Leave no one behind

‘Leave no one behind’ is an overarching principle that encompasses all the other SDGs in the 2030 Agenda. It applies to very poor and fragile states as well as to disadvantaged people. The call to ‘leave no one behind’ is designed to ensure that the SDGs reach those people first who have the most limited opportunities for development. After all, sustainable development is possible only if everyone is included.

For GIZ, this means that inequalities must be carefully recorded and analysed in every project. Across all projects, there is a need for new, inclusive approaches that incorporate ideas about how to reduce poverty, help disadvantaged population groups and find specific solutions.

Jordan is a good example. Here, GIZ is implementing a project on behalf of BMZ that provides local people and Syrian refugees with training in digital financial services to give them access to financing and money transfers from abroad. Jordanian law prohibits refugees from having a bank account. This is a problem for women in particular, as they are often responsible for managing household money: they buy food and pay rent, medical expenses and school fees. With the launch of the JoMoPay app, more than 1.8 million people across the country now have a digital wallet for the first time, which they can use to make payments and order money transfers using their mobile phones.