SDSN Afghanistan launched in August 2020 as a platform for universities, businesses, government, and civil society organizations to promote evidence-based solutions to help achieve the SDGs in the country. The network is set out to act on three long-term objectives: Awareness and Engagement, Teach Afghanistan, and Solutions for Sustainable Development.

## **Awareness and Engagement**

By using platforms such as research journals and community-based campaigns, SDSN Afghanistan will raise SDG awareness in different sectors. An SDG Solutions Forum and sectoral SDG dialogues are planned to accelerate their implementation in the country. The network will also translate SDG-related documents into local languages to enhance their understanding within society. In this context, Kateb University organized the first-ever conference on the role of universities in achieving the SDGs in Afghanistan in August 2019. As a result, UNDP pledged financial support and collaboration on data sharing, the Afghan government promised political support, and the Ministry of Economy suggested the One University – One Goal Initiative, a project aimed at providing dedicated SDG-support to higher education institutions.

SDSN Afghanistan also participated in the SDSN’s 24-Hour Webinar on Happiness and Sustainability held in April 2020 with a one-hour panel discussion on the topic ‘Afghanistan Peace Process: Role of Women – Opportunities and Challenges’. The session highlighted policy options for more gender equality in the country and generated broad interest among participants from business, public sector, and civil society.

## **Teach Afghanistan**

In order to support access to quality education in the country, the network will adopt a three-tier solution:

1. Implement a systematic study of higher education to formulate recommendations for improvement
2. Provide high quality affordable programs in public and private universities to increase access to higher education
3. Train universities to improve education on the SDGs and better instruct current and future implementers

\
As a concrete example, Kateb University participated in the national conference on “Best Practices and Innovations of Private Schools of Afghanistan"; held in December 2019. It will work with the association of private schools to develop an SDG training program for school teachers and promote the SDGs among students and teachers.

## **Solutions for Sustainable Development**

The decade of action to achieve the SDGs has started but Afghanistan is still in the localization phase. However, reliable data, technological support, and reporting mechanisms are missing and impede timely action on the SDGs. Therefore, SDSN Afghanistan will provide solutions for each of the above challenges by setting up an SDGs data center that supports data collection and monitoring on the SDGs while preparing a gap analysis on current policies.

## **Looking Ahead**

SDSN Afghanistan is currently growing its membership, while engaging its Leadership Council, building strategic partnerships with businesses, and enhancing linkages with organizations to facilitate the implementation of the named objectives.


Kateb University, a pioneer private university, is currently the top ranked university as per the Afghanistan National Accreditation indexes. It has over 5,000 students currently studying in ten academic disciplines at Bachelor and Master’s level. Kateb has an applied research institute and five research centers in areas of management science, economics, social science, and engineering and computer science. Kateb also has over 150 local partners from the private sector, government, and civil society organizations and research and educational linkages with universities and organizations in Canada, Indonesia, Turkey, India, Iran, England, and the United States.

Kateb University

SDSN Afghanistan

The SDSN Amazonia network coordinates action on the 2030 Agenda across the Amazon Basin region, aiming to mobilize local knowledge in the search for solutions and good practices in line with the SDGs, while respecting local contexts.



## Amazon Solutions Platform

The Amazon Solutions Platform, developed by SDSN Amazonia and supported by UN-Environment, is a georeferenced database of SDG solution projects from around the Amazon. It features 160 solutions (from 5 countries) implemented by a diverse set of institutions. The projects are in different stages of development, with some in the implementation stage, while others are ready to be scaled up. The platform is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese to facilitate exchange of information.

## SDSN Amazonia Award

This Award raises awareness of promising solutions to the most challenging problems of sustainable development in the Amazon. In 2019, the most innovative initiative, Gastronomy with Conservation Flavour of Amazónicos por la Amazonía (Amazonians for the Amazon), a peruvian NGO, represented the network at the Global Solutions Forum in New York. In its third edition, the 2020 theme was Sustainable solutions to face Covid-19 in the Amazon. The 2020 Award aims to identify and encourage good practices and effective, sustainable solutions that address Covid-19 in vulnerable communities, in particular indigenous, traditional, and low-income urban areas.



## Amazon Education Program

One of SDSN Amazonia’s main goals is to promote education and capacity building for Amazonian leaders. In this context, Amazonia-Edu was launched to train change agents for sustainable development through experiential education. In 2019, SDSN Amazonia supported the Amazon Journey immersion course. The Amazon Journey is an intensive, 10-day program focused on capacity building, which helps participants understand, reflect on, and take action in the field of sustainable development. Through a collective learning process, the group builds their experience together based on shared purpose, work, and values.



## SDSN Youth in Amazonia

Our youth network launched an SDG Photography Contest in July 2019. The 17 winning pieces, representing positive actions for achieving the SDGs, were exhibited during the Turn Around Manaus Festival. Also, the youth representatives actively participated in events to create awareness about the importance of the Amazon forest and the 2030 Agenda. The youth Network Coordinator represented the Amazon network during several side events at Climate Week in New York and made an inspirational presentation at the 2019 Vatican Youth Symposium, focused on empowering youth to act locally and think globally.



## Looking Ahead

SDSN Amazonia and SDSN Andes are developing an online, SDG-focused, user-friendly, open-access platform for monitoring SDG progress in South America. The tool will also provide essential information for implementing projects towards achieving the 2030 Agenda. The Initiatives Lab hosted by SDSN and GIZ selected this project as the top solution. Through the program, the initiative will receive mentorship from strategic partners. The platform is a pioneering tool to boost the 2030 Agenda in South America.

The Sustainable Amazon Foundation (FAS) is a Brazilian non-governmental organization that has helped over 10,000 families, benefiting 41,808 people living in 647 communities in 16 Conservation Units (UC) across Brazil’s Amazonas state. FAS, founded in 2007, promotes sustainable development of the Amazon Basin, including environmental conservation, improvements to the quality of life of riverine communities, and the inclusion of stakeholders in decision-making processes.

Sustainable Amazon Foundation (FAS)

SDSN Amazônia

SDSN Andes works on four thematic areas: 1. Biodiversity protection and sustainable management of ecosystems, 2. Sustainable and resilient human settlements, 3. Sustainable production and consumption, and 4. Data management and monitoring of the SDGs.

## Online Community Action Platform

SDSN Andes and Hapicorporate launched an online, open access, platform focused on Covid-19. The platform is a virtual space for academics, researchers, engineers, specialists from various organizations, and the public-at-large, to share ideas, information, best practices and lessons learned in relation to the fight against the pandemic. In addition to being a repository of free information, this platform is an opportunity to generate synergies that contribute to the search for solutions to the crisis caused by Covid-19, and an invitation to everyone (particularly from the Andean region) to join the discussion about how to turn this global shock into an opportunity and reshape our communities into more resilient and sustainable social systems.

## 24 hour webinar

On April 22, SDSN hosted the first worldwide 24-hour webinar to address the issues of happiness, well-being, and sustainability. SDSN Andes’ session Reflections and Solutions from the Andean Region explored human-nature relations and conservation, as well as SDG localization efforts in Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador. Panelists included a Nobel Peace Prize winner; Yolanda Kakabadse, former President of IUCN and WWF; Estela Cammarota, Founder of Engineering Without Borders - Argentina; Reinalina Chavarri, Director of the Sustainability Observatory - University of Chile; Mariano Oberlin, Catholic Priest working with impoverished communities in Argentina; Julio López, Director of Sustainable Cities - Grupo FARO; and Mireya Villacis, Project Coordinator - Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano.

## Looking ahead

SDSN Andes and SDSN Amazonia will create an SDG-focused, user-friendly and free online platform to display key information for implementing projects to achieve Agenda 2030. The platform will show georeferenced information on progress made, on local prioritization of SDGs, local authorities in charge of SDG-implementation, SDSN member organizations, solution initiatives, lessons learned, and locally applicable funding opportunities. This project won the Initiatives Lab contest hosted by SDSN and GIZ, and will be developed with the support of several partners. While encouraging action on all of the SDGs, the platform directly addresses SDG 17 by “encouraging and promoting effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships” (Target 17.17).

Yachay Tech is an Ecuadorian public university founded in March 2014, which aims to position Ecuador as a center for research, innovation, and technological excellence in Latin America.

Yachay Tech 

SDSN Andes

SDSN Australia, New Zealand & Pacific focuses on four main areas: i) fostering cross-sectoral action to support SDG localization, ii) mobilizing university action on the SDGs, iii) supporting the activities of SDSN Youth in the region, and iv) supporting regional contributions to global SDSN initiatives.

## Empowering universities to address the SDGs

As part of our ongoing Accelerating SDG Practice initiative, organized jointly with Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS), the network organized several forums to enhance our members’ capacity on the SDGs. Topics included how to engage staff and students on the SDGs, and how the COVID-19 crisis will affect this work. The network is also playing a leading role in the preparation of the SDSN guide Accelerating Education for the SDGs at Universities.

## Advancing local SDG action

In February, the network launched the SDGs in Action initiative to showcase pioneering member projects that use the SDG framework as a tool to help governments, businesses, communities, universities, and others take ambitious “beyond-business-as-usual” action on sustainable development. The initiative is gathering case studies for a regional action report, and showcasing them in virtual forums.

## Strengthening evidence-based policy making

In September 2019, as part of UNGA week in New York, the network teamed up with SDSN Canada to host a workshop introducing a global audience to Social Systems Evidence, a new online repository of the best available research evidence on SDG implementation for policy and decision makers. The platform is an initiative of two SDSN members, the McMaster Health Forum and Monash University.

## Supporting Youth Action

In 2019, the network supported SDSN Youth’s SDG Students Program, aimed at engaging university students in SDG implementation. The program helped SDG Coordinators at six member-universities set up SDG Student Hubs and organize a range of events and activities – such as public lectures, campaigns and solutions labs – to encourage students to learn about, engage with, and take action on the SDGs.

## Supporting Global Projects

Australia is contributing to SDSN’s Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land Use and Energy (FABLE) initiative through the Land Use Futures project. Led by SDSN members ClimateWorks Australia and Deakin University, together with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the project is working with a cross-sector coalition of organizations to develop pathways and build a roadmap to a sustainable food and land use system for Australia.

## Looking Ahead

In August 2020, the network will host SDSN Director Jeffrey Sachs in a virtual regional tour, which will engage different audiences on how the region is tracking five years into the SDGs, and the role of the SDGs in the regional public health and economic response to the Covid-19 crisis.

**Monash Sustainable Development Institute**

One of the world’s preeminent interdisciplinary research and education institutes for sustainable development, the Monash Sustainable Development Institute finds real solutions to the most significant challenges facing our world today. The institute sits within Monash University, a leading Australian university ranked in the top 100 globally.

Monash Sustainable Development Institute at Monash University 

SDSN Australia, New Zealand &amp; Pacific

Launched in 2018, SDSN Belgium is working on localizing the SDGs in the country through education and engagement of students and the general public on the issues of sustainability.

## SDG Voice 2020

In 2020, SDSN Belgium was appointed by the Belgian federal government as an “SDG Voice 2020” and official ambassador translating the SDGs into concrete actions. SDSN Belgium actively works on creating a Youth Hub with and for students in Belgian higher education institutions. The Youth Hub and its committed members will inform students on the SDGs and help them transform their college’s or university’s teaching, research, services, and policies towards full alignment with the SDGs.

## Holistic Approach to Sustainability

SDSN Belgium brings people together for the exchange of innovative and practical ideas on the SDGs and the best ways of achieving them. In particular, the Network is trying to place greater emphasis on sustainable development in research and education by taking a holistic approach to academic institutions.

## Global Sustainable Technology & Innovation Conference

Technological innovation gets connected with decision making for sustainable development at the Global Sustainable Technology & Innovation (G-STIC) Conference in which all members of the network take part. This year, the G-STIC conference will be part of a special SDG week, co-organized by SDSN Belgium.

## Antwerp’s SDG Transition

In 2020, SDSN Belgium also started the ‘SDG transition’ project. This project supports the Province of Antwerp in integrating the SDGs into their operations. A stakeholder co-creation process with the province administrative staff is ongoing, in parallel with the development of a methodology to assess and monitor implementation of the SDGs at subnational level.

