Goal 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries

Even if the world continues to make inroads into poverty reduction and income inequality between countries may have been reduced, inequality within countries has risen according to the UN. Further UN states through Agenda 2030, that there is a growing consensus that economic growth is not sufficient to reduce poverty if it is not inclusive and if it does not involve the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental.

Sweden, through SIS was holding the Secretariat for the standard ISO 26000, Guidance on Social Responsibility, in a twinning arrangement with Brazil. SIS is leading the post publication organization and the International Workshop Agreement (IWA) on using ISO 26000 in management systems. ISO 26000 contain seven core subjects; Organizational governance, Human Rights, Labor practices, the Environment, Fair operating practices, Consumer issues and Community Involvement and Development which is aiming in providing guidance when working towards sustainable development. Capacity building training on ISO 26000 has been provided in all SIS lead projects in developing countries as the standard provides a good basic understanding of how organisations can move towards a sustainable development no matter if the focus might be somewhere else. Regional partnerships have been created to link SIS projects to other projects and initiatives in the beneficiary countries with aim to reduce the inequality within countries and the region. This has been done through networking with various stakeholders and organisations in the countries and in contacts with other international donors present in the countries to support a coordination of inputs and initiatives (ref. Paris declaration on donor coordination).