The 2030 Agenda in Uruguay: critical aspects of its implementation during the period 2015-2020

Abstract

We are facing a time of multidimensional crisis that demands new policy responses that place sustainable development at the centre. The 2030 Agenda was born in 2015 as a framework for collective action in response to the challenge of the multidimensional crisis, with the aim of serving as a guide for all countries to move towards sustainable development. This article addresses this challenge by studying the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Uruguay between 2015 and 2020. It analyses the deployment of this agenda with reference to six critical areas for the success of the 2030 Agenda: the visions and narratives of the agenda, the institutional framework, the strategic vision, coordination and coherence between actors, the role of civil society and the specific instruments for its implementation. The article focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of this process, highlighting the excessive focus on the dynamics of technocratisation and accountability that can undermine efforts for achieving sustainable development.