## SDG Barometer 2020

The network is a supporting partner of the SDG Barometer 2020 (led by the Antwerp Management School, member of SDSN Belgium), a research project which gives insights on the engagement of civil society organizations, companies, government, and educational institutions with the SDGs. The project also tracks the progress made, the challenges, success factors, and barriers for implementation. The results of this research will be compared with the data of the previous edition from 2018 to highlight best practices and showcase working strategies.

## Looking ahead

In December 2020, SDSN Belgium, the Interuniversity Centre for Education Law and Policy (ICOR), and SDSN Great Lakes plan to organize an international conference on SDG 4 in the Great Lakes region. The Conference will explore the interlinkages between human rights, water management and treatment, and health care.

Responding to the growing need for long-term thinking and action in the post Covid-19 world, together with ICOR, SDSN Belgium will take the lead in establishing a Flemish Scientific Foresight Council.The Council, supported by a research department that focuses on the methodology and the foundation of future-studies, will work across sectors aiming at sustainable, integrated policies.

The University of Antwerp is a young, dynamic and forward‐thinking institution, and one of the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE). More than 20,000 students are enrolled, of which 20% are international students. Ecology and sustainable development are some of the frontline research domains. Specifically, SDSN Belgium is hosted by the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development (IMDO). IMDO offers multidisciplinary research and education programs that aim to support the complex challenges of society, industry, and authorities on sustainability questions.

University of Antwerp

The Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain) is Belgium’s largest French-speaking university. It welcomes more than 30,000 students in seven locations in Brussels and Wallonia. The university offers courses in all disciplines, from bachelor’s degree to doctoral degree level, as well as many lifelong learning programmes. It is also a pioneer in the creation of massive open online courses (MOOCs), and the first French-speaking university in Europe to offer online courses on the edX platform. UCLouvain is amongst the top 1% universities worldwide.

Catholic University of Louvain

SDSN Belgium

SDSN Black Sea was officially launched in October 2018 at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh). Its vision is to unite the people in the Black Sea region under the goal of sustainable development. It aims to protect and preserve the region’s vulnerable ecosystem and to build programs around economic transformation, youth unemployment, innovation, and sustainable tourism.

## Regional Powerhouse for Sustainable Development

In October 2019, the network co-organized the international Conference “Implementation of the UN 2030 SDGs in the Black Sea Region.” It was highlighted that many cross-border problems exist among countries of the region. Thus, regional actors such as SDSN Black Sea are crucial in providing a regional dimension to SDG implementation.

SDSN Black Sea supported the 3rd Sustainability Summit for South-East Europe and the Mediterranean, organized by SDSN Greece and The Economist Events. Stakeholders from government, academia, public and private sectors discussed the status of SDG implementation in the region, stressing the challenges and opportunities related to critical issues such as migration and security, climate change, and tourism.

In March 2020, SDSN Black Sea co-organized the 1st International Conference on Blue Growth in the Black Sea Region entitled “Ecosystem Services on River-Sea Macro-Ecosystems”. The conference offered a framework for free debates, exchange of ideas, best practices, and knowledge. Such exchange allowed to identify new directions for conceiving policies to implement a regional Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

## Happiness Webinar

The network celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Earth Day by participating in the 24-Hour Webinar organized by SDSN. Prof. Theodossiou, Chair of SDSN Black Sea, joined world-renowned academics in a session on inclusive and sustainable economic growth and human well-being, while SDSN Black Sea explored the interlinkage between wellbeing and urban environment in the session “Happy Cities: Strategies and Applications in Pursuit of Urban Wellbeing.”

## Looking Ahead

SDSN Black Sea has been impacted by the cancellation of numerous events due to the global pandemic. In the coming months, these events will be revisited:

* Baku Forum 2020 and the SDSN Black Sea Regional Meeting (March 2020)
* Perspectives and Challenges of defossilization in South-Eastern Europe and Eastern Mediterranean (May 2020)
* Thessaloniki Sustainability Summit “Sustainable Cities and Ports” (September 2020)
* 4th Sustainability Summit for South-East Europe and the Mediterranean” (October 2020)

The network will further grow its membership base by involving more research and educational institutions in the Black Sea Region. Secondly, SDSN Black Sea Youth is expected to launch soon.

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) was founded in 1925 and is the largest university in Greece, covering all disciplines, consisting of 11 faculties and 41 schools. It is widely recognized as a vibrant center of learning which draws its inspiration from a long tradition of academic achievement. It hosts three UNESCO Chairs, including on Education for Human Rights, Democracy and Peace, the International Network of Water-Environment Centers for the Balkans, and the C2c Center for Integrated Water Resources Management.

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh)

SDSN Black Sea

The overarching objective of SDSN Bolivia is to promote sustainable visions and solutions for long-term development in Bolivia. The network aims at bringing academia, government institutions, the private sector, philanthropic efforts, and civil society together to tackle the most pressing issues in the country. This year, the key challenge is the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

## The Municipal Atlas of the SDGs in Bolivia

SDSN Bolivia has been working for almost two years on producing a Municipal Atlas of the SDGs in Bolivia. Launched in July 2020, this is the most detailed SDG Index in the world, covering all of the 339 municipalities that exist in Bolivia. The results indicate that the differences in the SDG Index between municipalities within Bolivia are similar to the differences between all the 166 countries in the global SDG Index. That is why it was so important to provide this information at the sub-national level.

SDSN Bolivia’s main goals with this effort are to i) stimulate research in all areas of sustainable development in Bolivia, ii) inform national, departmental and municipal-level policy-making by providing relevant data and analysis in an easy-to-understand format, and iii) help local stakeholders develop roadmaps towards sustainable development for their communities.

## The 2020 Bolivian Conference on Development Economics

SDSN Bolivia’s annual development conference was held in July 2020 in a free, online format. One of the keynote speakers was Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, and the network used this opportunity to officially launch SDSN Bolivia and the Municipal Atlas of the SDGs. The event included more than 60 research paper presentations, as well as several panel discussions addressing some of the most pressing policy issues in Bolivia.

## Eco-tourism as an Engine of Sustainable Development

With about 25% of the national territory covered by national, departmental, or municipal protected areas, Bolivia has tremendous potential for tourism based on nature, culture and adventure. SDSN Bolivia is working together with its member institutions, as well as national and local authorities, to position tourism as an engine for sustainable development in dozens of Bolivian municipalities.

## Looking Ahead

In the coming months, SDSN Bolivia, together with local member organizations, will use the Municipal Atlas of the SDGs in Bolivia to promote decentralized and locally formulated processes of sustainable development.

Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB) is one of the top universities in Bolivia and Latin America. According to América Economía, UPB is among the 23 best business schools in Latin America and is the only Bolivian university to be included in this prestigious ranking. Headquartered in Cochabamba, UPB also has a campus and post graduate center in La Paz, and a new campus has just been inaugurated in Santa Cruz.

Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB)

Fundación SOLYDES is a foundation based in La Paz, which was established in 1987 with the sole purpose of fighting poverty in Bolivia by supporting innovative initiatives. Since then, Fundación SOLYDES has been a central actor in the development and consolidation of the microfinance sector in Bolivia and has strengthened productive entrepreneurship with positive social impacts.

Fundación Solidaridad y Desarrollo Productivo Sostenible (SOLYDES)

SDSN Bolivia

SDSN Brazil was set up to help achieve the 2030 Agenda in Latin America’s largest country. In light of the social and economic impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the network has increased its efforts to build effective partnerships to overcome the current crisis and to use the SDGs to frame recovery in the Decade of Action. By the end of the year 2020, SDSN Brazil aims to have completely reactivated and remapped all of the current SDSN member institutions and initiatives located in the Brazilian territory. The network also continues ongoing work regarding SDG 11, and promotes new engagement with other SDGs.

## Strengthening the National Network

Brazil is a country of continental dimensions, which is why SDSN Brazil has started the process of restructuring the national network by designating state chapters to better assess the relevance of the SDGs throughout the different stages of their implementation in the country. These permanent state chapters will bring nationwide coverage to the network, give visibility in a consistent and institutional way, and also enable proximity to local communities for open dialogue. Local initiatives will be reported to all Brazilian regions, in order to connect groups with shared interests.

## Cooperation for Education and Research

On behalf of SDSN Brazil, the Interdisciplinary Center of Environment of PUC-Rio is coordinating an initiative to build a national network of academic institutions to promote education and research about sustainable development in the Brazilian territory. This initiative will also build international cooperation for research and is partnering with the Jesuit University Association of Latin America. SDSN Brazil will also be hosting debates, lectures, and workshops to educate the population, create new solutions, and discuss progress towards the SDGs. In addition, the network has taken on itself to translate the SDG Academy’s Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the Encyclical Laudato Si’ to Portuguese. This self-paced mini course focuses on Pope Francis’ urgent call to action to protect the earth and its inhabitants from ruin.

## Looking Ahead

SDSN Brazil is committed to the Decade of Action and has established a work plan with a long-term perspective. The network is working on establishing the remaining state chapters to enhance the network’s presence nationwide, to localize and shed light on the countless and diverse initiatives around the country, and to support implementation of the SDGs. In addition, the network is working on identifying higher education institutions for cooperation in teaching and researching of sustainability in order to educate professionals for a world in transformation.

Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) is a non-profit philanthropic university based on Christian humanistic principles. It is an academic center of excellence in Brazil and welcomes around 16,000 students each year. PUC-Rio values excellence, being well-ranked nationally as well as internationally, and offering scholarships and exchange programs through its numerous partnerships around the world. The Interdisciplinary Center of Environment (NIMA) supports cooperation to face interdisciplinary socio-environmental questions and hosts the executive secretariat of SDSN Brazil.

Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)

SDSN Brazil



SDSN Canada is focused on three main objectives: to develop an SDG-oriented research agenda for Canada; to cultivate high-quality SDG education; and to galvanize support throughout the country to achieve the SDGs. As the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada moves from a public health emergency to the early stages of recovery, SDSN Canada is now considering how its work can focus on supporting ‘building back better’ to achieve the sustainability objectives of the SDGs.

## Together|Ensemble

Together|Ensemble, co-created by the network, is Canada’s annual national conference devoted to tracking progress on the SDGs. An inclusive pan-Canadian SDG gathering for academia, civil society, business, youth, and government to advance implementation and collaboration on the SDGs, the 2020 conference was hosted online in May (sessions were recorded and available to view online). The conference aims include sharing SDG work happening across the country and mobilizing new partnerships, innovations and pathways for progress on the SDGs.

## SDG Student Alliances

In partnership with SDSN Youth, the SDSN Canada Youth Coordinator oversaw and mentored six student SDG Campus Coordinators on member campuses. The Campus Coordinators built SDG hubs and student alliances to further youth action for the SDGs. SDSN Canada also co-hosted a meeting of youth from across the country focused on how to build a strong network to advance the SDGs on campus, including how to build administrative partnerships and lead effective advocacy campaigns.

## Joint Initiatives with Members

To spur collaboration between network members, SDSN Canada issued a challenge to its members to take urgent action on the SDGs. The challenge outlines six ways for campus leaders to take action, including aligning institutional reporting to the SDGs and pursuing new research focused on SDG achievement. SDSN Canada has also created a seed funding initiative to support members to work together to develop research that addresses the economic, social, and/or environmental responses to COVID-19 that will lead to achieving one or more of the SDGs in Canada.

## Looking Ahead

The network has several initiatives planned for the year ahead, including:

* Collaborating within SDSN to build a global community of practice to share approaches and best practices on reporting on the SDGs in post-secondary institutions.
* Developing a pilot program with members to create ‘evidence gap maps’ to identify existing evidence that can help answer pertinent SDG policy issues in Canada.
* Working with municipalities across the country to pilot the creation of Voluntary Local Reviews that align the SDGs with municipal plans.

The University of Waterloo is home to Canada’s largest Faculty of Environment and has researchers and institutes across campus working on every facet of sustainability and\
social justice. Consistently ranked Canada’s most innovative university, the University of Waterloo is home to advanced research and teaching in science and engineering, mathematics and computer science, health, environment, arts and social sciences.

Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI) has been catalyzing collective action since 2009. The conversations they host bring people with diverse viewpoints together, prompting multi-disciplinary, inclusive collaboration to address sustainable development challenges. By combining the results of these cross-cutting conversations with the science and technology of today, WGSI and their network take answers from paper to the real world, addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in sectors such as energy, education, and beyond.

University of Waterloo in partnership with the Waterloo Global Science Initiative

SDSN Canada

2020 brought major challenges to every organized activity across the globe, corporate and personal. Most Caribbean Islands registered their first cases of COVID-19 in mid-March, with most early cases imported from the United Kingdom. The response of shutdowns was swift. Many islands closed their borders, and many Caribbean nationals have been locked out of their countries, as airspace closed and airlines cancelled bookings. Internet and mobile connectivity became a serious issue across the region as all but essential workers began working remotely. While the pandemic seems to threaten our very existence, the Caribbean is forging ahead, with the necessary precautions. SDSN Caribbean continues to support initiatives to create a space that is equitable, just, safe, and environmentally and economically sound.

## Caribbean Sustainable Development Report 2020

SDSN Caribbean participated in the first Global Solutions Forum in New York in September 2019. The Network’s solution was “Alternatives to EVs: Biofuels in Barbados,” presented by Dr. Legena Henry, Lecturer in Renewable Energy at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, and principal investigator for the project.

As a result of her presentation, Dr. Henry received a grant of one hundred thousand U.S. dollars from the Blue Chip Foundation, to support 21 months of research to further the initiative, starting in December 2019. Two Home Biogas support systems, each with a capacity of 2,500 litres, have been acquired to test the potential of turning rum distillery waste into fuel around Barbados. The equipment arrived during the peak of the pandemic and the testing plan has been accordingly amended to take place on the Cave Hill Campus.

## Youth Entrepreneurs Seminar

In October 2019, young people gathered at the Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica, to hear from young entrepreneurs on how they can tap into entrepreneurship. The Seminar was organized by SDSN Caribbean and the Institute for Sustainable Development, and addressed SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Each presenter delivered a short presentation on the nature of entrepreneurship and how they found their niche, the importance of entrepreneurship in sustainable livelihoods, and advice on how to manage and navigate discouraging situations. The seminar was attended by over sixty participants, who left saying that they received sound advice from the seminar and were encouraged to embark on starting their own businesses.

## International Seminar on Climate Action

The SDSN Caribbean network and the SDG Center for Latin America the Caribbean held the 4th International Seminar on Climate Action on March 4th and 5th at the University of the West Indies. Participants and presenters discussed climate adaptation and resilience strategies in Caribbean SIDS, vulnerable farming communities in Latin America, and shifts to renewable energy in the region, taking into account community engagement, market-based solutions and institutional incentives. Young people from the Vice Chancellor’s Ambassadors Corps also presented a forum on climate action, and another public forum explored hurricanes in Caribbean SIDS, with a focus on mitigation strategies and economic recovery.

## Looking ahead

In the next several months, SDSN Caribbean will continue to support the implementation of the Biofuels in Barbados solution and to focus on youth engagement. The pandemic is complicating these activities, but has renewed everyone’s passion to support lasting, sustainable development in the region.

Established in 1948, UWI is the largest and longest-standing institute of higher education in the English-speaking Caribbean. UWI enrolls over 45,000 students, and their impressive network of alumni includes more than 18 current and former heads of state, two Nobel Laureates, and dozens of Rhodes Scholars.

The University of the West Indies (UWI

SDSN Caribbean

TUSDG became the China Hub of the SDSN in February 2019. As one of the leading academic institutes focused on the SDGs in China, TUSDG is committed to building an interdisciplinary, high-end platform to contribute to: frontier research, talent training, policy consulting, and international exchange and cooperation.

## Major Research Projects

Approved and funded by the National Social Science Fund of China in 2017, TUSDG has been working on the 3-year major project: Research on the Evaluation System Construction and Implementation Path of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The research raised a conversation on how China can achieve sustainable development by implementing the SDGs from the perspectives of global development and public governance; what would be long term implementation pathways, response strategies and policies at global, national, and local levels. Meanwhile, this research will share with other countries first-hand knowledge and perspectives on China’s experience of SDGs implementation.

## SDGs Localization

Since 2018, the state council, P.R.C. has initiated the national plan of China’s Innovation Driven Demonstration Zones for promoting SDGs implementation in China, starting with several pilot cites, and will gradually expand to the whole county in the future. Since then, TUSDG has been working with local governments in Hubei, Yunnan, Zhejiang and Guangxi provinces, and jointly promoted the SDGs localization by providing SDGs implementation strategies, policy suggestions and practical solutions. Currently, TUSDG is working on the Study on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the Deqing county government, which will be the first SDGs implementation and localization solution at the county level within China.

## Dual Master’s Programme in Public Policy for SDGs

In January 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping and then Swiss President Doris Leuthard witnessed the signing of a cooperative memorandum on sustainable development between Tsinghua University and University of Geneva. This cooperation would result in the launch of a unique Dual Master’s Programme entirely focused on the SDGs.

## Meet SDGs High-End Forum

This is one of the TUSDG’s flagship events set up for international exchange and communication on the SDGs. Many world-known experts in political, business and academic circles have been invited to share their frontier research, thoughtful insights, and practical experience about the SDGs. The Forum has received broad attention and massive coverage from hundreds of media outlets at home and abroad.

## Looking ahead

**Research Progress**

The results of the above mentioned Research on the Evaluation System Construction and Implementation Path project will be finalised in 2020 and published soon thereafter.

Founded in April 2017, the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals of Tsinghua University (known as TUSDG) is housed in Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. It aims to establish a leading platform to conduct interdisciplinary research and collaborate with global partners to boost the implementation of the SDGs.

Institute for Sustainable Development Goals of Tsinghua University (TUSDG)

SDSN China Hub

## **A National Network for Sustainable Development**

Established in November 2019 and publicly launched on June 12, 2020, SDSN Cyprus is dedicated to providing science-based solutions for the implementation of the SDGs in Cyprus. The network is led by an influential multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary Leadership Council representing all the different sectors in Cypriot society: universities and academia, the private sector, influential former high-ranking civil servants, and civil society organizations. SDSN Cyprus is working with all parts of society to improve the country’s performance in implementing the SDGs until 2030. To do this, the network is collecting and disseminating best practices, raising awareness, promoting sustainable development education, engaging with youth, and assisting the authorities, the private sector, and civil society organizations in mainstreaming the SDGs into their daily operations.

While there is broad consensus on the importance of environment and climate change as major issues facing the island, in addition to the need for gender equality when facing these challenges, it was considered premature to select specific SDGs for the network to focus on at this stage. Thus, SDGs 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, and 15 were all agreed to be important areas of work for SDSN Cyprus, but this does not restrict the network from examining any of the other SDGs as considered relevant.

The network is chaired by Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, President of the Cyprus Institute and Special Envoy on Climate Change of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, and Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and member of the CREF Board of trustees.

## Looking ahead

Newly established in June 2020, SDSN Cyprus is looking forward to establishing an SDSN Youth Network for the island, as well as participating in the SDSN MED Hubs, which are internationally renowned research centers and will be of reference in the SDSN MED Community in the deep transformations needed to implement the Agenda 2030. SDSN Cyprus has been selected as the MED HUB for “digital revolution for sustainable development”. The network has also set out to bring 100% of the universities in the Republic of Cyprus on board. Aside from that, and beyond its launch event on 12th June 2020, SDSN Cyprus is working on establishing an SDSN Youth network, and preparing to roll out a summer environmental documentary film series, as well as encouraging CSOs and other organizations and networks to sign up as local partners.

The Cyprus Research and Educational Foundation (CREF) was established in February 2004 driven by the vision of promoting the advancement of knowledge and its humane and benevolent applications throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, highlighting the role of Cyprus as a gateway of knowledge and innovation between EU and the region and to help in the transformation of Cyprus’ economy into a knowledge-based economy. To realize its vision and objectives, CREF planned the establishment of a new research and educational institution, which would promote research and education in Cyprus and its region. CREF designed the new institution, The Cyprus Institute (CyI), aiming at benefiting the public interest at large. The Cyprus Institute, which is both a research and educational institution, as well as the physical manifestation of CREF, is the physical location for the Secretariat of SDSN Cyprus, and provides all the necessary administrative backstopping.

The Cyprus Research and Educational Foundation (CREF)

SDSN Cyprus

SDSN France was launched to federate and mobilize scientists and experts who focus on practical solutions to achieve the SDGs. Four themes have been prioritized: education, sustainable finance, media, and best practices. Held in January 2020 in Paris, the annual conference was dedicated to scaling up solutions that contribute to the SDGs and presented the first tangible results of the working groups across these four themes.

## Education

The Education working group, co-hosted with Sulitest, identified two key projects that are taking shape: 1) promoting the sustainable development and social responsibility label (DD & RS) beyond higher education, and 2) extending digital platforms of sustainable development and social responsibility resources for higher education.

## Sustainable Finance

The Sustainable Finance working group is focused on developing: 1) the content of teaching and research in economics and finance, 2) the consideration of SDGs by the specialized financial press and decision-makers, and 3) the capacity of research to integrate socio-economic actors in order to produce relevant solutions to achieve the SDGs. With the Alliance for Post-Crisis Finance, the finance working group aims to aggregate and connect existing initiatives. In 2020, the working group will develop a new sustainable finance textbook, numerous research conferences, and actions in connection with civil society.

## Media and the SDGs

The working group on Media and the SDGs is organized in partnership with the United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC) and the Elyx Foundation. It started from the observation that outside specialized media, the press rarely talks about the SDGs or the 2030 Agenda. The working group, which includes many actors from a variety of media houses, identified the "complexity" of the 17 Goals as well as insufficient quality content as barriers. The group is now working on developing a comprehensive information tool that will be distributed to editorial offices. This tool will be based on a more exhaustive study of the press through the SDG grid and the creation of an SDG media barometer.

## Best practice

What are the most common mistakes for a CSR or project manager to ‘mess up’ the transition to sustainable development? By posing the question in this way, the working group focuses its attention on the frequent errors made in this area to help spurt progress on their elimination. During the annual conference, a brainstorming session was held and the results were summarized in the form of an infographic, which is an accessible and playful way to present the substantive material. By disseminating this infographic, the working group hopes that stakeholders can identify with some of these mistakes and consider ways to stop committing them.

## Looking Ahead

SDSN France was deeply engaged in the yearlong development of the French government’s new SDG roadmap, which was formally launched in September 2019 and which explicitly names SDSN France as an important partner for SDG implementation in France. The network is now considered a key player in the French SDG ecosystem and will continue to support the government in its deployment of the national roadmap. In the coming months, SDSN France will also focus on consolidating its organization and communications, as well as setting up a local SDSN Youth network. The 2021 conference will continue in this direction and develop partnerships with the various French organizations engaging with sustainable development issues.

CY Cergy Paris Université is a French public university and a leading center of teaching and research, which welcomes 17,700 students and 1,500 international students interested in studying abroad. UCP is a cultural, scientific and vocational institution that has decided to put the issues of societal transition at the heart of its priorities and to commit itself more resolutely to an approach of social responsibility and sustainable development.

CY Cergy Paris Université

Kedge is a French management school with four campuses in France (Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille and Toulon), and three abroad (two in China, and one in Senegal). KEDGE is recognized as a key player in the field of sustainable development and CSR which focuses on coherence between research, pedagogy, campus social and environmental management, and governance.

Kedge Business School

PSL is a French [collegiate university](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collegiate_university) that was formed in 2010 and is made up of nine member institutions in Paris. PSL offers an education based on research and interdisciplinary instruction, and its 20,000 students have access to a broad range of disciplines in [science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science), [engineering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering), [humanities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanities) and [social science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_science), and the [arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arts). PSL runs cross-cutting flagship programs such as the Scripta Interdisciplinary and Strategic Research Initiative (IRIS), the PSL Mathematics program, and the Q-Life Institute.

PSL University

SDSN France

Since 2014, leading knowledge centers and partners from civil society and the private sector have been working together in SDSN Germany to promote sustainable development in the country and encourage Germany’s commitment to sustainable development in the EU and globally. Going beyond silos, the network creates new forums for dialogue and transdisciplinary cooperation.

