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Good governance and ethics are the foundation for SDGs

April 13, 2023
Good governance and ethics are the foundation for SDGs

Ethics and governance are often seen as a set of rules, morals, systems and standards that need to be complied to, however, ethics is moving towards value-driven leadership and not merely a ticking off exercise.

 For social development goals (SDGs) to be effectively implemented, those given stewardship over human and other resources need to abide by a set of ethical-value based standards. Standards of dignity, fairness, justice, and respect form the bedrock of the SDGs.

 Yet, it is important to note that each country has its own definition of morality and governance. There is no universal morality of human goodness that will make all countries and individuals pursue social inclusion, equity, economic growth and environmental change to attain the SDGs.

Ultimately leaders are all accountable for their actions and the decisions they make, irrespective of the moral philosophy they use to govern them. There is a Latin saying known as Primum non nocere. Primum non nocere means, first do no harm in Latin.

The ‘first, do no harm’ term provides guidance when making decisions, regardless of what the law says. Organisations who use this principle, will for example, not export timber, because of possible negative effects emanating from deforestation, even if regulations allow for it.

Apart from leaders being held accountable, they need to pass a few tests. The first test is that of appetite, then instant fame and lastly greed and power. If leaders are intrisingly greedy, they will make decisions that seek to only satisfy their greed. 

Though some say ethics and governance thrive in strong institutions. I believe institutions are made up of people. If the people leading those institutions are corrupt, there will be a dissonance in policies, regulations and strategies that seek to achieve the SDGs.

If leaders who govern the resources required to achieve the SDGs are racists, for example, the exploitation of human beings, which has been fundamental to the development process of the developed countries, will continue. There is also a new way of exploitation that reared its ugly head, known as green colonisation.

Because of the greed and thirst for power, some developed countries will use unethical means to gain natural resources, through corrupt African leaders, taking developing countries further back in fulfilling their development goals.

That is why there is a need to critically reflect on how development has been happening over the years. Millions of Africans’ human basic rights have been exploited under the pretext of religion and other moral philosophies, like the libertarian philosophy.

I agree with Meleckidzedeck Khayes, who said that “the implementation of SDGs requires a deep ethical reflection interrogating the values, principles, and implementation practices that will be pursued to exploit emergent opportunities and address barriers that will enable the achievements of SDGs in 2030”.

Developing countries are still struggling with the first five SDGs. Reports given to the United Nations have shown that there is still no comprehensive progress done to address the SDGs, because global efforts have been insufficient to deliver the transformative change required.

In conclusion, there are questions corporates ought to ponder on, when considering ethical and governance frameworks, there are as follows:

  • What values drive your corporations’ policies?
  • Whose interest should be served?
  • What impact do you want to make with the current governance policies in place?
  • Are your boards and management team composed correctly, with the right diversity in place?
  • Is your organisation a responsible steward for financial, human, intellectual, natural, manufactured capital?

*Morna Ikosa is a Senior Corporate Communications and Brand Reputation Strategist, CPRP, MA, AKA Fixer. To connect, send her a shout-out at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or find her on LinkedIn.

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Last modified on Friday, 14 April 2023 12:35
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