The Guardian: We must focus on the U.N. goals that are the best value for money
Bjørn Lomborg, president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center; Finn Kydland, professor of economics at the University of California Santa Barbara; and Nancy Stokey, professor of economics at the University of Chicago

“…[B]eing smart about spending — focusing first on the [Sustainable Development Goal] targets where we can achieve the most — would effectively be the same as doubling or quadrupling the aid budget. In tough times, when donor budgets are under threat, we should ensure that every cent achieves the most possible. That means focusing first on the areas where we can achieve the most. One development target that should be prioritized over others is the eradication of tuberculosis (TB). … Preventing childhood malnutrition is another excellent target. … There are excellent targets involving the environment as well. … Better nutrition and better schools will help alleviate poverty, but there is another target that promises to be even more effective: lowering barriers to international trade. … These are the policies that should be prioritized by policymakers, among the Sustainable Development Goals. Focusing on them first would vastly increase the benefits from development to people around the world, as well as generations to come” (7/20).

Huffington Post: The Sustainable Development Goals Are Coming To Life
Magdy Martínez-Solimán, U.N. assistant secretary general, UNDP assistant administrator, and director of Bureau for Policy and Programme Support; Omar Abdi, U.N. assistant secretary general and deputy executive director at UNICEF; and Amir Abdulla, U.N. assistant secretary general and deputy executive director at the World Food Programme

“…Achieving the [Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)] will require very bold new approaches. Five elements are key: National ownership on and leadership of the SDGs is vital … Countries will need to follow a whole-of-government approach … Building broad coalitions around the goals will be crucial to achieving them … All available financial resources must be drawn on for the new agenda … Every country has relevant experiences to share and new things to learn … The U.N. will strengthen its support for Member States in implementing the SDGs. Our commitment is to work together in enabling the exchange of experiences and mutual learning, which are essential for turning the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda into reality on the ground, where sustainable development happens” (7/20).