- Discover resources to help you explore SDG 8 issues
- Figure out which economic or work issue to solve in your community
WHAT IS SDG 8 ALL ABOUT?
SDG 8 impacts everyone around the world. Here are some key issues that are part of SDG 8.
START: UN SDG TARGETS
Click on each tab on the left to read each target.
8.1 Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries.
Can we address it? (click here)
This target would be difficult to address as it is at the national level.
8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.
Can we address it? (click here)
This could be a difficult target.
8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
Can we address it? (click here)
This can be a good target to work on, promoting small businesses and also making it easier for small businesses to access financial services.
8.4 Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead.
Can we address it? (click here)
This is a difficult target to address, but you might consider how to decouple economic growth from environment degradation. In other words, what climate or environmental issues could be addressed that can also help with economic growth?
8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
Can we address it? (click here)
This is a good target to address. Advocacy or education about equal pay for all workers for work of equal value, regardless of gender, age, or disability status, could be a good focus.
8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.
Can we address it? (click here)
Working on helping more youth become employed is a good target.
8.7 Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.
Can we address it? (click here)
This can be a difficult target to address, mainly for safety reasons, but advoacy and education could be a good focus.
8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
Can we address it? (click here)
This is a good target to focus on.
8.9 By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
Can we address it? (click here)
This can be a good target, especially the promotion of local culture and products.
8.10 Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all.
Can we address it? (click here)
While this could be a difficult target to work on, given the need to partner with financial institutions or people with access to money, it could still be a possible target to look at.
8.A Increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries.
Can we address it? (click here)
This could be a difficult target to address, since it involves governments and international trade.
8.B By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization.
Can we address it? (click here)
While the ideas within the Global Jobs Pact are good, it would be a difficult target to work on, given the implementation is intended by governments.
As a summary, these targets could be good ones to start brainstorming for project ideas.
8.3 Support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
8.4 Decouple economic growth from environmental degradation.
8.5 Full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
8.6 Reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.
8.7 Eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and end child labour in all its forms.
8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments.
8.9 Promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
8.10 Encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all.
NEXT STEPS
- Look at the SDG 8 targets.
- Choose some of interest.
- Start generating thoughts and ideas around each topic.
- Relate to issues in your own community.
- Connect ideas that relate.
Here is a brainstorming example.
Then
- From your map, select one or two particular areas to focus on.
- Dig deeper with some research into those particular ideas and topics.
ACTIVITY: BRAINSTORMING
Make a mind map to generate ideas around the SDG 8 targets
- Write down issues, ideas, organizations, people in boxes or bubbles
- Connect related boxes
- Review the ideas and themes.
- Select one or two main themes/issues that interest you and that you have seen in your community.
- Research those topics further and start to brainstorm solutions.
NEXT STEPS
Research
Start with the UN SDG 8 website to learn about the targets and follow links
Community
Connect issues you’ve discovered here to issues you know about in your community
People
Follow people who are working in this space on social media to learn more and even contact them
Document
Keep your links and notes organized using bookmarks and Google docs or folder
