The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and SD Strategies & Tools
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the follow-up of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with two important differences: firstly, the SDGs are universal, i.e. applicable to all countries; secondly their sustainability focus is much stronger. In September 2015, the UN General Assemble adopted the SDGs and the process of implementation has started in all countries.
What Sustainable Development Strategies (SDS) look like and what impact they have depends on what those who formulated them believe is the best definition of 'strategy'. Mintzberg described ten schools of thinking about strategy.With regard to sustainable development, the strategy definition is crucial. If strategy is a sustained learning process in dealing with complex issues, an SDS based on this definition might be able to recognise 'wicked' problems. On the other hand, if the starting point is that the world is well-structured, a strategy in the form of a concrete action plan might be the most desirable. Of course, a combination may be the best solution.
On this page we have put together our studies, research and articles on the SDG and SD strategies and other implementation tools.
Latest
Public Administration for the Sustainable Future of our Societies
The annual conference of public administration scholars united in the European Group for Public Administration of IIAS took place on 6-9 September in Lisbon. With the general topic on the challenges sustainability poses for public administration, Louis Meuleman was tasked as ‘shadow rapporteur’ of the plenary sessions. A report will be ready soon. […]
UNITAR (2021-22): Mainstreaming the SDGs in Cyprus
Mainstreaming the SDGs in Cyprus’ government policies is the objective of a project financed by the European Commission and executed by UNITAR. Louis Meuleman is involved as the governance expert.
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. […]
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, [...]
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 [...]
HLPF 2020, the How Question in Public Administration, and the ECOSOC Endorsed Principles of Effective Governance
Blog by Louis Meuleman, posted by UN DESA on 22 Nov 2019. As the High-level political forum of 2020 adopts its main theme of ‘Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
UN CEPA session New York 8-12 April
The annual session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) took place from 8-12 April at the UN Head Quarters in New York. As CEPA member and member of the Bureau (currently Rapporteur), Louis is involved in programming, preparing and chairing sessions. […]
Club of Rome EU-Chapter
The Club of Rome EU-Chapter organised on 7 November in Brussels a ‘Conversation Table’ with an introduction by Louis on his book ‘Metagovernance for Sustainability’.
Sustainable Development Transition Forum, Korea
Ingeborg discussing with Jan-Gustav Strandenaes (a.o. associate of ps4sd) and UN’s Jean D’ Aragon, with Louis at the back, at the 2018 Sustainable Development Transition Forum in Incheon, Republic of Korea, on 29-31 October 2018. The Forum [...]
SD research agenda in Kassel
On 19th September 2018, Louis spoke at the Agenda conference ‘Social-ecologic sustainability research’ in Kassel, Germany, about policy coherence for sustainable development. The conference was organised by the German Ministry of Science and Education. [...]
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 [...]
Results Peer Review of SDS Hessen (2018)
As a member of the Peer Review team of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the German region of Hessen, Ingeborg and colleagues presented their final results to the Hessian Minister of the Environment Priska Hinz. [...]
VNR-LAB in New York
On 17th July 2018, Louis was discussant at one of the new VNR (Voluntary National Review) LABs organised by UN DESA during the High Level Political Forum 2018 in New York. Through a video connection [...]
UN Public Service Forum 2018 in Marrakech
On 21 June 2018, Louis chaired two sessions and gave a presentation at the UN Public Service Forum 2018 in Marrakech, Morocco (21-23 June 2018). Ingeborg was an invited participant.
SDGs, Climate and the Future of Europe (Milan)
On 31 May 2018, Inge co-moderated a panel, together with Peter Schmidt, the new President of the EESC’s Sustainable Development Observatory, at the conference “SDGs, Climate and the Future of Europe” which is hosted by ASviS, [...]
Civil Society Indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals
Inge spoke on a panel on 28 May in the hearing “Civil Society Indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals” of the EESC’s Sustainable Development Observatory (SDO). https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/agenda/our-events/events/civil-society-indicators-sustainable-development-goals
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 [...]
Expert for the EESC opinion on SDG mapping
Ingeborg was expert for the opinion of the Sustainable Development Observatory (SDO) of the EU’s Economic and Social Committee (EESC), “Sustainable Development: A Mapping of the EU’s internal and external policies (NAT/693)“, adopted in September [...]
Multi-Stakeholder Platform for SDG implementation of the European Commission
On the basis of the European Commission’s Communication of November 2016 on Agenda 2030, the Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) was set up and took up its work in December 2017. SDG Watch Europe was appointed to [...]
SDG Watch Europe
Since 2016, Ingeborg has been engaged as volunteer in SDG Watch Europe, the EU-level, cross-sectoral alliance of NGOs from development, environment, social human rights and other ‘sectors’. She is facilitator of Strand 2 MONITORING , [...]
Vice-chair of CEPA
[April 2018] At the 17th session of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration at the UN HQ in New York, Louis was elected as one of the three vice chairs for this session [...]