## Germany’s National Sustainable Development Strategy

SDSN Germany is actively involved in the institutional architecture for further developing Germany’s National Sustainable Development Strategy, thus combining academic and scientific debates with governance and implementation. The 2016 overhaul of the strategy brought it in line with the 17 SDGs of the 2030 Agenda. In 2021, its next extensive revision is around the corner. Building on its five structural proposals for this update from March 2020, SDSN Germany published a statement in June 2020 in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable development policy in times of crisis.

## Digitalization, Finance & Sustainable Development

How can financial innovations, new technologies, and digitalization contribute to financing sustainable development? While the critical role of finance for achieving the SDGs and the climate goals is widely accepted, the role of digitalization for both the finance sector and sustainable development still needs to be further explored. Driving this debate forward was the aim of the high-level conference ‘Connecting the Dots: Digitalization, Finance & Sustainable Development’, which took place in Berlin in January 2020. The conference was organized by the [](http://www.sdsngermany.de) SDSN Germany, the Sustainable Digital Finance Alliance (SDFA) and the UN Secretary General’s Task Force on Digital Financing of the SDGs in cooperation with Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.

## EU Activities

Together with other European SDSNs and the Secretariat of SDSN, SDSN Germany organized a webinar and developed a memo to inform other European SDSNs about the processes, which aim at bringing the European Semester in line with the SDGs. SDSN Germany has also engaged within the 2020 edition of the Europe Sustainable Development Report (ESDR).

## Looking Ahead:

SDSN Germany will continue its work at the science-policy interface regarding processes towards sustainable development. In 2020, the network will support activities in the context of the advancements of Germany’s National Sustainable Development Strategy, the German EU Council Presidency, the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) and the 75th anniversary of the UN.

The German Development Institute (DIE) is one of the leading think tanks for global development and international cooperation worldwide. Founded in 1964, DIE’s work is based on the interplay between research, policy advice, and training. DIE is committed to building bridges between theory and practice.

German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

SDSN Germany

SDSN Great Lakes was launched in 2014 with a mandate to promote the implementation of the SDGs in the complex region of Central and Eastern Africa. Through its activities, it takes the lead in mobilizing universities, research centers, and civil society in the region to take action and get involved.

## Local Solutions Initiatives

Since 2015, SDSN Great Lakes has been holding annual conferences focusing on local solutions to achieve the SDGs. Those events have brought together hundreds of researchers from the region to present projects that help change the lives of people in the region for the better. Each year, the network selects a particular SDG challenge. This year the network selected “Promoting Pig Value Chain to Reduce Poverty, Fight Malnutrition and Enhance Youth Employment Opportunities in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)” from the University of High Technologies of the Great Lakes.

## Public Lecture Series

To raise awareness among university communities and to share updated information on the progress made by countries in the SDGs implementation, the network has been organizing a series of public lectures since 2018. This academic year, in addition to these lectures, the network successfully completed a pilot study on offering a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) entitled “Introduction to Sustainable Development.”

## SDGs Summer School

HOME ASSOCIATION, a Paris-based students’ initiative, in partnership with the University of Kigali and SDSN Youth Great Lakes hosted an SDGs summer school program in Kigali in August 2019. The program, which included around 25 students from three Rwandan higher learning institutions, invited participants to channel their creativity and build innovative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges that society is facing, while practicing digital communication skills and building frugal technologies.

## Community Work for Sustainable Development

Community work, locally known as “Umuganda”, is a monthly activity which brings together citizens of every village and/or organization to perform activities that benefit the entire community; such as building infrastructure or taking care of the environment. This year SDSN Great Lakes brought together university communities at their respective campuses to conduct such activities and offer educational sessions on issues such as malnutrition, social conflicts, drug abuses or school dropouts.

## Looking Ahead

The Network is planning to hold a regional conference on SDG4 at the end of 2020 which shall bring together experts from the region and global level. The MOOC on Sustainable Development, webinars, and the public lecture series will continue in the coming year as well. The network will also organize monthly community work and take it as an opportunity to educate the population on SDGs.

The College of Business and Economics (CBE) is one of the six colleges composing the University of Rwanda (UR), the largest public university in Rwanda. The UR’s vision is to be a leading university that develops highly enterprising graduates prepared and dedicated to building a more just and sustainable society locally, nationally, and globally, with appropriate innovations that advance the quality of life. The UR’s mission is to support the development of Rwanda by discovering and advancing knowledge, and being committed to the highest standards of academic excellence, where students are prepared for lives of service, and leadership, transforming communities through finding solutions.

University of Rwanda, College of Business and Economics

SDSN Great Lakes

SDSN Greece focuses on five thematic priorities: sustainable shipping and marine resource management, sustainable energy, biodiversity, education on sustainable development, and the water-energy-food nexus.

## New Initiatives

SDSN Greece launched two new initiatives in 2019 and 2020. The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Shipping, launched at COP25, brings together ship owners, shipbuilders, technology developers, researchers, ports, and policy makers from across the globe to decarbonize the shipping sector by 2050. 

The 4-Seas Initiative, launched at the Third Sustainability Summit, is a Euro-Asian initiative that mobilizes science-driven Blue Growth and the implementation of the SDGs in the Mediterranean, Black, Caspian, and Aral Seas. The objectives of the Initiative include research, education, data management, innovation and policy. 

## Online Education for Social Innovation 

To advance understanding of social innovation and governance in agriculture, forestry, and rural development, the network is co-developing two MOOCs under the EU-funded Horizon 2020 program. Social Innovation in Rural Areas (SIMRA), was launched in March 2020, and will explore different applications of social innovation in rural areas, while simultaneously discovering best practices for managing such projects. The Decision Analytic Framework to explore the water-energy-food Nexus in complex transboundary watersheds of fast-developing countries (DAFNE), was launched in July 2020. The project helps students with knowledge transfer in relation to methodological aspects relevant to the investigation of the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus.

## European Research Projects

SDSN Greece is engaged in several EU-funded Horizon 2020 projects focusing on sustainable development: Managing Water, Ecosystems and Food Across Sectors and Scales in the South Mediterranean (AWESOME) is developing a decision-analysis platform based on a multi-level, integrated WEF model. The platform will help stakeholders understand tradeoffs and capitalize on synergies. Digitization: Economic and Social Impacts in Rural Areas (DESIRA) seeks to develop Socio-Cyber-Physical Systems to advance understanding of the impact of digitization on rural areas, linking this analysis to the SDGs. Also, SDSN Greece is engaged in a number of EIT Climate-KIC projects, such as Deep Demonstration of Maritime Hubs, which is studying the decarbonization of European Ports.

## Looking Ahead

Together with The Economist Events, SDSN Greece is co-organizing the Fourth Sustainability Summit for South-East Europe and the Mediterranean. The Summit will host several distinguished speakers and panelists, who will share their knowledge and experience on science-driven solutions for the urgently needed sustainability transition. Also, SDSN Greece established a strategic partnership with Optima-X to build a powerful MaritimeTech hub, which will generate and support new concepts, startups, or scale-ups.

ICRE8 is a nonprofit, private institution dedicated to interdisciplinary research on sustainable development and management of the environment, energy, economy, and eco-innovations.

International Center for Research on the Environment and the Economy (ICRE8)

The PESD Lab of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is devoted to the political economy dimension of sustainable development.

Political Economy of Sustainable Development Lab (PESD)

SDSN Greece

SDSN Hong Kong focuses on public education for sustainable development, climate action, clean energy, and responsible consumption. It now hosts a total of 10 members from renowned Hong Kong Institutions.

The year 2019/20 has been challenging for Hong Kong due to the coronavirus outbreak and local protests. Amid those challenges, the network had to cancel events and activities. In line with its belief in sustainable development, SDSN Hong Kong will continue to support the community especially through the challenges brought on by COVID-19.

## SDG Forum Series

In 2019/20, SDSN Hong Kong, together with CUHK’s Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change (MoCC) and the Office of University General Education, hosted six public forums, covering a range of sustainability topics from waste management, public health, climate change, to AI and sustainable cities.

## Sharing Philanthropic Action through COVID-19 Webinars

SDSN Hong Kong’s co-host, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, has mobilized its resources and capabilities swiftly to address urgent community needs amid the pandemic, it has sourced or funded the purchase of more than 14 million face masks, provided US$13 million in emergency grants to community organizations to support relief work, and funded mobile internet data bandwidth for 100,000 underprivileged students to facilitate online learning.

To promote multi-stakeholder collaboration and knowledge dissemination, the Network Co-Chair, Leong Cheung, who is also the Executive Director, Charities and Community, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, participated in a series of local and international webinars to share insights from the Club’s work to help the Hong Kong community deal with the COVID-19 crisis. Mr. Leung noted the need to mobilize resources with agility, proactively approaching different stakeholders to form innovative solutions, and empowering community partners to support society's most vulnerable groups.

In support of the Happiness and Sustainability Around the Earth webinar in April 2020, SDSN Hong Kong hosted the kick-off session, COVID-19, Globalization and Philanthropy, to address the relationship between illness and happiness, and how philanthropic work is essential in bringing happiness to vulnerable groups during COVID-19.

## ‘Zero Waste, No Disgrace’ Exhibition

Hong Kong’s per capita waste generation is among the highest in the world. To inspire the public to live a more sustainable lifestyle, SDSN Hong Kong together with MoCC launched the ‘Zero Waste, No Disgrace’ exhibition in May 2020, which also showcases the outcomes of MoCC’s waste reduction school project.

## Looking ahead

SDSN Hong Kong will continue to promote SDG localization in the city, support the community through the challenges brought on by COVID-19, and engage with local knowledge institutions and NGOs in Hong Kong to expand its membership.

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world’s top ten charity donors and its supported projects covered all 17 SDGs.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (HKJCCT)

Founded in 1963, CUHK is a forward-looking comprehensive research university with a global vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. Dedicated to research and education excellence as well as the advancement of sustainable development, the University houses the world’s first climate change museum, the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, and several vibrant interdisciplinary research centres, including the Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability and the Institute of Health Equity.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

SDSN Hong Kong

As the fourth most populous country in the world, with an abundance of natural resources and biodiversity, Indonesia is an essential contributor to the 2030 Agenda. Numerous stakeholders are coordinated under the Government’s SDGs National Coordination Secretariat to align their programs with the SDGs.

## Highlighting Universities’ Activities in Addressing the SDGs

SDSN Indonesia members have undertaken local research and community-based solutions to support regional and district level sustainability efforts. For example, University of Bengkulu and Universitas Andalas are delivering training and volunteer programs for both community members and government officials on promoting sustainability science and the SDGs. Universitas Cenderawasih in Papua has identified conservation and agri-business best practices derived from local wisdom. Moreover, Syiah Kuala University in Aceh and the Center for Sustainable Development in Udayana University in Bali are working together with their respective regional government to implement sustainable solutions by providing evidence-based research related to poverty reduction, climate change, and disaster risk-mitigation challenges.

SDSN Indonesia Secretariat has a growing reputation as a bridge between universities and the general public in promoting mental health (Goal 3), social enterprises in agri-food (Goal 2), and environmentally focused initiatives (Goal 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15).

## “Six transformations to achieve the SDGs” in Indonesia

SDSN Indonesia hosted an array of ministerial level meetings in February 2020. During these consultations, the network used the Six transformations to achieve SDGs to emphasize the importance of SDSN’s role in supporting the Government of Indonesia in achieving the SDGs. The discussions with the government are ongoing including ways of improving Indonesia’s performance on the SDG Index, collaborating on the ongoing Nature Map project, and setting up a local task force to support Green Investment in Indonesia.

## Looking Ahead

SDSN Indonesia and the Indonesia SDGs Hub have a multi-stakeholder partnership plan underway to leverage support for the SDG implementation. Moreover, the network is working closely with the local chapter of SDSN Youth to develop a program of work to engage youth in innovative solutions. Thanks to the continuous support from the Belantara Foundation, SDSN Indonesia is able to strengthen the efforts of the secretariat by inviting exciting new members, providing global resources and opportunities for learning, and promoting peer-learning amongst members.

