The need to achieve Agenda 2030 is on the priority list of all government and non-government agencies. In Pakistan, FAO is supporting the Government to prioritize and set targets of SDGs related to Agriculture and Natural Resources Management (ANR) through consultative workshops and trainings. These consultations will catalyze the process of achieving SDGs by 2030 by enabling the national and provincial ministries to monitor the progress of the SDG indicators, resource allocation needed, and setting targets and priorities.

With the purpose to present a tool that assists the country in planning and allocating resources in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held a series of consultation workshops on “Resource Gap Analysis” for national and provincial ministries and departments across Pakistan including Balochistan, Punjab, AJ&K, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Gilgit Baltistan.  The workshop identified a way forward at the national level to achieve the SDGs and mainstream food, agriculture and natural resource management in Pakistan. The workshop was attended by 100 participants including government representatives from Planning and Development, Finance, Statistics, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Forestry, Food, Water (Irrigation), Water Management, Women and Youth.

The consultation covered 21 SDG indicators under FAO custodianship including  small scale food producers (indicator 2.3.1 and 2.3.2), sustainable agriculture production (2.4.1), food prices (2.c.1), government expenditure on agriculture (2.a.1) and gender equality in land ownerships (5.a.1). Thus, FAO supported the Government of Pakistan to analyze data and monitor their status on these indicators. The participants are expected to apply the gained expertise and disseminate the acquired knowledge within their departments. Accelerated investment in sustainable agriculture and food systems, and in rural people is a proven accelerator of sustainable development that helps countries realize multiple SDGs.