Rodrigues Island of the Republic of Mauritius, a strong promoter of environment protection and sustainable development, has taken a new step towards achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda. The RRA launched its Sustainable Development Goal Committee (SDG) on Tuesday 17 November 2020. Composed of the Chief Commissioner, the Chairperson and Honourable Members of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly (RRA), the SDG Committee will serve as an advisory and cross-party body to mainstream the SDGs as a development priority and coordinate their implementation across the different Commissions of the RRA.

Following dialogue with the Mauritius Parliamentary Gender Caucus to establish a Standing Committee on gender equality, the initiative of the RRA has grown to include all the 17 SDGs. The establishment of the Committee, which has required amendments to the existing Standing Orders and Rules and Regulations of the RRA, was achieved with the technical support from UNDP Gender Expert, Dr. Anjalee Dabee. With funding support from the Australian Government Direct Aid Programme, the UNDP also provided technical assistance to the RRA SDG Committee to develop a strategic road map and action plan.

During the launching ceremony of the RRA SDG Committee, Ms. Amanda Serumaga, UNDP Resident Representative for Mauritius and Seychelles, stated that she is “convinced that the SDG Committee will pave the way for economic development in Rodrigues that "leaves no one behind’. As part of the SIDs community, Ms. Serumaga encouraged Members of the Committee to “continue to work to achieve development in a participatory and sustainable manner”. She also emphasized that “the needs and interests of young people should be taken into account; from eliminating poverty, to having decent jobs, participating in innovation and technological advancement and gender equality.”

In her remarks, Her Excellency, Dr. Kate O’Shaughnessy, Australian High Commissioner for Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros and Madagascar underlined the importance for small communities to be “creative and innovative to survive”. Moreover, she lauded “…the vision and strategic far-sightedness of the members of the RRA, of the Chief Commissioner, and of UNDP, for bringing this project into reality to ensure that Rodrigues continues to develop in a way that is equitable and fair for all”. Dr O’Shaughnessy also stated  that promoting women empowerment and working together are important to ensure the development of Mauritius and Rodrigues.

The SDGs advocate for "Leaving no one behind"

Her Excellency Christine Umutoni, the UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, noted that the younger generation has a central role to play in the achievement of the SDGs. Ms. Umutoni reiterated the importance for the SDG Committee to assess its progress and expressed the wish that the Committee keeps “…advocating for the SDGs both at the level of the Regional Assembly and through the public at large, civil society and media...”

The Chairperson of the RRA SDG Committee, Mrs. Marie Pricie Anjela Speville drew attention to the commitment of the RRA to achieve the SDGs. She asserted “Here in Rodrigues, we are proud of our local resources and aspire to building resilience as well as safeguarding our natural resources, safeguarding livelihoods and empowering our social capital.” Mrs. Spelville recounted the various steps of the setting up of the Committee since 2017; and expressed the gratitude of the RRA to the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator UNDP and the Australian High Commission for their contributions. She noted that the RRA is still a young assembly and it will need further collaboration and commitment of all its stakeholders to be able to achieve the SDGs and positively shape the future of Rodrigues.

The first action of the now operational SDG Committee will be to carry out a baseline study on the SDGs in Rodrigues to ensure evidence-based policymaking and a realignment of existing National Development Plans to the SDGs. The UNDP Country Office will sustain its support to the Committee by extending technical assistance to conduct the said-study. The report is expected in March 2021.