 Universitas Indonesia (UI)

The United in Diversity (UID) forum is a non-profit organization established with Indonesian leaders from business, government, and civil society. Founded in 2003, UID has invited leaders from all sectors to come together, start a new dialogue of responsibility, and agree on concrete actions that address root-causes of Indonesia’s problems, as well as regional and world challenges.

The United in Diversity (UID)

SDSN Indonesia

SDSN Italia aims at mobilizing Italian society to achieve the SDGs and that is only possible if the UN 2030 Agenda has the full support of institutions, the private and public sectors, research and young people.

## Localizing the SDGs

SDSN Italia aims to localize the 2030 Agenda at different levels, building tools and involving a variety of stakeholders to ensure that the SDGs are being pioneered at all levels of society.

The Italian SDG Cities Index, produced in 2018 by SDSN Italia and FEEM now sees an important update and extension - with an index that measures SDG progress at the provincial level (“[Conoscere il presente per un futuro sostenibile](https://www.feem.it/it/pubblicazioni/reports/conoscere-il-presente-per-un-futuro-sostenibile-l-sdgs-index-per-le-province-e-le-citta-metropolitane-d-italia/)”). Such work, widely disseminated during the Sustainable Development Festival promoted by ASviS (L’Alleanza Italiana per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile), gave birth to a public-private partnership on smart ports (ports enhanced by digital transformation) and the surrounding urban area. This partnership was selected and presented at the first Global Solutions Forum in September 2019.

## Siena Summer School on Sustainable Development

Increasing awareness, knowledge and skills in sustainable development is essential to reach the 17 SDGs and fully realize the 2030 Agenda. As part of the Education for Sustainable Development initiatives, SDSN Mediterranean and SDSN Italia have organized a Summer School on Sustainable Development held in Italy in cooperation with ASviS, University of Siena, ENEL Foundation, Leonardo, and the Network of Universities for Sustainable Development (RUS) since 2018. The School, now in its third edition (2020), provides a high profile interdisciplinary training on the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability.

## Agenda 2030 and Young People- Schools and Universities initiatives

Young people play an incredible role in building a sustainable future. For the fourth year in a row, the network collaborated with Fondazione Accenture and Fondazione Allianz Umanamente on the “Youth in Action for SDGs” contest calling for sustainable solutions for Italy. Moreover, the network works with high school students to spread knowledge on the 2030 Agenda and instill a culture of sustainable development through various initiatives and contests.

## Finding solutions: Roadmap to 2050

SDSN Italia actively responds to the global call to design and implement decarbonization pathways. After assessing four out of the five most energy-intensive sectors worldwide in 2019(power, hard-to-abate industry, transport, and buildings in the report Roadmap to 2050: A Manual for Nations to Decarbonize by Mid-Century, 2019), in 2020 SDSN Italia, together with SDSN Global and SDSN Mediterranean, focuses on the fifth sector, land use, responsible for 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The main aim of the project is to consider the potential share of biofuels and synthetic fuels in the energy mix and identify available options and trade-offs for a progressive scale-up of supporting technologies.

## The European Semester

Starting in Autumn 2020, SDSN Italia will engage in the European Semester process, the EU’s principal mechanism for coordinating economic policies across the European Union with the SDGs. By taking part in the consultation process, the SDSN Italia will assist the European Commission in refining European and national policies towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

## Looking Ahead

Throughout 2020, SDSN Italia furthers its research activities by developing tools for the dissemination of the SDGs, raising awareness of SDG challenges and developing solutions in a deeply changed world, which must be able to respond to the unprecedented health crisis that we are facing. In this respect, SDSN Italia and its Hosting Institutions started a series of policy briefs and research papers making the connection between SDGs 3, 7, 11 and 17 and the current ual COVID-19 related emergency.

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), founded in 1989, is a non-profit, policy-oriented, international research center and think-tank producing high quality, innovative, interdisciplinary research on sustainable development which contributes to the quality of decision-making in public and private spheres. Thanks to its international network, FEEM integrates its activities with those of the best academic institutions and think tanks around the world.

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM)

The Santa Chiara Lab is the multidisciplinary centre at the University of Siena focused on research support and promotion, innovation and teaching. The Santa Chiara Lab is an incubator for many multidisciplinary projects on sustainable development including SDSN Mediterranean, the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) and the PRIMA Observatory on Innovation.

The Santa Chiara Lab

SDSN Italia

Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Kenya chapter, was approved on March 30, 2020, by the Networks Strategy Council. The chapter is hosted by two institutions: Moi University (Centre for Public Sector Reforms) and University of Nairobi (Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies), both domiciled in Kenya.

Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the inaugural Kenyan SDGs Summit of the chapter was postponed to a later date. This summit is expected to be Kenya’s first high-level multi-stakeholder forum to advance national implementation of the SDGs. The two-day summit themed “Strengthening Stakeholders’ Capacities to Contribute to the Implementation and Follow Up of the 2030 Agenda” will bring together 50 leaders and decision-makers from across all sectors to build a common understanding of the opportunities of the SDGs and how they could be put into practice in Kenya.

SDSN Kenya aims at fostering global SDSN activities within Kenya by developing and promoting solutions, policies and public education in three phases and in line with its three broad objectives as follows:

* Phase 1 (2020 - 2022): Awareness creation, sensitization and resource mobilization
* * Promoting the understanding of SDGs and their linkage to the national and local planning frameworks.
  * Engagement of local actors in the implementation process.
  * Identification and mobilization of potential sources of resources required to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
* Phase 2 (2022 - 2025): Mainstreaming and localization of SDGs
* * Identification of specific mechanisms, processes and tools for effective implementation and monitoring.
  * Contextualization of the 17 SDGs to make them suitable to national and county realities.
  * Promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships to inspire the SDG implementation process in transforming global commitments into local action and to ensure that the progress draws on the actions of local governments and galvanizes participation from all actors in the society.
  * Crusading for local economic development to ensure that the local communities in Kenya see concrete dividends of the SDGs.
* Phase 3 (2025-2030) Acceleration of SDGs implementation process
* * Implementation of relevant projects towards attainment of vision 2030.
  * Monitoring and evaluation of projects to ensure that the country remains on course towards the achievement of the SDGs by 2030.

Moi University is a public university located in the town of Eldoret in western Kenya. It was established as the second university in Kenya by an Act of Parliament, the Moi University Act of 1984. The University is working through the Center for Public Sector Reforms (CPSR) a think tank hosted by the Department of Political Science to offer first hand theoretical research; advocacy and capacity building, all geared to contribute towards boosting oversight and good governance of the public sector.

Moi University

The University of Nairobi, a body corporate established by an Act of Parliament Cap 210 of the Laws of Kenya is the pioneer institution of University education in Kenya and the region. The only institution of higher learning in Kenya for a long time, the University of Nairobi responded to the national regional and Africa's high level manpower training needs by developing and evolving strong, diversified academic programmes and specializations in sciences, applied sciences, technology, humanities, social sciences and the arts.

Nairobi University

SDSN Kenya

SDSN Malaysia was established in 2013 to mobilize a community of experts to translate ideas and expertise into practical action towards sustainable development for Malaysia. SDSN Malaysia was one of ten networks that participated in the inaugural Global Solutions Forum. With sustainable cities being core to the network’s focus, SDSN Malaysia showcased a partnership solution for sustainable urban development, using Sunway City as a case study.

## ASEAN Sustainable Development Summit

SDSN Malaysia organised the ASEAN Sustainable Development Summit in November 2019 in collaboration with the Jeffrey Sachs Center and the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute. Under the theme of ‘The Future Together: Deepening Partnership for Agenda 2030’, the Summit engaged speakers and participants from ASEAN countries in discussions on how to address issues of environmental degradation and socio-economic wellbeing through suitable public and corporate action. The one-day event provided a platform and practical framework for ministers, policymakers, industry practitioners, civil society activists, and experts to address shared challenges and to discuss feasible and effective implementation strategies and solutions.

## SDSN Malaysia’s members have also engaged in noteworthy initiatives:

## Sustainability and Livelihood Improvement for Oil Palm Smallholders: 

This project by the Center for Sustainable Small-Owners, Malaysia Institute for Supply Chain Innovation aims to safeguard independent growers of oil palm and improve their livelihood while ensuring ethical and responsible sourcing, including commitments of no deforestation, no plantation on peatlands and no exploitation in the supply chain. This project is a solutions initiative in line with the Network’s aim to address land-use challenges posed by the palm oil industry.

## SDGs & Malaysian Resources Sustainability: 

This study by the Centre For Environment, Technology & Development used the SDGs to assess the management of Malaysia’s resources, ranging from water to petroleum. The Network will translate the findings of this study into actionable interventions and present them in a position paper to the relevant stakeholders.

## Biodiversity Conservation to Reconcile Cities & Nature: 

The RIMBA Project, by Universiti Malaya, is a living lab of biodiversity regeneration in the nation’s capital. It is a walk-in educational nature park showcasing how urban secondary forests provide a habitat for wildlife, help mitigate flash floods, serve as water reserves, and help regulate the climate, thus improving urban livability and sustainability. This project showcases models of sustainable urban solutions that can be promoted by the Network in other cities in Malaysia.

## Looking ahead

The Network is part of a working group to generate innovative, solutions-focused research addressing social, technical, policy issues related to COVID-19, vulnerable populations, and wellbeing. The project will integrate methodologies and analytical frameworks to understand social-technical linkages in wellbeing and informational flows.

The Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development is a regional center of excellence that advances the achievement of the 17 SDGs in Malaysia and Southeast Asia through education, research, and policy advice. Launched in December 2016, the Center operates out of Sunway University, a leading not-for-profit private university committed to the pursuit of education through scholarship, research, and enterprise. The University is committed to multi-disciplinary research in sustainable development within an urban environment, and promoting health, well-being, and the development of new technologies in addressing some of the world’s most pressing problems. To date, the University has drawn more than 26,000 students from over 90 countries to its vibrant, 880,000-square-feet campus.

The Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development (JSC)  at Sunway University

SDSN Malaysia

SDSN Mediterranean is a regional network that aims to boost awareness of the Agenda 2030 and the SDGs in the Mediterranean region by promoting collaborative research, innovative teaching, youth leadership, and by engaging in a wide array of projects and partnerships. One of the main focuses is innovation and capacity building in the agri-food sector. The network is a partner of the UN Environmental Programme - Mediterranean Action Plan, Union for the Mediterranean and Unimed, three of the most relevant networks acting in the region.

## Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)

PRIMA is the most ambitious Mediterranean-wide program combining science and cultural diplomacy for sustainable development. It was initiated as a partnership among countries thanks to the impulse of SDSN Mediterranean. It funds research and innovation projects in sustainable water, and the agriculture and food value chain. 83 projects were funded in 2018/19 with a budget of over €100 million. An additional €60 million will be allocated in 2020 and 2021.

## PRIMA Observatory on Innovation (POI)

POI is a digital platform collecting, sharing, and promoting best research, innovation, and education practices in the agri-food sector in the Mediterranean. It highlights new concrete solutions for SDSN members and enterprises and fosters new partnerships among researchers, innovators, businesses, and stakeholders.

## Education for Sustainable Development

In 2019, over 3000 learners engaged in the MOOC “Sustainable Food Systems: a Mediterranean Perspective,” developed by SDSN Mediterreanean in collaboration with the Barilla Foundation and the SDG Academy. The MOOC was also adopted by the European Commission for an Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange project. Moreover, the network continues to host the annual Siena Summer School on Sustainable Development to teach upcoming leaders from all walks of life on sustainable finance, sustainable energy, and green and social economy, among others.

## Fixing the Business of Food

“Fixing the Business of Food” is a research project promoted by SDSN Mediterranean in partnership with Barilla Foundation, SDSN and the Columbia Centre for Sustainable Investments. The project aims at mapping and upscaling the reporting and operational practices of companies from the agri-food sector.

## Sustainable Development Report - Mediterranean Countries Edition 2020

SDSN Mediterranean serves as a science-policy interface providing governments, international organizations, and policy makers with relevant information on the achievement of the SDGs. The Mediterranean Countries Edition of the Sustainable Development Report 2020 is an important means of engagement of such actors.

