Public Administration & Governance for the SDGs
MAY 2021 – In an Open Access article on Public Administration and Governance (PAG) for the SDGs, Louis Meuleman proposes four priorities to accelerate implementation of the SDGs: 1) making PAG a strategic policy area; 2) starting mission-oriented PAG reform; 3) metagovernance as management & design; 4) policy coherence as mindset. […]
SDG 16 Conference 2021, Rome
On 28 April 2021, Louis Meuleman moderated a very lively debate on “Lessons learned from the response of public institutions to the pandemic, on the first day of the (virtual) SDG 16 CONFERENCE 2021, in Rome. The four panelists were Sarah Lister (UNDP), Sabine Kuhlmann (Potsdam University), David Steven (UN Foundation) and Juan Manuel Roa (Dyntra). Watch the video recoding here: SDG 16 Conference 2021 Parallel session 1.2 […]
Contribution of CEI to UN Agenda 2030 and its implementation in CEI Member States
In the framework of the 5th anniversary of the adoption of Agenda 2030, the Central European Initiative, a collaboration of 17 countries, launched the report “Contribution of CEI to UN Agenda 2030 and its implementation in CEI Member States”, made by a Public Strategy for Sustainable Development team with Ingeborg Niestroy (lead), Sally Nicholson and Gaetane Charlier, in cooperation with the CEI-Executive Secretariat. […]
Cities management and sustainable development: monitoring and assessment approach
New publication by André C.S.Batalhão & Denilson Teixeira in the journal Urban Ecology on the challenges of sustainable city management and how to measure progress. Current approaches are fragile and random and create a blurred image of sustainability, leading to [...]
First lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic for climate governance
In a longer version of the short article published in March at iisd.org, Louis suggests first lessons for sustainability governance from the COVID-19 pandemic for climate policy. The article is part of a special issue on climate change of the [...]
Latest book now free viewing online
Louis’ latest book “Metagovernance for Sustainability: A Framework for Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals” (Routledge – 2019) is now available for free online access until 14th of June. According to Routledge, those who have signed up by 14th June for [...]
Institutions for integration and planning – key lessons learned & impact of COVID-19
Speaking points kick-off presentation by Louis Meuleman at the UNDESA webinar on integrating the 2030 agenda into national plans and strategies:
14 May 2020 […]
Blog: How could COVID-19 shape institutional reforms and creation of a public-sector workforce of the future that accelerates delivery of the SDGs?
Louis Meuleman and Ora-orn Poocharoen, members of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration. Published on the UNDESA Blog page, Sunday, 10 May 2020 On 13 May 2020, the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) starts [...]
SDG & Covid-19 Reader
Some first governance lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic
New guest article written by Louis, published on 7 April 2020 at IISD’s SDG Knowledge Hub: We are still in the middle of the first pandemic of this century, but it is never too early to draw fresh lessons on [...]
UN CEPA input for HLPF 2020: Which institutions and governance to accelerate the SDGs?
On 18 March 2020, the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) has submitted key messages and selected recommendations to the 2020 thematic review of the high-level political forum on sustainable development. The contribution, ‘Promoting effective governance and institutional [...]
Summary article of ‘Europe’s approach to implementing the SDGs’ report
An article summarizing the study “Europe’s approach to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals” (2019) by Ingeborg Niestroy, Elisabeth Hege, Elizabeth Dirth and Ruben Zondervan, for the European Parliament, was included as chapter 2 in the latest (2020) edited volume “Governance for [...]
Economics and governance for sustainability
With Louis and Ingeborg as guest editors, the open access Journal of Public Sector Economics published on 1st December 2019 a special issue on ‘Economics and governance for sustainability’, with six topical articles and an introduction by the guest editors. [...]
Short reads on sustainability challenges
Here are all seven 2-page articles on SDG-related challenges which we published online as guest articles at iisd.org during the last years, put together in easily readable downloads: Why we need ‘real-time’ multi-level governance for the SDGs. Meuleman, L., 2019. Guest article, [...]
Preview Metagovernance for Sustainability – Chapter 1
The book Metagovernance for Sustainability is, unfortunately, not Open Access. But the first introductory chapter has been put online by the publisher (Routledge). It can be downloaded here.
Study “Europe’s approach to implementing the SDGs: Good practices and the way forward” (2019)
The 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development offers a unique framework for transformative pathways towards sustainability worldwide. The 2030 Agenda also requires a paradigm shift in governance, – at and between all levels. This study examines the governance frameworks put in [...]
Why we need real-time multilevel governance for the SDGs
Top-down and bottom-up relations between levels of government are both characterised by slow transfer of innovative ideas. For implementation of SDG issues, which are complex, urgent and relate to several administrative levels, we need to add a third approach and thus [...]
