Sustainable Development Goals
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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and SD Strategies & Tools
In 2023The 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 Assemblee adopted the SDGs and the process of implementation started in all countries. In 2023 we are half-way: only 7 years to go to the target year 2030. More an more it can be observed that the problem of underachievement is not because of the goals itself (policy) but the lagging implementation (governance). That is why we focus on better governance to support policies.
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.
Publications on SDGs and SD strategies
New governance insights to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and eradicate poverty
From 15-19 April 2023, the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) meets at the UN HQ in New York for its annual...
Tallinn Peer Review
SEPT 2023 - Estonia's capital Tallinn, in 2023 the proud European Green City, has developed an ambitous and comprehensive governance framework for...
Shifting Focus from SDG Policy to Governance
OCT 2023 – During the annual EEAC conference in Bucharest, Louis Meuleman spoke about the need to shift the attention from the 2030 policy Goals and Targets to the governance frameworks, mechanisms and processes. Download presentation here.
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...