## Looking ahead

The network is launching the “Med Hubs” project, which builds on a transformative approach and proposes to create six thematic hubs in the Mediterranean region. Each hub, coordinated by an SDSN Network in partnership with another organization on an equal footing principle, is expected to promote innovative solutions in their sector and to serve as an interface for science-oriented policies.

Founded in 1240, the University of Siena is one of the world’s oldest universities. With a campus of about 15000 students, it is actively involved in numerous international projects of education, research, mobility and training on sustainable development. In particular, the Santa Chiara Lab serves as an incubator for many multidisciplinary projects on sustainable development, including SDSN Mediterranean, PRIMA, and POI.

The University of Siena - Santa Chiara Lab

SDSN Mediterranean

SDSN Mexico promotes and strengthens collaboration between academia, the public and private sectors, civil society, and non-governmental organizations while generating innovative and practical solutions to achieve the SDGs that involve young people, harness innovation, and capitalize on the knowledge of national experts in the field of sustainable development.

## Banco de Proyectos (Project Bank)

After its launch in March 2019, SDSN Mexico presented its first flagship project in the fall of 2019. The Project Bank was set up to showcase the different initiatives with which Mexican society is addressing the implementation of the SDGs at local, regional, and national level. The first call for proposals received nearly 400 applications and included topics such as sustainable education, environment and food-oriented activities, sustainable communities and social well-being, as well as environment and sustainable technologies. A team of experts selected nearly 100 initiatives which are currently receiving technical and financial advice.

## Active Engagement with Key National Partners

SDSN Mexico is strongly committed to collaborate with a wide array of strategic national stakeholders. The network coordinates the participation of the academic sector within the National Council for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda, as well as its working Committees. Additionally, SDSN Mexico is part of the Technical Committee for the Chamber of Deputies’ Strategy on the 2030 Agenda, which aims to align existing Mexican Legislation with the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs as well as to identify those gaps where legislative action is needed in order to achieve the SDGs and its targets by 2030.

## A Solutions Network to Develop the Country

In just one year, SDSN Mexico has increased its national membership from 20 to nearly 60 institutions nationwide. Having more than 70% national coverage has strengthened the Network’s reach and engagement for an effective implementation and achievement of the SDGs at all levels across the country.

## Looking Ahead

SDSN Mexico will carry on several solutions programs that will enable and empower every sector of the society: ExpertODS honors and connects researchers and professors worldwide to promote sustainability in everyday life; 2030 Leaders will create student groups within universities and high schools and provide them with tools and guidance on sustainable development, the 2030 Agenda, and project development to contribute to the solution of challenges regarding the SDGs in their communities; and the Youth Solutions Report – Mexico 2020, an adaptation of the Global Youth Solutions Report, to identify youth-led solutions at a national level and to provide them with a platform to overcome the most common obstacles while connecting them with national allies.

Tecnológico de Monterrey is a private university system founded in 1943 in Monterrey, Mexico. It holds 26 campuses located across 25 cities in the country, and 18 liaison offices in 15 countries. Its academic programs are recognized by international accreditation agencies, and its research approaches are pursued with open international collaboration: “knowledge-driven creation” and “society-driven innovation”.

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) was founded in 1551 and is the biggest and most important public university in Mexico and Ibero-America. The fundamental aim of the UNAM is to serve both the country and humanity, to train professionals, to organize and carry out research, mainly on national problems and conditions, and to offer cultural benefits in the broadest sense possible.

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

SDSN Mexico

SDSN Nigeria is a consortium of Nigerian universities and other academic tertiary institutions. The network’s vision is to be the vanguard of the national sustainable development efforts and the custodian of science, knowledge, and innovation for the 2030 Agenda.

## Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit (ISDS)

Every August, SDSN Nigeria co-organizes the Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit (ISDS), the premier academic forum on sustainable development in Nigeria. The summit has recorded remarkable milestones, including the domestication of the SDGs in the Nigerian national context, the development of six local Solutions Initiatives, and the creation of strategic partnerships with members of business, civil society, non-profit organisations, religious bodies, and government departments. Nearly 500 participants from academia, government, civil society, and business from all over Nigeria and the continent come together annually to share their expertise.

## Capacity Building in Academia

The network has launched a capacity-building series for academics. The purpose is to teach skills for successful grant proposal writing and to share information on funding opportunities for SDG-related research. Three workshops have been held: two in Abuja, and one at the Federal University of Technology, Minna. Due to the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, the remaining trainings were planned remotely as webinars. The first webinar was held in May on the topic of “Effects of Covid-19 on the attainment of the SDGs in Nigeria.” The second was held in June on “Pathways for Achieving the SDGs in Nigeria despite the odds.”

## Partnerships

The Nigerian network has strengthened partnership with strategic stakeholders within and outside the country in a bid to achieve the SDGs. For instance, the network entered into a partnership with the Leadership of the Nigerian Academy of Science, the foremost independent scientific body in the country, and another partnership is being established with the Nigerian Academy of Letters, the humanities counterpart. The network has also expressed commitment to partner with the Private Sector led Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID).

## Looking ahead

Together with the SDSN Thematic Networks on Extractives and Land Resources and on Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems, a joint proposal was developed and submitted on “Promoting Biological disease control methods in staple crops grown in Nigeria.” The objective is to develop bio-based, eco-friendly, biodegradable plant derived pesticides or microbial pesticides in order to control fungal pathogens in the production of staple crops grown in Nigeria.

Following the webinars, the network will compose and share a Policy Brief with policy makers at the three tiers (local, state and federal) and three arms (executive, legislative and judiciary) of government, as well as with other SDGs stakeholders.

The University of Ibadan’s Centre for Sustainable Development (CESDEV) was established in 2010 as a demonstration of the University’s commitment to sustainable development. It was based on the need to provide an intellectual platform for identification of issues germane to sustainable development, to critically analyse them, and provide leadership in finding enduring solutions that will enhance sustainable development. The University of Ibadan is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The University was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, and it became an independent university in 1963. It is the oldest degree-awarding institution in Nigeria.

Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan

SDSN Nigeria

SDSN Northern Europe is an action-oriented network focusing on mobilizing Nordic scientific and technological expertise to create a more sustainable society. Through a wide set of activities and initiatives, its members from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland link knowledge to action to implement the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement.

## Solutions Initiative Forum Air

More than 90% of the world population lives in areas in which the WHO guideline values for air pollution are exceeded. This results in 8 million deaths globally every year. To bring forward solutions to this challenge, SDSN Northern Europe and the Gothenburg Air and Climate Network organized the ‘Solutions Initiative Forum (SIF) - Air’ on the 28th of August 2019. SIF Air and the accompanying Air Solutions Report presented 20 solutions for improved air quality, as well as up to date knowledge on past, present and future air pollution, public health implications, regulations and policies, and concrete examples of mitigation.

## Member Conference

SDSN Northern Europe was in the final stage of preparing its first member conference when the Covid-19 crisis caused societies all over the world to go into lockdown and social distancing. The network quickly decided to instead arrange an online mini-version of the conference, which was held on the 26th of March 2020. The conference presented the SDSN Northern Europe strategy, the latest Solution Initiative of the network – The Climate Framework for Higher Education Institutions - and experiences from how to report to the University Impact Rankings by SDG by Times Higher Education. In addition, the two co-chairs and two members of the Leadership Council discussed Sustainable Development from the Nordic Perspective.

## Solution Initiative - The Climate Framework for Higher Education Institutions

The challenge of climate change will require changes from all sectors of society. In Sweden, 37 universities and colleges have signed the Climate Framework for Higher Education Institutions, of which 18 are SDSN Northern Europe members. Thereby, they will set up and implement climate strategies with the aim of contributing to both national and international commitments to reach the 1.5 C target. This means for example, that the participating institutions will allocate a budget, define responsibilities and resources, and report on their emissions and the development to reach this target. SDSN Northern Europe is actively supporting and communicating about this initiative.

## Looking ahead

By June 2020, over 2,400 users were registered worldwide in the free online resource, the SDG Impact Assessment Tool, launched back in February 2019. SDSN Northern Europe now aims to publish a guide for the tool and organise online seminars and workshops to support its use. Similar to the EU policy recommendations from the Beyond Growth Conference in Helsinki 2019, the network will continue to engage in the Science-Policy interface at local, national, Nordic and EU levels. In addition, the network is analyzing SDG performance of Nordic municipalities and cites, aiming to publish a municipality-level Nordic SDG Index.

University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology share the Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development (GMV). GMV promotes education, research, innovation and stakeholder communication in sustainable development and aims to increase interdisciplinary knowledge on the SDGs among the public and experts.

Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development at Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg

SDSN Northern Europe

SDSN Philippines engages higher education institutions in promoting and achieving the SDGs, as well as connecting the needs of business groups and other stakeholders with actions and solutions that advance sustainable development in the country.

## SDSN Philippines Solutions Forum

SDSN Philippines organized its first Solutions Forum on February 28, 2020, at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. Modelled after the Global Solutions Forum, which brought together some of the best solutions from the SDSN networks around the world, the Philippines Solutions Forum highlighted key challenges, gaps, and solutions initiatives of various member universities and partner institutions. Through short presentations that showcased projects, programs, and partnerships designed to achieve the SDGs, the event sparked discussion, action, and collaboration.

Nine solutions were presented during the Forum, including from member-universities (Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle University Manila, Far Eastern University, Mapua University, the Philippine School of Business Administration), from partner organizations (Alyansa Agrikultura, an alliance of farmers and fishing communities, Philippine Business for Social Progress) and from the SDSN PH Youth Network.

The solutions presented by the member universities included a framework for partnerships for sustainable development among businesses, academia and local communities in Davao and Cotabato cities, two major cities in the southern island region of Mindanao (Ateneo de Davao University), sustainable transportation solutions in five cities and municipalities in the country (De La Salle University), and partnerships for strengthening capacities of local governments to address climate change (Ateneo de Manila University and the Philippine School for Business Administration). Other solutions focused on water, including improving water quality in the Laguna Lake, one of the major freshwater lakes in the country, (Mapua University), addressing agricultural challenges in the country (Alyansa Agrikultura), and increasing water access among poor communities (Philippine Business for Social Progress). Finally, SDSN PH Youth presented its initiative on addressing reproductive health and livelihood concerns.

The members agreed that the forum had allowed them to understand how universities could address the sustainable development challenges.

## Strengthening Networking in Sustainable Development

The network continued its work towards strengthening the linkages between member universities, local businesses, and local communities in sustainable development, which is a project supported by the German Development Agency (GIZ). The project has so far hosted eight workshops around the country, including in major cities such as Quezon City, Davao, Zamboanga and Cotabato, and also in the provinces of Laguna and Batangas. Using the clusters framework provided by the UN Development Program Philippines, the Business for Sustainable Development, and the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, the 17 SDGs were organized into five areas for policy and program interventions: Natural Capital, Food Systems, Social Services, Livable Communities, and Ethics and Governance.

## Looking Ahead

The network plans to develop training materials and publications that will help other universities map their SDG partnerships with their local businesses and communities-at-large.

The Ateneo Institute of Sustainability is Ateneo de Manila University’s hub on sustainable development, and the vehicle of the university’s environment-development agenda which includes education, research, awareness building, services/consultancies, and networking. Currently there are three programs under the AIS: campus sustainability, inclusive mobility, and climate change and disaster risk.

Ateneo Institute of Sustainability at the Ateneo de Manila University

SDSN Philippines

SDSN Russia translates the SDGs to the Russian context by providing top-notch research and by engaging in a wide array of projects and partnerships to prepare the country for its achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

## Conducting High-Level Scientific Research

The network specializes in transforming research projects into policy action at the highest level. This year, the network focused on the following topics:

* Achievement of the SDGs and conditional convergence for different groups of countries,
* Theoretical and applied approaches to modeling the electric power industry, taking into account the assessment of imputed costs from harmful emissions,
* Identification of important regional socio-economic factors for the creation of new, knowledge-intensive industries in Russia (Ex. high- and medium-tech firms).