What makes effective governance?
How does one know when countries have implemented good governance? Although a cornerstone of all developmental efforts and the sine qua non of sustainability, governance is often nebulous. As a concept, it is hard to decipher. As a practice, it [...]
Contribution to 2019 HLPF
UN CEPA submitted a contribution to the July 2019 High-level Political Forum in the SDGs, stating among others that public institutions are not ready to curb the trend of disempowerment, and that we need to move from blueprint thinking to [...]
CEPA Discusses Institutional Aspects of SDG 16
By Natalie Risse/IISD — On 8-9 April, CEPA participants discussed the institutional aspects of SDG 16, namely on effectiveness, accountability and inclusiveness, which are the key components of the “Principles of effective governance for sustainable development,” agreed at CEPA 17 [...]
New review of ‘Metagovernance for Sustainability’
“General knowledge of the importance of the term metagovernance is relatively limited. Therefore, the recent publication by Louis Meuleman “Metagovernance for Sustainability” can be a significant contribution to a better general understanding of this concept.(…) This book in a very impressive and reasoned way presents the importance and complexity of metagovernance”. […]
Presentation study on implementing the SDGs for European Parliament
On Thursday 7 February, Ingeborg Niestroy (PS4SD) and Elisabeth Hege (IDDRI) co-presented the new study “Europe’s approach to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: Good practices and the way forward”, at a public hearing organised in Brussels by the European Parliament. Other [...]
Update: Paperback version available of Metagovernance for Sustainability
A paperback version of the book Metagovernance for Sustainability can now be directly ordered by sending an email to the author, for EUR 30,00 plus shipping costs. Please send requests to louismeuleman@ps4sd.eu. Metagovernance for Sustainability – A Framework for implementing [...]
New review of Metagovernance for Sustainability
Law professor Prof. Dr. Diane Desierto (JSD, Yale) reviewed Louis’ new book as one of the most interesting of 2018, in a selection of five books that includes Fukuyama’s ‘Identity’. The book “proved to be a constructive and refreshing read”. She [...]
Metagovernance as full SDGs toolbox
Louis published a guest article at IISD.org as short introduction to the book Metagovernance for Sustainability. It argues that successful decision makers do not stick to one governance approach; they think beyond the governance style that their organization or culture [...]
Let’s think beyond PPPs
The ‘Global Goals Yearbook 2018’ contains a short article by Louis on thinking beyond public-private partnerships for the SDGs. The article is based on an earlier publication by Louis Meuleman, Jan-Gustav Strandenaes and Ingeborg Niestroy as guest article at IISD. [...]
First reviews of “Metagovernance for Sustainability”
“This is both a theoretical masterpiece and practical handbook” (Bob Jessop). “This is a ‘metabook’ which will inspire and guide all those responsible for and studying the SDGs” (Geert Bouckaert). “This book will become the core text in this area” (Paul Jackson). “This book is an important read for every practitioner from developing and developed countries alike” (Geraldine J Fraser-Moleketi). “A book that is a must for those who strive for enhanced professionalism in governance for sustainable development” (Roel in ‘t Veld). “What makes this book a must-read is the emphasis on how to get to differentiated governance for the SDGs” (Guenther Bachmann). […]
Principles for effective governance
Louis co-authored a Guest article with an overview of 11 useful principles for the SDGs with examples of concrete strategies. Compiled by the Committee of Experts on Public Administration in April 2018 and Endorsed by UN ECOSOC on 2nd July. http://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/guest-articles/effective-governance-for-sustainable-development-11-principles-to-put-in-practice/
Input CEPA to the HLPF 2018: principles & coherence
On 2 May 2018, the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) of which Louis is currently vice-chair, submitted its contribution to the 2018 High Level political Forum (HLPF) on the SDGs. This contribution was based on the discussions [...]
Governance contexts and Strategic Environmental Assessment
Louis co-authored a research article in Environmental Impact Assessment Review on the relationship between governance contexts and the development and outcomes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The main objective of this paper is to understand if, and how, the governance context [...]
It is about time to promote policy and institutional coherence for the SDGs
Short guest article published on the website of IISD on 18 April 2018, summarising the CEPA paper Louis wrote on policy and institutional coherence, with 10 recommendations, clustered in three groups: Principles for better coherence 1. Promote policy coherence [...]
Promoting policy and institutional coherence for the SDGs
[March 2018] On request of UN DESA, Louis wrote a paper on Promoting policy and institutional coherence for the SDGs, as member of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration. This paper is published online in 6 language versions: [...]
