Rotary International Focus Areas and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Comparative Study on Synergies and Complementarities

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The world is grappling with issues, challenges, and concerns that could significantly impact human welfare, well-being, and rights, posing immense strains on financial resources and services. It is hard for non-profit organizations as expansion in giving is not matched with the overwhelming increase in community needs and demands for grants and donations and hard to renew in a changed economic environment. This is paired with the non-profit sector being pushed to innovate and adapt the organization’s plan redirecting resources to deliver on its mission and objectives. Especially at present in the post-pandemic world and the ongoing conflict in Gaza with its long-term consequences of deep humanitarian crises, the Non-Profit sector ought to consider investing in leadership development, focus on capacity building, and cultivate diverse talent to be engaged in scaling their models of social impact.

This article is a comparative analysis of the objectives of Rotary International and Rotary Foundation and the Sustainable Development Goals. I will discuss and highlight differences and how they complement each other for achieving social progress and quest for justice and freedom and the spread of opportunities for education, healthcare, provision of clean water, economic sustainable development, and growth.

Rotary International and its Foundation is a nonprofit organization alongside the Sustainable Development Goals and objectives established by the United Nations in 2015 stand out as key contributors, playing pivotal and crucial roles in advancing humanitarian efforts and aid worldwide. In addition, to lead the drive toward meeting the overwhelming increase in community services and needs and initiating quality sustainable projects that impact and make a difference and improve the lives of many impoverished communities.

Rotary International is a global network of volunteers, and professionals dedicated to tackling and managing humanitarian issues and conflict resolution. It draws innovators, creative thinkers, thoughtful and collaborative analytical people, and current and future leaders from a diversity of backgrounds and countries. It has forged a reputation for its rigorous and forward thinking and rich history in undertaking transformative, effective, and impactful projects within its seven areas of focus that are effective and improve the lives of people living in poverty. Rotary clubs significantly leverage donations, transforming them into impactful projects that not only address immediate community needs but also contribute to long-term development and empowerment. Through their strategic focus areas, Rotary demonstrates the remarkable power of collective action, showing how dedicated individuals can effect profound changes. The Rotary Foundation stands as a central force behind this movement, driving positive change and fostering a world that is more peaceful, prosperous, and harmonious. This synergy of efforts and dedication exemplifies how collaborative initiatives can lead to substantial improvements in global well-being.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a shared set of goals and objectives within a universal agreement, a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy Peace and Prosperity now and in the future. The goals were adopted by all member states in the United Nations in 2015 for the period 2016-2030 to address the world’s need for a more radical and sustainable approach to tackle emerging challenges that can impact progress toward achieving the SDGs Objectives.

There are clear obligations and responsibilities for all member states for which they will be held accountable and a recognition that cross-system approaches for assessment and implementation are needed. It requires explicit contributions from every country, particularly in developing and aligning the analytical tools to assess progress and assist in decision-making. Thereby, a range of various approaches to deal with the complex issues related to the implementation process were identified.

1. Some countries built on their existing development strategies and aligned existing objectives with the new goals.
2. Other countries have developed new SDGs and formulated new execution plans
3. Other countries have linked the SDGs to financial planning for sustainable development or integrated SDGs in sectoral planning.

Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation

The 7 areas of focus act as a guide to direct Rotary Club project planning and implementation to ascertain that these projects are impactful, sustainable, and aligned with the global needs of the communities.

1. Fostering peace, conflict resolution, and peace-building Rotary Club developed an educational program and provides scholarships to develop skills and create a network of leaders capable of conflict resolution and supporting people who are affected by these conflicts.
2. Health and fighting and prevention of disease One of the most notable achievements of Rotary International is its successful efforts in eradicating 90% of Polio, preventing and treating diseases, and access and improvement to health care.
3. Provision of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education, Rotary International and Districts supply rotary clubs with grants to initiate projects to rehabilitate water facilities in schools and communities as it is crucial for health.
4. Saving of mothers and children efforts at enhancing the health and well-being of mothers and children.
5. Education Rotary supports educational programs and efforts to expand educational opportunities by providing scholarships to eligible students and literacy programs worldwide.
6. Strengthening local economies Rotary supports local economies’ development through project initiation skills augmentation and programs that could result in job creation and employment, increased income expanded economic sustainability, and invigorate economic growth.
7. Protecting the environment, Environmental concerns emerged as a top priority for decision-makers in today’s business climate. Achieving sustainability requires moving from traditional economies and manufacturing to the circular economy. This requires designing out waste and pollution. Rotary supports projects that promote environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, and enhanced ecosystems, through sustainable practices. The steps taken together aim at leading to community well-being.

Rotary Action Plan

Rotary Action Plan builds on their past successes and sets the path for future direction to ensure Rotary continues to grow, unite people, and make a lasting difference in people’s lives. To achieve the Rotary vision and mission four priorities guide the work of the Rotary:

• Increase the Rotary impact
• Expand the Rotary outreach
• Enhance participants’ engagement
• Expand the ability and capacity of the Rotary to adapt, adopt and innovate

The Sustainable Development Goals

Here below are the 17 SUstainable Development Goals related to the 5 Ps

Comparative Analysis

• Shared Objectives and Knowledge Both Rotary International and the SDGs Enjoy similarities and both aim to delve into societal issues to drive health improvement, promote and support education, enhance economic life and well-being, ensure accessibility to clean water, and educate people to adopt and practice hygienics.
• Both organizations operate on an international level and global scale aiming at fostering peace and conflict resolution encouraging collaboration and understanding through peace fellowships and peacebuilding.
• Emphasizing the interconnectedness of the world and the goals of the two organizations.
• Both SDGs and Rotary International spur Innovation and collaboration and encourage active participation and engagement from local communities and stakeholders to ensure the sustainability and relevance of projects and facilitate the exchange of knowledge

Differences

• The scope and framework and scope of work of SDGs address a wide range of global Problems and challenges. Meanwhile Rotary International emphasizes 7 areas of focus.
• Projects are undertaken and implemented through a network of local Rotary Clubs and their members, leveraging their volunteerism and engagement by providing and deploying funding by the Districts and Rotary international global Grants. In contrast, the SDGs rely on a combination of governmental funding, private sector involvement, and PPP to achieve their goals.
• The SDGs designed a set of targets and indicators for each goal to measure progress at the global, local, and national levels. Rotary International measures success based on the outcomes and impact of the project on the community where it has been executed. Unified success and impact measurements are absent. However, the number and quantity of people any project serves are employed to measure success.

Conclusion

Both Rotary International and SDGs are crucial and pivotal in facing challenges and vital tools in mobilizing actions and providing solutions. Their approaches and scope of work differ, as their objectives intersect driving collective efforts towards a more sustainable and equitable world. The synergy between Rotary’s targeted projects combined with SDGs’ broad scope of work can amplify the impact driving progress toward a more just world and equitable spread of wealth.