Although access to public health in Argentina is universal, the system is fragmented and presents inequalities in the quality of its services among population groups and jurisdictions. Greater investment in the territorially anchored health system, such as through the expansion of primary health care centres, will have an impact on the health and well-being of the most vulnerable populations, and will promote greater equality (Target 10.1). Likewise, better health will enable higher school enrolment and will improve cognitive functions and hence learning possibilities (Target 4.1); and longevity will create greater incentives for people to invest time and resources in their education and training (Target 4.4). More education promotes better nutrition and disease prevention, and therefore, better levels of health.

In turn, better health conditions will generate greater opportunities for economic participation and expansion of the labour supply (Target 8.5). In particular, the health sector represents nearly 6% of the total employed population in Argentina and enjoys full employment, although there are special challenges in nursing and certain medical specialties, and significant challenges in the supply of resources. Investment in health will result in economic benefits by improving productivity and generating greater economic development (Target 8.3). In conclusion, improvements in health and education will make possible an increase in employability, which will have an impact on an expansion of the production frontier (Target 8.2), an increase in income and a drop in inequality.

In Argentina, unpaid domestic and care work represents 15.9% of GDP and is the sector with the highest contribution to the economy (Ministry of Economy, 2020). About three million women work in the care sector, 9 out of 10 perform these tasks without pay, and spend twice as much time as men in this work (International Labour Organization (ILO), 2023).

Strengthening the existing social protection system (Target 1.3) and implementing comprehensive care policies that enable greater co-responsibility and the practice of activities that provide greater autonomy for women (access to quality education and digitalization) are crucial to foster access to decent employment (Target 8.5) and reducing income inequalities (Target 10.1). In particular, investments in the care economy and in early childhood programmes (Target 4.2), could generate more than 1.8 mn jobs benefiting women to a greater extent, reducing the gender gap in participation and in salaries (ILO, 2022). 

Since the unfair distribution of care and domestic work is at the heart of gender inequalities, additional investments are required to balance the field, such as the development of a comprehensive care system that favours labour participation and covers the entire life cycle, from early childhood to the elderly.

Sustaining productive policies over time will help Argentina to reach its potential for sustainable and inclusive growth in the medium- and long-term (Target 8.1). Strengthening, transforming and diversifying the production matrix will increase productivity and quality jobs, and will improve the trade balance and local capacities (which will contribute to a greater territorial balance at the federal level) (Target 8.9). To this end, activities of high technological complexity and innovation (Target 9.3) will increase MSME productivity. In turn, the MSMEs network – which represents more than 90% of the firms in the country – will promote growth with equity through its participation in job creation.

Likewise, the expansion and transformation of production must be supported by sectors, branches and links with planning that is a guide to sustainable development. MSMEs adopting energy-efficient practices can increase competitiveness and reduce their environmental impact and operating costs, enabling them to grow in a sustainable manner (Target 7.3). For its part, by empowering small-scale food producers, including women, indigenous peoples, family farmers and fishermen, Argentina can foster food production, create employment opportunities and improve access to nutritious food for all (Target 2.2 and 2.3).

Finally, strengthening the health and education systems will favour productivity (Target 3.8 and 4.1). Higher levels of education are the basis for generating the creativity necessary for the development of new technologies, and for generating the capacity to understand and adapt technologies that make sustained growth possible. Better levels of health increase the productivity of people by improving their physical and mental performance and by reducing the loss of working days due to illness. This entails the need to save for retirement, and this saving encourages investment, which contributes to growth.

This target is particularly relevant in Argentina so that the economic reactivation incorporates sustainable modes of production, both in traditional sectors (i.e. extractive industries), and in the promotion of new sectors (bioenergy and renewable energy, among them).

The incorporation of sustainable modes of production and consumption could de facto lead to a transition towards an economy with low carbon emissions (Target 9.4), efficient use of resources and a socially inclusive transformation (Target 10.1). Argentina has abundant availability of renewable sources for power generation. This transition will promote the creation of new jobs (Target 8.5), especially those linked to green employment, and the development of new sectors (Target 9.4), such as renewable energies, that will improve the country's productivity, and therefore reduce poverty (Target 1.2).

In Argentina, innovations implemented in agriculture are especially relevant, given that it was the second country in the region with the highest agricultural methane emissions (World Bank, 2019). Thus, investment in this area could serve to boost the use of clean energy and greenhouse gas mitigation (Target 3.9), as well as being an opportunity to generate youth and women employment (Target 8.6).

By promoting inclusive decision-making, Target 16.7 acts as a catalyst for advancing various aspects of sustainable development, ensuring that no one is left behind and that policies and actions are better aligned with the needs and aspirations of people. Technology plays a crucial role in facilitating inclusive decision-making. Digital tools and platforms can enable broader citizen participation, especially in areas where physical barriers or access to traditional decision-making processes might be limited (Target 9c). 

E-participation initiatives can empower citizens to contribute to policymaking and governance processes, enhancing effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels (Target 16.6).  In particular, digital technology facilitates access to public information and contributes to greater government transparency (Target 16.10). Citizens can obtain information on the use of public resources, on the performance of officials and on the policies implemented. This strengthens accountability and trust between citizens and their representatives. Furthermore, responsive and inclusive decision-making is closely linked to access to justice and the rule of law (Target 16.3). Effective decision-making processes leads to improved legal frameworks that uphold human rights and provide avenues for citizens to seek redress.

Also, the achievement of Target 16.7 promotes inclusive decision-making that includes the voices and perspectives of women and ensures their active participation in governance processes (Target 5.5). It is also key to formulate effective climate action plans that incorporate diverse perspectives, especially from those communities most affected by climate change (Target 13b). Finally, it can contribute to reducing inequalities by ensuring that marginalized and vulnerable groups have a meaningful say in policies and decisions that affect their lives (Target 10.2).