The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are recognized as the global development agenda with a wider and more inclusive mandate than the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which ended in 2015. The SDGs differed to the MDGs as the latter were formulated by experts from member states of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and some international institutions. The SDGs, on the other hand, were adopted out of an agreement between all 193 member states of the United Nations along with input from the civil society and various relevant stakeholders. It is unsurprising if the SDGs covered a more diverse and detailed list of problems, as well as ensuring that not a single citizen is left behind, regardless of age and background, by emphasizing principles of equality and anti-discrimination.

On this note, The SMERU Research Institute conducted several research studies in 2015 to assess challenges to realizing the SDGs in Indonesia. Furthermore, other SMERU research studies could give insight and input to existing efforts in achieving the SDGs in Indonesia, especially in health and education sectors. In this second edition of the SMERU Newsletter for the year, we presented the findings of four SMERU research studies on the SDGs, health, and education.

The first research study focused on lessons learned from the MDGs and challenges in realizing the SDGs in Indonesia. Both the second and third research studies covered the issue of maternal and child health, especially health care delivery for mothers, newborn, and children as well as child nutrition. Meanwhile, the fourth study focused on the issue of education: a diagnostic study on basic education learning in INOVASI’s partner kabupaten.

To complete the discussion, SMERU invited Yosi Diani Tresna, the Head of Subdirectorate of Child Protection, Bappenas, to give an insider’s perspective on gender and child issues related to implementing the SDGs in Indonesia.

This edition is hoped to build knowledge on the challenges Indonesia faces to achieving the SDGs targets as well as reducing poverty and inequality