Originally published at www.unsdsn.org
This year’s report shows the growing global role of the SDSN, the world’s leading network of knowledge institutions, and the expansion of the program to 50 national, regional, and thematic networks.
Launched in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the 2022 Networks in Action report presents the latest initiatives and partnerships led by the SDSN’s networks to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda. SDSN’s 50 national and regional Networks promote the localization and implementation of the SDGs, develop long-term transformation pathways, provide education for sustainable development, and launch Solutions Initiatives to address challenges. Each network focuses on distinct projects and priorities in line with their local contexts and challenges.
The report focuses on the impact that the networks have had in the world over the past year – from their efforts to localize the SDGs in their countries; engage with knowledge institutions and youth, improve education for the SDGs, fight the Covid-19 pandemic and advocate for a sustainable recovery, promote viable solutions initiatives, and develop their own publications, events, and actions.
As John Thwaites, SDSN Leadership Council Co-Chair, states in the introductory article, at the time of its creation in 2012 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Professor Jeffrey Sachs, SDSN’s goal was to mobilize the world’s universities and knowledge institutions to play a historic role in the great transformation to sustainable development. SDSN was tasked to “work with stakeholders including business, civil society, UN agencies and other international organizations to identify and share the best pathways to achieve sustainable development.”
SDSN established a number of expert groups that supported the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“During the past decade, new and unexpected challenges have constantly arisen, and SDSN is always ready to adjust, adapt, and be helpful to the unexpected. No doubt new and complex challenges will continue to arise – and SDSN will be there to help address them.”
- Jeffrey Sachs, President, SDSN
Over the years, SDSN created an extraordinary global network of universities and knowledge institutions covering most of the world. The Networks program of SDSN launched its first network in 2013 and has experienced continuous growth ever since. In 2022, SDSN reached over 1700 member institutions and 50 networks across 6 continents.
This report also highlights the innovative and impactful solutions that our global network puts into practice.
Several networks engaged with their governments and experts from different sectors to localize the SDGs in their countries. For example, SDSN Spain offered support to Barcelona City Council and the Generalitat Valenciana in implementing and monitoring their 2030 strategies. They also accompanied and advised the regional Government of the Canary Islands on the integration of the cultural dimension into the Canary SDGs Agenda.
SDSN Thailand organized the Thailand Sustainable Development Forum 2022, a series of three multi-stakeholder workshops and consultations. During these workshops, experts from all sectors helped reframe the SDGs using the six transformations framework and analyzed enabling factors for SDG implementation in Thailand.
SDSN Malaysia organized its inaugural National Solutions Forum, in partnership with the Sunway Group, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the SDGs, and a government-linked startup accelerator with a view to driving partnerships for sustainable development solutions at scale.
The 2022 report includes many more examples from the networks as well as new chapters on the most recent networks and their initial activities: SDSN Pakistan, SDSN South Africa, and SDSN Western Balkans.