17th Session of CEPA in New York
[April 2018] From 23-27 April 2018, Louis participated as member at the 17th annual session of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration in New York and present his paper on ‘Promoting policy and institutional coherence [...]
European Perspectives for Public Administration In Strasbourg
[April 2018] Louis presented at a seminar organised by the project “European Perspectives for Public Administration”(EPPA) on 5-6 April 2018 in Strasbourg, France, on New Challenges for Public Sector Reform.
SDG implementation in 6 Western Balkan countries
Ingeborg was researcher in a study conducted end of 2017 by the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), commissioned by UNDP and UNECE, on SDG implementation in six Western Balkan countries. The study was [...]
European Parliament: improving governance for the SDGs
In this study (2017-18), Ingeborg is exploring options for improving the internal governance of the European Parliament, in order to being better able to dealing with the SDGs and to better fulfilling its watchdog role. [...]
Keynote at CSR & SDGs conference in Nigeria
[Nov 2017] Louis gave a keynote speech at the conference “Exploring the relationship between CSR and sustainable development in Africa”, on 20-21 November 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria. It is the 3rd African Conference on Business [...]
SDGs and RIA in Georgia (July-Nov 2017)
[July 2017] Ingeborg Niestroy has worked at a project of the GIZ in Georgia on integrating Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals in Regulatory Impact Assessment. She conducted workshops for public servants and academia, [...]
Moderation at 2017 UN World Public Service Forum, The Hague
[June 2017] Louis was one of the moderators at the 2nd day of the 2017 World Public Service Forum in The Hague (22-23 June 2017). Ingeborg was among the invitees for this conference
Keynote speech at SDG conference in Vienna
[June 2017] Ingeborg was keynote speaker at the conference “How we can achieve the SDGs? – The way to sustainability”, which took place on 1st June in Vienna. The event was a contribution to the [...]
Presentation at European quality conference in Malta
[May 2017] Louis spoke about “Teaching silos to dance for policy coherence” at the 9th European Quality Conference in St. Julian’s (Malta), 15-16 May 2017. Ingeborg participated at the conference.
Moderation at SDG SIDS conference in Nassau (Febr 2017)
Louis moderated a session during the Symposium on “Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SAMOA Pathway in Small Island Developing States – SIDS: Equipping Public Institutions and Mobilizing Partnerships”, organised by the Government of the Commonwealth [...]
Seminar on Research and Innovation and the SDGs in Brussels (December 2016)
Ingeborg spoke at a seminar on evaluating the current state of play of research and innovation policies for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Europe, and also how they can be aligned further with the [...]
Open SDG Club in Berlin (November 2016)
Ingeborg moderated a session during the Open SDGclub.Berlin conference, organised by the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) (21-23 November 2016).
Sustainable Development Transition Forum in Incheon (October 2016)
Louis presented at and chaired a session on “SDG inter-linkages and policy coherence” at the SD Transition Forum on SDG Mainstreaming and Means of Implementation, organised by the UN Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) in [...]
SDGs for Asia & Europe in Stockholm (October 2016)
Ingeborg spoke at a conference organised by the Asia Europe Foundation and the Stockholm Environment Institute, on “SDSs for Asia and Europe: Delivery Options for the 2030 Agenda”, in Stockholm, 19-20 October 2016.
Implementing SDG 16 in Bonn (Sept 2016)
Ingeborg spoke at a workshop on “Research meets practitioners: Implementing SDG 16” organised by the German Development Institute (DIE) in Bonn, 26-27 September 2016.
High Level Political Forum on SDGs in New York (July 2016)
Louis was invited by UN DESA to speak at the plenary official UN session on “Creating ownership at the national level”, in New York, 13th July 2016. He spoke about avoiding blueprints, the need to [...]
Presentations on the SDGs in Amsterdam (June 2016)
Ingeborg presented in two panels at the conference Critical Perspectives on Governing by Sustainable Development Goals in Amsterdam, 27-29 June.
Presentations on the SDGs in Berlin, Helsinki and Rome (June 2016)
Ingeborg presented/presents different aspects of the SDGs at three conferences in, respectively, Berlin (07/06, ESDN), Helsinki (21/06, SITRA) and Rome (23/06).
SDG conference co-hosted by the Dutch Presidency, SDSN and EESC
Ingeborg helped conceptualising and organising the high-level conference “How to make SDGs Europe’s Business – A Multi-Stakeholder Approach” on 30/31 May 2016, – the first major event in Brussels after the adoption of Agenda 2030 [...]
Consultation on SDG implementation in Szentendre (April 2016)
Ingeborg was co-facilitator at the REC consultation conference on the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Central and Eastern Europe which was held on 11-12 April 2016 in Hungary.
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 [...]
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 [...]
Global Sustainable Development Report 2016
Ingeborg was contributor to the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Report 2016 (chapter on National Councils for SD).