The United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015, outlines 17 SDGs aimed at eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity by 2030. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 500 million confirmed cases and six million deaths by May 2022, has severely hampered progress. The pandemic overwhelmed healthcare systems, caused widespread job losses, and pushed millions into poverty and malnutrition. Even before the pandemic, progress towards the SDGs was lagging. This paper addresses this critical situation by analyzing the challenges hindering SDG progress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. It then proposes a practical and systematic framework for achieving the SDGs in the post-pandemic era. The paper's objectives are threefold: 1) to analyze pre-existing challenges to SDG progress; 2) to identify the pandemic's impact on SDG achievement; and 3) to provide a framework for implementing SDGs in the post-pandemic world. The urgency of finding effective solutions to get the SDG process back on track is paramount, given the limited time remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

The paper draws on existing literature and data to analyze the challenges facing SDG implementation. It reviews studies on inequitable access to food, energy, and water resources; the impact of environmental crises like climate change and pollution; gaps between the ambition of the SDGs and national capabilities; the disruptive effects of geopolitical instability and conflicts; and the inherent imbalances and trade-offs in SDG progress. The literature review also examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on these challenges, highlighting the pandemic's disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations and its disruption of global supply chains and economic activity. Existing research on the synergistic and antagonistic relationships between SDGs are also synthesized to inform the proposed framework.

The study employs a comprehensive review of existing literature and data to assess the state of SDG progress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors synthesized information from various sources, including reports from the United Nations, World Bank, World Health Organization, and other relevant organizations. They analyze SDG index scores, statistical data on poverty, health, education, economic growth, and environmental indicators to quantify the impact of the pandemic. Qualitative analysis of research articles and reports provides contextual information and insights into the complex interplay of factors affecting SDG implementation. The methodology relies on a systematic approach to data analysis and literature review to draw conclusions and formulate the proposed framework. The authors critically evaluated information from various sources, focusing on credible and up-to-date data to ensure the robustness of their findings. The use of existing data, reports and literature is the primary research method.

The paper highlights several key findings. First, even before the pandemic, progress toward the SDGs was uneven and insufficient. Inequitable access to resources, environmental degradation, and geopolitical tensions significantly hindered progress. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically worsened the situation. The pandemic caused a decline in global SDG index scores, increased global poverty, reversed progress in health and education, and disrupted global economic activity. The impact was particularly severe in low- and lower-middle-income countries, exacerbating existing inequalities. Third, despite the negative impacts, the pandemic also revealed some positive developments, such as the rapid advancement of digital technologies and a temporary improvement in some environmental indicators due to reduced economic activity. Fourth, the study found that uneven progress in achieving the SDGs is partly due to existing inequalities and the varying resilience of national systems to the shocks of the pandemic. High-income countries showed a greater ability to maintain or even improve their progress despite significant Covid-19 infections. Fifth, the analysis showed that interactions between the SDGs are complex, with some goals showing synergies while others exhibit trade-offs, with the latter being more pronounced in high-income countries. Sixth, the pandemic demonstrated the interconnected nature of the global system and the importance of international cooperation in achieving the SDGs.

The findings underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive and systematic approach to achieving the SDGs in the post-pandemic era. The pre-existing challenges, exacerbated by the pandemic, demand coordinated action at national and international levels. The framework proposed by the authors directly addresses the identified limitations. The "Classification-Coordination-Collaboration" framework offers a practical roadmap for navigating the complexities of SDG implementation. The emphasis on classifying countries based on their development status allows for more targeted and effective interventions. The call for enhanced coordination between domestic and international actors, as well as between various government departments, is crucial for avoiding policy conflicts and maximizing synergies. The focus on cooperation in economic development, technological innovation, and cultural exchange fosters a global culture of sustainable development. The discussion emphasizes the importance of addressing both short-term recovery needs and long-term development goals, as well as the need for differentiated targets for countries at different development levels.

The paper concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals. Overcoming the challenges requires a systematic approach, incorporating the proposed "Classification-Coordination-Collaboration" framework. This framework promotes a more effective allocation of resources, stronger coordination of efforts, and broader international cooperation. Future research should focus on developing more precise metrics for evaluating SDG progress, exploring the dynamics of SDG interactions in greater depth, and further refining the proposed framework based on practical implementation experiences. Looking beyond 2030, the long-term vision for sustainable development should extend beyond the current framework, focusing on a more holistic and integrated strategy for Agenda 2045 and beyond.

The paper relies primarily on existing data and literature, limiting the scope for original data collection and analysis. The proposed framework is conceptual, and its effectiveness in practice will depend on various contextual factors and successful implementation. The analysis of SDG interactions and trade-offs could be further enriched by using more sophisticated quantitative modeling techniques. While the paper examines a wide range of challenges, it does not explore all potential factors influencing SDG progress in equal depth. Future research can address these limitations through more comprehensive and nuanced analyses.