Governance & IA in Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish
[March 2018] The short introduction (‘Fastip’) on governance and impact assessment Louis wrote in 2013 for IAIA and which was the basis for the journal article “Owl meets beehive: how impact assessment and governance relate” (2015) is now available in [...]
Interview in Unesco Courier
[April 2017] Louis was interviewed in the latest edition of the UNESCO Courier (April-June 2017) on the article authored with Ingeborg Niestroy and Jan Gustav Strandenaes on new SDG partnerships: “There is a need to progress from PPP to “ABC”, where Administration, [...]
Metagovernance in Central Asia (2017)
Louis co-authored an article in Development Policy Review: Steering the Poverty-Environment Nexus in Central Asia: A Metagovernance Analysis of the Poverty Environment Initiative (PEI). It presents a set of recommendations to improve governance coordination, while achieving more inclusive decision-making and ultimately [...]
The implementation of the EU SEA Directive: Main achievements and challenges (2016)
Louis wrote a chapter on the EU Directive on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in the book “European and International Experiences of Strategic Environmental Assessment – Recent progress and future prospects”. Link
Teaching Silos to Dance: A Condition to Implement the SDGs (2016)
Ingeborg and Louis wrote this guest article for IISD , following discussions at e.g. the HLPF. We argue that while the SDGs require breaking down “mental silos” to allow for change, the common call to break down institutional silos poses risks. Institutions [...]
How are we getting ready? New report on the SDGs and the EU (2016)
Inge wrote a report for the German Development Institute (DIE) on the state of play around implementation of the SDGs in the EU: “How are we getting ready? The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the EU and its Member [...]
Global Sustainable Development Report 2016
Ingeborg was contributor to the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Report 2016 (chapter on National Councils for SD).
From PPP to ABC Partnerships for the SDGs (2016)
Short article by Louis Meuleman, Jan-Gustav Strandenaes and Ingeborg Niestroy, published online on 11 October 2016 by IISD, claiming that Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) should not be the blueprint model for the new SDG partnerships. We need a more inclusive and [...]
(2016) The implementation of the EU SEA Directive: Main achievements and challenges
Book chapter – Meuleman, L. (2016), The implementation of the EU SEA Directive: Main achievements and challenges. In: B. Sadler and J. Dusik (Eds), European and international Experience of Strategic Environmental Assessment: Recent Progress and Future Prospects, pp 57-83. This [...]
Governance approaches and tools for SD integration (2015)
On request of UN DESA, Inge wrote a paper on good practice at national level as regards governance approaches and tools for Sustainable Development Integration (SDI).
Common But Differentiated Governance (CBDG) for the SDGs (2015)
On 21st April 2015 we published a guest article at IISD in which we argue that for universal goals differentiated implementation approaches are needed at national or other levels, as any one governance style falls short, and that there is some convergence [...]
Role of Science, Technology and Innovation Policies to Foster the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (2015)
Ingeborg was the rapporteur of the Expert Group to the European Commission on “Follow-up to Rio+20, notably the SDGs”. Their report was published in November 2015. 2015 Role of STI for SDSGs – report RTD
Why the EU must do more to implement the 2030 Agenda (2016)
Inge co-authored a Briefing Paper of the German Development Institute (DIE). It concludes that given the scope and universal nature of the 2030 Agenda, its implementation requires a new quality of cooperation with greater inter-departmental work and whole-of-government approaches that [...]
Voorbij de vrijblijvendheid in het duurzaamheidsdebat (2016)
Louis co-authored a book chapter on a value-based approach to sustainable development at EU level (in Dutch). Meuleman, L., Heleen de Coninck (2016). In: Bieckmann, F. and Sie, M. (ed.)(2016): De belofte van een ander Europa. Naar een Europese Unie [...]
Impact Assessment and Governance (2014)
Louis wrote a two-page info fiche on IA and governance, on request by the International Association for Impact Assessment. It introduces a threefold relation between IA and governance, addresses typical problems, things to know and things to do. Download here.
(2014) Governance Frameworks
Book chapter – Meuleman, L. (2014), Governance Frameworks. In: Bill Freedman (ed.), Global Environmental Change,DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5784-4_59, # Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014.
Sustainable Development Goals Indicators (2014)
Ingeborg co-authored a study with important new contributions to the debate on Sustainable Development Goals, published by the Asia-Europe Forum: SDGs and Indicators for a Small Planet. Download the report here.
Transgovernance: Oration Roel in ‘t Veld (2014)
Febr – Roeland in ‘t Veld presented his oration as UNESCO professor Governance of Sustainability at Tilburg University (NL) on 7 February 2014. Download pdf here (in Dutch): Transgovernance – Duurzame ontwikkeling in een kennisdemocratie (Transgovernance – Sustainable Development in [...]