## Promoting Cutting-edge Ideas

The first English-language special issue of the journal Economic Policy was prepared and published, featuring articles from leading experts, including many from SDSN Russia. The issue covers many topics related to sustainable development, from ecological and energy efficiency to renewables, decarbonization, and irrigation technologies.

## Engaging Society and Education

SDSN Russia promotes the SDGs through different public events, working with multiple local and international stakeholders, state and municipal authorities, businesses, academia, and students. Courses such as The Concept of Sustainable Development and Energy Efficiency, offered at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration and at the Sergei Witte University of Moscow, are the first ones of their kind in Russia.

In January, the Coalition for Sustainable Development of Russia, a civil society organization, was launched at the annual SDSN Russia meeting at the Gaidar Forum – one of the largest political and economic events in Russia. The Coalition also prepared Russia’s civil society review on SDG implementation, with the active participation of SDSN Russia. The independent Voluntary National Review report was published in July 2020.

## Looking Ahead

The [ECOCUP - International Festival of Green Documentary Films](http://www.ecocup.ru/en/) was chosen as a solution that will be presented at the 2020 Global Solutions Forum.

In 2020, SDSN Russia became a partner of the SDG Eurasia Tech Accelerator, a project of the blockchain-based platform Evercity. The network will engage with this project to facilitate SDG-related digital innovations to combat the COVID-19 crisis.

Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) was founded in 1946 as a public administration school for civil servants. Today RANEPA is one of the most well-known universities in Russia, hosting a very prestigious business school, and considered a national educational leader in public administration. Its think tank provides top-notch expertise to government officials and its regional campuses spread across 53 Russian regions.

Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) 

SDSN Russia

Across the region, SDSN Sahel is working to raise awareness and promote solutions for the SDGs.

## Data for Now in Senegal

Data for Now is an initiative to ensure that there is more accurate, timely, and comprehensive data to make the SDGs an actionable framework that can drive policies and programs in real time for all people. SDSN Sahel implements this project in partnership with the SDSN Thematic Research Network on Data and Statistics (TReNDS), t[he World Bank](https://www.worldbank.org/), [the United Nations Statistics Division](https://unstats.un.org/home/), and [the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data](http://www.data4sdgs.org/). In November 2019, representatives from each project country convened in Rwanda to discuss priority data needs; specifically, the kinds of timely (even real-time) data required to effectively track sustainable development. For Senegal, the lack of urban data from the cadastral sector is a challenge to development. The involvement of communities and local authorities is of paramount importance in order to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. In addition, it contributes to the consistency of national and local plans. To this end, the use of municipal data by development actors is an absolute necessity. The general objective of this multi-stakeholder project is to highlight the relevance of using data at the local level but also to engage all stakeholders in the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs.

## SDG Awareness

In order to engage and include citizen’s voices into the development debate in Senegal, SDSN Sahel and its partners the ONE Campaign and the Gorée Institute organised a university tour across four campuses. The purpose was to promote and raise awareness of the SDGs in Senegal and to encourage youth to get involved in the key issues pertaining to the country’s development. These key issues include poverty eradication, the demographic dividend, gender equality, girls’ education, agriculture, transparency, and accountability.

## New Governance Structure

SDSN Sahel has established a new Leadership Council. The ten members represent academia, civil society, and government, and include high-profile figures such as:

* Michel Sidibé, Minister of Health of Mali and former Executive Director of UNAIDS;
* Keïta Aïda M'Bo, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Mali;
* Ngoné Ndoye, Former Minister of the diaspora of Senegal;
* Dr. Djibril Diallo, President of the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network

## Looking Ahead

SDSN Sahel will look to establish new partnerships through its Leadership Council, including documenting good practices in implementation, advocating for multi-source financing, and raising awareness of local actors in the Sahel region. In addition, the network is putting in place a fundraising strategy based on advocacy and domestic resource mobilization to finance innovative projects on data.

Université Cheikh Anta Diop is the oldest and largest Francophone university in Africa. It was founded in 1957 as the University of Dakar. The name was changed to Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar in 1987 in honor of the leading Senegalese scholar, politician, and proponent of African unity who died the previous year. Today, the university is one of the leading educational institutions on the continent and includes six colleges and numerous institutes and specialized programs, with over 60,000 students from around the world.

Université Cheikh Anta Diop

SDSN Sahel

SDSN South Asia Youth has been very active in the past year. They hosted India’s largest Sustainability Quiz in association with WIPRO, called ‘Earthian,’ in which about 200 students from all over India participated . They also organized two days of the annual technical symposium (Re-topia) which provided students with a deeper understanding of the various challenges and strategies for sustainable energy. A full-day program was held to create awareness on Climate Change with the theme of Youth & Climate Action, including a series of events such as, photography competition, quiz and talks by renowned climate experts.

SDSN South Asia Youth also organized workshops and awareness campaigns on trash challenges, solid waste management, SDG 16. They supported the local government on localizing the SDGs by developing a SDG related questionnaire for village profiles.

## SDSN South Asia Youth - Proactive and Passionate

The SDSN South Asia Youth collaborated with the Climate Reality Project organizing a Walk for Climate Emergency where we walked to the government school Sarvodaya Vidyalaya to raise awareness on air pollution. The network used the walk to add practical value about air pollution to the students’ in a fun way through a series of interactive programs, including a short skit, quiz, and a Snakes and Ladders game on the SDGs.

## 2019-2020 Initiatives at the Secretariat

The SDSN South Asia secretariat at TERI held a workshop on and launched the FOLU project report with its consortium partners. SDSN South Asia actively participated in the World Sustainable Development Summit held annually in New Delhi, where SDG hub TERISAS students played an active role and volunteered.

## Looking ahead

SDSN South Asia is planning to conduct a webinar series in the coming year, focused on selected SDGs. The network will support Green Olympiad activities, and participate in the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS).

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is an independent, multi-dimensional organization, with capabilities in research, policy, consultancy and implementation. We are innovators and agents of change in the energy, environment, climate change and sustainability space for over four decades. Headquartered in New Delhi, TERI has regional centres and campuses across India. Our 1200-plus team of scientists, sociologists, economists and engineers delivers insightful, high quality action-oriented research and transformative solutions supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure.

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

SDSN South Asia

Despite SDSN Korea’s persistent effort since 2015 to persuade the government to launch a high-level pan-governmental committee on sustainable development to direct and coordinate national efforts to implement the SDGs, the 20th national parliament, ended its term in May 2020 without establishing such a body. Better late than never, the 21st parliament will hopefully pass such laws early next year.

## SDSN-KDI Sustainable Development Solutions Forum Series

The KDI Center for International Development will be launching this forum with three international webinars on “Exploring South Korea’s Experience with COVID-19 for Pandemics Preparedness: Pillars and Issues” to identify critical elements and pitfalls in reining the current and potential future pandemics. Also the Solutions Forum will go beyond pandemics preparedness to cover other critical contributors to SDGs for developing countries such as: poverty reduction, rural development, public health and universal health care, women's development, clean water, industrial development and other important topics. The forum will launch in Summer 2020 and continue through the fall.

## A Study of How to Launch ‘Six Transformations’ for South Korea's SDGs Implementation

The Sustainable Development Report 2019 mapped six transformations to implement the SDGs. Undertaken by the KDI Office of Global Economy, this study will examine a number of South Korea's existing long-term policies and plans to see how they may be modified and coordinated to affect the proposed six transformations for South Korea, underpinned by the principles of leaving no one behind and circularity. The study will include an assessment of South Korea's current implementation of the SDGs based on the Sustainable Development Report 2020.

## Developing Nexus Indices, SDG Indictors, and the Earth Observation Data-Sharing System for The Mid-Latitude Regional Network (MLRN)

The Mid-Latitude Region is broadly defined as a horizontal belt of temperate climate in the northern hemisphere between 30°-60° latitude encompassing 36 countries from Europe, Asia and North America. It is vulnerable to changing environmental conditions and extreme climate challenges such as drought and desertification. As part of the MLRN, OJERI, host of SDSN Korea, will launch a report, “Application of the UN-SDGs Indicators for SDG 2, 6, 7, 12, 13 & 15, to South Korea: Spatial Analysis”.

## Looking Ahead

In order to help ensure sustainability and impact from these various efforts, this year SDSN Korea will prioritize outreach activities to inform politicians and the public about the significance and importance of launching the implementation of the K-SDGs or Korean SDGs.

Understanding ecosystem resilience is a central concept of Korea University’s founding philosophy and corresponds with humanity’s ideal of improving the quality of life and using a limited amount of natural resources. The university’s OJEong Resilience Institute through its fundamental and applied research on ecosystem resilience is prepared to contribute to the attainment of a sustainable society.

OJEong Resilience Institute (OJERI) at Korea University

SDSN South Korea

SDSN Southeast Asia is working to scale up efforts to promote and implement the SDGs across the ASEAN region. A core principle of this network is to reflect on the roots of the local culture and spiritual philosophies to support the SDGs. One of the most well-known of such philosophies in this region is the Balinese Philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, or the Three Ways to Happiness.

## SDG Happiness Festival 2020

For the third year in a row, the network organized the SDG Happiness Festival in Indonesia with the help of campaign.com. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the main event of this year’s SDG Happiness Festival had to be organized online. The unprecedented circumstance led to an array of new opportunities explored via the online platform. We are excited to report that the 2020 SDG Happiness Festival successfully conducted more than 30 webinars, attracting over 5000 participants from across Indonesia and the region.

## Blended Finance and Innovation

The Government of Indonesia and United In Diversity with its Tri Hita Karana (THK) partners held a private dinner dialogue in January 2020 in Davos, focused on “Realising Indonesia’s Potential through Sustainable Development.” The dialogue focused on two priority themes: (1) investing in nature-based solutions (focusing on carbon finance, forest conservation and healthy oceans); and (2) creating innovation hubs for the SDGs, especially for the new capital city.

Participants discussed how resilience can be built through nature-based solutions aided by technology and innovation, with a focus on engaging indigenous communities. The dialogue proposed nature based solutions, such as Uncarbon, focusing on conservation through the carbon credit market; and Blue Halo S approach using blended financing mechanisms to mobilize private, public, and philanthropic funding to secure sustainable fisheries.

On the second theme, participants discussed how the new capital can attract major investment interest by creating HIVES hubs or HIVES clusters (HIVES - Harmonious, Innovative, Value Creation, Ecological and Social SDG Hubs & Clusters). The idea of HIVES is to create a favorable ecosystem that encompasses development of world class sustainable infrastructure and value creation enterprises.

The event also saw the MOU signing between World Economic Forum’s Platform for Shaping the Future of Global Public Goods (PGPG) and United In Diversity to support Indonesia through projects such as Development Finance, the National Plastic Action Partnership, the Friends of Ocean Action, and the Tropical Forest Alliance.

## Looking Ahead

The network aims to hold the Tri Hita Karana Forum on Sustainable Development virtually in November 2020. The virtual form will highlight projects scaling nature-positive and SDGs-related solutions with innovative financing models to continue to build momentum for an environmentally and socially inclusive development model.

The United in Diversity (UID) forum is a non-profit organization established with Indonesian leaders from business, government, and civil society. Founded in 2003, UID has galvanized leaders from all sectors to come together, start a new dialogue of responsibility, and agree on concrete actions to address the root causes of Indonesia’s problems as well as regional and global challenges.

United in Diversity (UID)

SDSN Southeast Asia

SDSN Spain, also known as REDS (Red Española para el Desarrollo Sostenible), has been actively engaging different levels of government to promote the implementation of the SDGs.

## Mobilizing stakeholders through SDG Awareness

The Spanish network works with various levels of government, academic institutions and the private sector to ensure widespread awareness and action on SDGs. It does so by organizing, among other events, an Annual Meeting to discuss the progress of the 2030 Agenda in Spain. At the national level, since 2017 the network has been collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the implementation and communication of the SDGs, and, as a member of the National Sustainable Development Council, with the Government’s Office for the Agenda 2030.

Following the organisation of the first-ever ‘Multistakeholder SDG Forum’ in 2019, and also as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, the network has launched the The Day After initiative together with ISGlobal, a leading health organisation in Spain; itdUPM, a leading academic member; and Iberdrola, leading energy provider. The Day After is an innovative platform that gathers science, academia, policy officers, politicians, private sector and civil society in order to accelerate key transformations to achieve the SDGs.

