The Role of the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
In alignment with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s firm commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in support of the Government Action Plan (2023–2026), the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture has actively contributed to the realization of relevant SDGs within its mandate and areas of responsibility, as outlined below:
SDG 2 – Zero Hunger
Objective:
End hunger, ensure food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Relevant Targets:
- 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers—especially women, Indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers—by ensuring secure access to land, productive resources, knowledge, financial services, markets, value-added opportunities, and non-agricultural employment.
- 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and yield, preserve ecosystems, and enhance climate adaptation capacity, particularly in response to extreme weather and land degradation.
- 2.5: By 2030, maintain genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants, and farmed/domesticated animals through well-managed seed banks at national, regional, and global levels, and ensure fair and equitable benefit-sharing from the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
Key Achievements:
- Provision of agricultural consultancy services to 24 farms, with regular monitoring of local production performance.
- Implementation of a national training program for over 900 Bahrainis, aiming to empower farmers with advanced techniques and climate resilience strategies.
- Allocation of state-owned agricultural lands through the Government Land Investment Platform launched in 2022.
- Launch of the following strategic initiatives:
- I1O4 – Epidemiological Surveillance and Animal Disease Control Program
- I3O4 – Private Sector Investment Land Rehabilitation for Animal Production
- I4O4 – Legislative Reform for the Animal Sector
- I4O8 – Legislative Reform for Water Resource Management
- I3O8 – Establishment of a Genetic Resource Bank
- I7O8 – Agricultural Land Reclamation Initiative
- I5O8 – Comprehensive Groundwater Well Survey
SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
Objective:
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Relevant Target:
- 6.4: By 2030, significantly increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable freshwater supply to address water scarcity and reduce the number of people suffering from water stress.
Key Achievement:
- I4O8 – Legislative Reform Initiative for Water Resource Management
SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Objective:
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
Relevant Targets:
- 11.6: By 2030, reduce the per capita environmental impact of cities, with particular attention to air quality and municipal waste management.
- 11.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces, especially for women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Key Achievements:
- I1O5 – New Engineered Landfill Development
- I2O5 – Update of the National Waste Management Strategy
- I4O5 – Source-Segregated Waste Recycling Initiative
- I5O5 – Tire Recycling Initiative
- I6O5 – Green Waste Recycling Initiative
- I7O5 – Construction Debris Recycling Project
- I1O7 – Community Tree Planting Partnership Initiative
- I2O11 –Initiative to Add 12 Essential Services to the Building Permit Application Process in the 'Benayat' System
- I2O12 – Urban Violation Monitoring via Satellite Imagery
- I2O9 – Development of Public Parks, Walking Tracks, and Coastal Areas
- M2O9 – Municipal Council Urban and Rural Development Plan Execution Indicator
- Ministry contribution to national plans to double the number of trees from 1.8 million to 3.6 million by 2035
- Ministry contribution to the fourfold increase of mangrove trees by 2035
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
Objective:
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Relevant Targets:
- 12.3: By 2030, halve global food waste per capita at retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses throughout production and supply chains.
- 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
Key Achievements:
- I4O5 – Source-Segregated Waste Recycling Project
- Awareness and outreach campaigns aimed at reducing household waste per capita
- Review and update of the National Waste Management Strategy, built on five main pillars:
- Engineered landfill
- Construction waste recycling
- Waste-to-energy conversion
- Household and commercial waste recycling
- Green waste recycling
SDG 13 – Climate Action
Objective:
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Relevant Target:
- 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
Key Achievements:
- Active contribution to increasing national tree cover from 1.8 million to 3.6 million trees by 2035
- Contribution to the expansion of mangrove coverage by fourfold by 2035
SDG 15 – Life on Land
Objective:
Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
Relevant Targets:
- 15.1: By 2020, ensure conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.
- 15.2: By 2020, promote sustainable forest management, halt deforestation, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
Key Achievements:
- Launch of the national "Forever Green" campaign under the patronage of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, aimed at expanding green spaces and supporting environmental and agricultural sustainability.
- Development of a national afforestation strategy using evergreen trees suited to Bahrain’s climate and low water requirements.
- Exceeded the national target of planting 140,000 trees in 2022, successfully reaching 150,000 trees.
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
Objective:
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
Relevant Targets:
- 17.16: Enhance global partnerships supported by multi-stakeholder collaborations to mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources.
- 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public-private and civil society partnerships, leveraging experience and resource mobilization strategies.
Key Achievements:
- Strategic partnerships with UN agencies such as FAO and UN-Habitat
- Objective O2 – Strengthening collaboration with international organizations
- Enhanced cooperation with civil society organizations, investors in livestock and poultry, relevant government entities, project developers, municipal councils, agricultural institutions, and professional associations