Arete Volume One Fall 2022

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

roughly 54% toward meeting the 2030 development goals (Sachs et al., 2021). Figure 2 is Djibouti’s 2021 SDG dashboard indicating the country’s progress toward realizing the seventeen goals (Sachs et al., 2021). As indicated by the arrows, Djibouti is on track to realize SDG 13 (climate action), is decreasing in realizing SDG 15 (life on land), and moderately improving or stagnant toward meeting others. Two of the goals (reduced inequalities and responsible consumption and production) do not have enough available information, reflective of the commonly reported challenge of data collection on the SDGs (Sachs et al., 2021). The background color of each goal indicates level of assessed challenges in realizing the individual goal. The abundance of red in Djibouti’s dashboard visually illustrates the major challenges Djibouti faces in realizing the seventeen SDGs. The challenges are similarly represented in Assa’s (2021) Multidimensional Vulnerability Inde x which used eleven indicators to assess 126 countries’ economic, environmental, geographical, and financial vulnerabilities. Djibouti ranked 11 th most vulnerable. Given the unique advantages previously outlined, the socioeconomic numbers for Djibouti seem incongruent. By way of some explanation, challenges commonly listed in the literature pertaining to Djibouti include the country’s nascency, size, scarce resources, and lack of arable land.

Figure 2 Djibouti’s 2021 Dashboard for SDG Progress

Source: Sachs et al., 2021

The UN (2022) global indicator framework provides the full title of SDG 15 as “Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss” (p.17). The desert climate of Djibouti creates multifaceted obstacles in realizing multiple SDGs. For example, in Djibouti’s climate, air conditioning is necessary, and high electrical costs are a barrier to economic growth (Styan, 2016). Djibouti is only able to produce 4% of its own food due to its lack of arable land and chronic drought (Blanchard, 2022) and 20% of Djibouti’s population lacks access to potable water (Medouar, 2021). Djibouti relies on international trade partners and imports for more than 90% of its food and water needs. Imported foods

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