IPS Researcher Highlights Common Sustainable Development Challenges in South Asia

05 – 07 December 2017
Islamabad, Pakistan

IPS Research Officer, Samanthi Bandara, highlighted slow economic growth, human development challenges, environmental degradation, inadequate financial resources, lack of an institutional integration (vertical and horizontal integration), and lack of integration with private sector as common sustainable development challenges that South Asian countries face.

She made these remarks while making a presentation at the panel on ‘Sustainable Development Goals: Keeping the Promise Alive’, at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s (SDPI) Twentieth Sustainable Development Conference held on 05 – 07 December 2017, in Islamabad, Pakistan.

A special session on ‘Independent Think Tanks: Challenges in Shrinking Spaces’ dedicated to honour the memory and journey of IPS former Executive Director, late Dr. Saman Kelegama, was chaired by the Executive Director of SDPI, Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri. Samanthi delivered a brief note on late Dr. Kelegama highlighting his leadership. She said Dr. Kelegama was a visionary leader and his strong leadership was not only visible in the Institute, but also among the regional networks.