Integrating SDG-Driven Policy Instruments for Inclusive Development: A Multi-Sectoral Analysis Across Low-Income Economies

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Aligning national policy instruments to the SDG agenda presents an opportunity and challenge for low-income economies concerning how to convert global commitments into impactful and broad-based transformations localized in their context. This paper looks at how the policy instruments for SDG alignment (including social protection programs, gender-responsive budgeting and sectoral development strategies) as part of health, education, energy and social protection is being delivered in a number of low-income countries. The study uses a qualitative policy review approach to examine national policy documents, Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), and sector-specific frameworks developed as part of the 2015–2025 response strategies, with additional case studies from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Haiti.

This demonstrates wide diversity in the extent and quality to which SDG integration has occurred among sectors and countries. Although the education and energy sectors perform relatively well in target agreement, widespread fragmentation, weaknesses in monitoring capacity, and financial shortfalls suggest that health systems and social protection continue to struggle with alignment. Cross-cutting issues such as policy incoherence, weak local governance structures and clientelistic peace building practices also hinder effective implementation.

It also offers specific guidance around building integrated SDG implementation dashboards, institutionalizing cross-sectoral coordination, incentivising local innovation and deploying equity audits in public budgeting. Our findings provide a guide for how policy frameworks from policymakers and development partners can be better aligned to core principles of the SDGs in order to promote such more inclusive development outcomes, especially in low-income settings.