sdg-synergies-in-sri-lanka-report-a6b6b948d1fe6408.pdf

This report analyzes the interactions between 36 selected Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets in Sri Lanka using the 'SDG Synergies' approach. The findings reveal a highly synergistic environment where 98% of interactions are promoting rather than restricting. Key drivers of overall progress include policy coherence, anti-corruption efforts, and climate change capacity. Conversely, targets like drinking water and housing, while important, present more potential trade-offs that require careful management. The report emphasizes that because all analyzed targets are closely intertwined, Sri Lanka should adopt cross-sectoral institutional arrangements rather than siloed, sector-based approaches to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

• The overall interaction between the 36 analyzed SDG targets in Sri Lanka is overwhelmingly synergistic, with only 2% of direct interactions involving trade-offs.
• Three specific targets exhibit the highest degree of outward influence, meaning they have the greatest potential to accelerate progress across the other analyzed targets: strengthening policy coherence, reducing corruption, and enhancing climate change capacity.
• Targets related to improving access to drinking water and expanding decent housing show the lowest outward influence, indicating that their implementation requires specific attention to mitigate potential trade-offs.
• The targets with the highest inward influence—meaning they are most heavily impacted by progress in other areas—are those focused on enhancing agricultural and economic productivity.
• Targets concerning access to information and reduced corruption have the lowest inward influence, suggesting they do not receive significant support from progress in other targets and may require specifically targeted interventions.
• The analysis found no specific clusters or subgroups of targets that are more closely linked than others, as all 36 selected targets are closely intertwined in the Sri Lankan context. This suggests a need for collaborative processes that represent all goals rather than siloed sectoral approaches.
• Progress on social protection (target 1.3) strongly promotes other targets without restricting any. It is seen as a driver for reducing poverty, increasing incomes, reducing hunger and malnutrition, and promoting gender equality by increasing women's economic independence.
• Food, nutrition, and agriculture targets (2.1-2.4) promote poverty reduction, social protection, and economic development. However, increasing agricultural productivity may create trade-offs with environmental sustainability, specifically regarding deforestation and water pollution.
• While improving access to drinking water (target 6.1) promotes education, economic development, and gender equality, it is one of the targets with the most restricting influence on other areas, particularly natural resources and water management, due to risks of water wastage and poor institutional coordination.
• Improved housing (target 11.1) promotes poverty reduction and is linked to drinking water access, but it poses potential restricting influences on transportation, water treatment, waste management, and natural resource management.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). sdg-synergies-in-sri-lanka-report-a6b6b948d1fe6408.pdf. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/sdg-synergies-in-sri-lanka-report.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. sdg-synergies-in-sri-lanka-report-a6b6b948d1fe6408.pdf. n.d. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/sdg-synergies-in-sri-lanka-report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=sdg-synergies-in-sri-lanka-report-a6b6b948d1fe6408.pdf |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/sdg-synergies-in-sri-lanka-report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendsdgsynergiesinsrilankareporta6b6b948d1fe6408pdf, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{sdg-synergies-in-sri-lanka-report-a6b6b948d1fe6408.pdf}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/sdg-synergies-in-sri-lanka-report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }