Leaving no one behind: Supporting women, poor people, and indigenous people in wheat-maize innovations in Bangladesh. GENNOVATE resources for scientists and research teams

Abstract

In 2015, the governments of 193 countries agreed on “Agenda 2030,” a charter of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They also committed to “Leave No One Behind” (LNOB) in order to ensure that everyone is able to benefit from sustainable development processes. No goal is deemed to be met unless met for all. Bangladesh has translated Agenda 2030 at the national level by formulating a Perspective Plan (2010-2021) and by bringing the SDGs into its 7th Five Year Plan (2016-2020). A “Whole of Society” approach involves all development partners—multi and bilateral agencies, NGOs, civil society, the private sector, and the media—in interpreting and implementing the SDGs. An SDGs Implementation and Monitoring Committee has been formed at the Prime Minister’s Office to facilitate implementation of the SDG Action Plan. The SDGs and the principle of leaving no one behind has clear implications for the work of international agricultural research organizations, as well as national agricultural research partners, rural advisory services, and other partners in the public and private sector in Bangladesh. CIMMYT is committed to optimizing the use of research resources, accelerating the uptake of innovations, and enhancing impacts and their social inclusiveness for poor producers and consumers of wheat and maize in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Working ever more effectively with women and socially marginalized farmers is part of this, as is working with farmers with small land parcels who are often excluded from project interventions on the basis that their lands are too small. Our research shows that many such farmers strongly seek inclusion in innovation processes and that if they succeed they have the potential to lease additional land and thus improve their economic status