and focus on the information needs of the end-users. These activities will produce specialists literate in sound technology and with an interdisciplinary outlook. These specialists will develop their corresponding social or managerial support systems which will be innovatively adapted and incorporated into the national and local cultures. Inter/alia human resource development, strengthening of institutional capacities for research, development and programme implementation will be achieved through indigenous capacity-building and transfer of technology. Working groups will be strengthened to assess, adopt, manage and apply these technologies. We will also have an integrated sector assessment of technology needs, in accordance to various spheres. This would also be done to promote long-term technological partnerships amongst participants of technological and capacities transfer.

Our nation's new constitution explicitly espouses national values and principles of governance which are to be used as the basis of interpretation of law and of formulation and implementation of public policy decisions. The constitution also introduces new standards of leadership and integrity for public service, including ethics and etiquette. The proposed programme will coordinate the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders to engage more effectively on governance issues, monitoring the situation and advocating for constructive reform in relation to the 2030 Agenda. The constitution, if implemented properly, will play a pivotal role in making the ambitious agenda a reality in Zimbabwe as it builds equal playing fields. Since the law allows for more effective implementation of the constitution, it will require inter alia, a paradigm shift in the day-to-day functioning of the public service. Save Matabeleland Coalition and its partners shall have the key role of leading the various program components and the Beyond 2015 Campaign National Hub will complement the work of the Lead Agency and ensure wider participation and involvement in various project components. In this arrangement, the Thematic Committees will carry out the envisioned activities from small, community-based organisations to international NGOs, academics, trade unions and government.

* Save Matabeleland Coalition * Beyond 2015 Zimbabwe * Regional Centre for Social Responsibility (RCSR) * Footnote Consultancy * Stop to Start International * Habakkuk Trust