Arete Volume One Fall 2022

Αρετή (Arete) Journal of Excellence in Global Leadership | Vol. 1 No. 1 | 2022

Localizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A Spotlight on Djibouti

Anne Kolb Literacy Programming & Translation Services: Literacy and Family Engagement Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States

Abstract Background: The importance of Global Leadership grows stronger as societies discover the interconnectedness of and dependencies on one another and the planet. The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent global values to guide international policymaking and are the standard by which to measure international development. The literature surrounding the UN Goals include praise, critique, and exploration of drivers and challenges of implementation. A study by Geels (2002), found that developmental progress is more likely to occur in localized settings. Objectives: Following the call to research introduced by Jönsson and Bexell (2021) who studied drivers and obstacles of localizing the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda in Tanzania, this study explores challenges of localizing the sustainable development goals in Djibouti which are not unlike small states, small island states, and post-colonial states. Approach: The study draws on a range of secondary sources; it is the first known study to attempt to analyze SDG implementation in Djibouti. Results: The political geography of Djibouti offers an intriguing case for SDG implementation. Conclusions: Djibouti’s case contributes to the field of Global leadership by expanding the current body of country-specific literature and the ever-expanding body of research pertaining to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and their implementation.

Keywords: Djibouti; Sustainable Development Goals; Geopolitics; localization; Cultural Geography, Global Leadership

Paper type: Critical Essay & Perspective

Citation: Kolb, A. (2022). Localizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A Spotlight on Djibouti. Αρετή (Arete) Journal of Excellence in Global Leadership , Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 46-61.

46