Perspectives of vulnerable women on SDGs priorities for the decade of action

Keywords: ‘leave no one behind’, SDGs, women, roadmap, decade of action, Ghana
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

In several local settings, the voices of marginalized groups, especially women, are muted/sidelined in decision-making processes. An understanding of what marginalized individuals need and prioritize is however necessary in order to realize the SDGs ambition of leaving no one behind. This is because vulnerable individuals experience diverse and dynamic challenges, therefore, strategies that empower them to conduct their own analysis of their reality are critical. This research used qualitative photovoice methodology to provide an opportunity for vulnerable women experiencing intersecting vulnerabilities to reflect on their realities and articulate their most important needs. It examines the perspectives of individuals at risk of being left behind, on what is required to enable them to experience greater progress. It answers the principal question: What programs and policies should be prioritized at the local level and beyond for the remaining SDGs timeline? The research aligns with scholarship which suggests that to enact change, “development interventions need to empower the poor to analyze and express their realities and then put that reality first”. This paper therefore highlights the points of convergence of the views of research participants and draws on these themes to propose a roadmap of priority goals for the remaining timeline of the SDGs.