Introduction

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, comprising 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015, is especially relevant for the eight countries of South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). Despite the subregion’s economic dynamism and remarkable achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), South Asia still accounts for 36% of the world’s poor and suffers from a number of development and infrastructure gaps. Given its large and growing population, which currently represents nearly a fourth of the world’s population, the subregion has a critical role to play in the global achievement of the SDGs.

Sustainable Development Goals:

No Poverty

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Reduced Inequalities