During 2019 and 2020, the network mobilized the private sector around the 2030 Agenda through bimonthly “SDGs Breakfasts”. Over the same period, SDSN Spain published several reports: “Measuring the SDGs in Tourism” (October 2019), and the second edition of the Urban SDG Report for Spanish cities (Autumn 2020).

The network also aims to leverage art and culture as a communication tool for sustainable development and help align relevant institutions with the SDGs. REDS has already organized three editions of the Seminar on Arts & Sustainable Development in 2017, 2018 and 2019. REDS has developed the first website in Spain on culture and sustainable development, ‘CulturaSostenible.org’. Furthermore, supported by the Ministry of Culture, the network leads a working group on Culture and Agenda 2030 which has published the first-ever monograph on this topic in Spanish (April 2020).

## Education for Sustainable Development

In 2020, following the Spanish version of the guide “Getting started with the SDGs in Universities,” the network issued a practical guide with inspiring experiences in Education of the SDGs: “Implementing the 2030 Agenda. Best practices in Spanish universities”. The network has actively contributed to the development of the MOOC “Partnerships: an essential vehicule to achieve the SDGs” developed by the SDG Academy and the Inter-American Development Bank. This MOOC, entirely in Spanish, was launched in 2019 and 2020 (second edition). During 2020, REDS has fostered a participative process to develop a new national strategy for environmental education, after issuing the “White Paper on Environmental Education in Spain” (2020).

## Looking ahead

The Day After Platform is the first meeting point and incubator for the SDGs in the country. Initially born as an online agora, the work of the Day After platform will continue during 2020. The network will also continue delivering on the Sustainable Culture and the Sustainable Tourism initiatives and will seek ways to link them with The Day After.

The REDS association is hosted in partnership with Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). The UAM has earned itself a prestigious reputation as a state-of the-art public university in view of the high-quality teaching and research activities on offer. Guided by its vocation to serve society, the academic and social values of its centres and services are reflected in their activities which aim to enhance solidarity, cooperation and the overall health of people and the environment.

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM)

SDSN Spain

SDSN Switzerland brings together world-class science, impact-oriented civil society actors and responsible and innovative businesses to co-create and implement transformative solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda, in Switzerland and beyond.

## Exploring new ways to cooperate and develop joint activities

With almost 40 member organizations and several partners, SDSN Switzerland has become a well-known network. In order to explore each other’s projects and activities, members and partners were invited to participate with a stand in a marketplace in the second annual assembly. This setting brought the members´ work into the spotlight and the participants were invited to freely move around and interact with each other. As one of the participants called it, the marketplace provided a valuable space for ‘contextual networking’.

Furthermore, at the assembly, the members elected Prof. Dr. Janet Hering (Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) to co-Chair the network with Océane Dayer (WWF Switzerland). Urs Wiesmann, the immediate past Co-Chair of SDSN Switzerland, highlighted the strategic priorities for the next stage of the working plan. The resulting composition of strategic and operational elements of the plan will make the network’s actions even more relevant and effective. The plan will continue to evolve and be shaped by the discussions led with members, partners and stakeholders.

## Continuing the outreach activities despite the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many planned events of SDSN Switzerland to be rescheduled. Nevertheless, the network was able to organize a workshop at the World Biodiversity Forum in Davos Switzerland, to discuss how the biosphere supports the Sustainable Development Goals in their entirety. The workshop was a success and, together with a group of experts, the network will summarize the most important results into a factsheet for policy- and decision-makers.

The network decided to convert the SDSN Switzerland conference - jointly planned with the National Research Programme 73 “Sustainable Economy” (NRP73) - into a series of online workshops held in June and July 2020. The objective of the online workshops was to debate the preliminary research findings of selected projects of the NRP 73 and to elaborate calls to action to facilitate the transition to a sustainable economy and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The topics of the 6 workshops were: Sustainable construction & housing, Digital innovation for sustainable agriculture, Spillover effects of sustainable behavior, Nudging and voluntary agreement in the private sector, Sustainable food systems, and Environmental monitoring.

## Looking ahead

In 2020 SDSN Switzerland launched a “Call for Solution Initiatives” as a format to engage and support the members and partners to upscale and disseminate innovative solutions for sustainable development. The Network will continue using this format to actively engage and work with its members and partners.

Together with its members, SDSN Switzerland will continue to bring together all stakeholders in Switzerland, if needed virtually, to shape the dialogue and the calls for action made at the 2020 online workshops.

CDE is Switzerland’s centre of excellence for sustainable development. It is one of the University of Bern’s strategic research centres tasked with mainstreaming sustainability throughout the university’s research and teaching. Its aim is to chart pathways to sustainable development and to initiate transformations in line with the Agenda 2030.

Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at the University of Bern

Founded in 1998, Biovision combats hunger and poverty at their roots. Through its active participation in the negotiations, Biovision captures the transformative power of the Agenda 2030 and the political processes that will support such a transformation. In Switzerland and internationally, Biovision is known for conducting a constructive dialogue with different stakeholder groups.

Biovision Foundation

SDSN Switzerland

SDSN Thailand is a new network co-hosted by three institutions: the SDG Research and Support Programme (SDG Move) from the Faculty of Economics of Thammasat University; the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS) from Chulalongkorn University; and the Technology and Informatics Institute for Sustainability (TIIS) of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). The network aims at uniting experts and researchers from a wide range of sectors to tackle the challenges of sustainable development in Thailand. In addition, it will also act as a platform for knowledge and experience sharing between national and global experts. SDSN Thailand will support existing academic networks, as well as nurture new thematic networks to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in Thailand. SDSN Thailand has four priorities:

1. Shaping multi-stakeholder dialogue and providing platforms for exchanging ideas and experiences across sectors to foster systemic solutions and mobilize tangible actions.
2. Nurturing thematic networks to promote sustainable development solutions by incorporating SDGs into existing thematic networks, as well as developing new thematic networks.
3. Providing evidence-based advice and recommendations to policymakers and leaders of different sectors to create transformative change.
4. Strengthening capacity in research and education on sustainability for Thailand’s primary and higher education sectors through innovative teaching and learning tools.

## 2020 Highlights & Looking Ahead

**Stakeholder engagement** – During its first year the network will carefully identify and engage relevant stakeholders at both regional and national levels. In that regard, the network has already received great support from two main strategic partners: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union (EU) Thailand Office. SDSN Thailand is working with the EU to provide capacity building for EU’s civil society partners.

**Online seminars** – The Network has already hosted a series of online seminars exploring how COVID-19 impacts SDGs advocacy and implementation across different sectors.

**Foresight Thailand Project** – A research project funded by the Thailand Science, Research and Innovation Office. It leverages the SDGs framework to analyze significant needs, and produce policy recommendations for the regions.

**National SDGs Report** – The report will be the first national SDGs report produced by an independent body. It will use data and information from Foresight Thailand Project.

**University Ranking** – SDSN Thailand has planned to launch workshops and provide several universities in the country with materials for integrating SDGs into their policies and administrations.

Thammasat University (TU), founded in 1934, is known to be one of the leading universities in Thailand. TU has been a part of several social transformations of the country, often dubbed as “the university of the people”. As a co-host of SDSN Thailand, SDG Move offers SDG-related multidisciplinary policy research and training programmes. It also mobilizes an academic network to promote sustainability transformation in Thailand.

SDG Research and Support Programme (SDG Move), Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University

Chulalongkorn University (CU), founded in 1917, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious universities in Thailand. It is ranked as one of the “World’s Top 100 Universities for the Best Academic Reputation” by QS World University Rankings 2021. CPCS, under CU, is a distinguished peace studies centre, specialized in peace studies and conflict resolutions. CPCS has been using its expertise to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues for the SDGs in Thailand.

Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, (CPCS), Chulalongkorn University. 

NSTDA has a mission to perform and support scientific, technological, as well as engineering research and development, in response to the need of the country’s development. The Technology and Information Institute for Sustainability (TIIS), under NSTDA, aims to serve as a central body to house the database for sustainable development as well as to develop a data management system in accordance with the international criteria.

Technology and Information Institute for Sustainability, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)

SDSN Thailand

## Convening Stakeholders on SDG Localization in Turkey

In October 2019, Prof. Jeffrey Sachs visited Istanbul to discuss the current state of SDG implementation with different stakeholders on the occasion of the launch event of the SDG Index at Boğaziçi University. The network facilitated Prof. Sachs’ visits to government officials to discuss Turkey’s approach to the SDGs, zero waste policy, and the country’s economic structure.

## Working Towards Sustainable Urban Development

To localize SDGs 11 and 13 and raise awareness, SDSN Turkey initiated action at municipal level and held the “Cities for Climate Workshop”. The representatives of 24 municipalities declared their intent to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2030. Moreover, SDSN Turkey conducted the "Sustainable Cities and Climate Change Online Training Program", urging municipalities to undertake mitigation and adaptation efforts.

## Mobilizing Turkish Society around Sustainable Development

SDSN Turkey mobilizes companies, institutions, and governmental organizations promoting the initiatives of the SDSN to take action on the SDGs. The network was invited to become a member of different organizations such as the Danish Green Growth Network and participated in various events such as the Social Good Summit convened by UNDP. In May 2020, the Network organized its first online Corporate Sustainability Certificate Program in collaboration with REC Turkey. A specific Certificate Program on Sustainable Marketing was also developed and conducted for company professionals together with Sustainability Academy. SDSN Turkey also contributed to SDSN’s 24 Hour Webinar and organized the participation of Mustafa Seçkin, CEO of Unilever Turkey, Central Asia and Iran, who delivered a speech on Food and Happiness.

## SDSN Youth and Global Schools Pilot Project

SDSN Youth Turkey works with the youth focal points of member universities. SDSN Turkey and SDSN Turkey Youth collaborated with AIESEC Turkey to run a one-day education for 2000 students of K-12 schools. SDSN Turkey devotes special attention to the Global Schools Project. The Network works with a number of leading academics and government executives of K-12 schools to introduce the Global Schools Program in the national education system.

## Looking Ahead

SDSN Turkey keeps contextualizing SDG Academy courses. The Network is preparing a new training program called "Sustainable Cities and Climate Change” with further outreach to the municipalities, while also working on developing a pilot SDG Index for Cities. Moreover, SDSN Turkey collaborates with the Danish Embassy on organizing the “Great Taste Zero Waste” event on sustainable food and gastronomy. Finally, the Network submitted an Erasmus+ Project Application to foster digital social innovation for the SDGs among European university students.

Boğaziçi University was founded in 1863 as the first American college outside of the United States and is one of the leading institutions of higher education in Turkey. The University shapes the future through being a pioneer in education and teaching experiences with innovative and creative approaches. With this vision of strengthening the culture of science, research, creativity, and innovation the University works hard to become one of the leading research universities in the world. The University teaches its students open-mindedness and ethical values, respect for nature and environment, providing them with a capacity to take on leadership positions anywhere in the world.

Boğaziçi University 

SDSN Turkey

SDSN Uganda is a new network that has already established a collaborative relationship with the Government of Uganda’s SDGs Coordination Task Force in the Office of the Prime Minister. The Network attends all the SDG coordination meetings and will be assisting the government on reporting on the implementation of the SDGs in Uganda. The network is also in discussions with the UN Resident Coordinator’s office and UNDP Uganda to advise on the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Uganda 2021-2025.

## Moving forward, SDSN Uganda plans to focus on six thematic areas:

1. **Agriculture** is Uganda’s dominant economic activity, accounting for 22% of the GDP, 46% of export earnings and about 70% of employment. But agricultural productivity is very low and is largely rainfed, making it vulnerable to climate change. SDSN Uganda will work with sector actors to develop transformative pathways that foster sustainable and resilient agricultural systems to increase production, food security and incomes, and reduce poverty.

2. **Good health** is essential in facilitating socio-economic development. In Uganda, access to quality health services is a big challenge, and low-life expectancy, high infant mortality and high maternal mortality are still major issues. The country has a high prevalence of malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and non-communicable diseases are on the rise. SDSN Uganda will support the development of policies and practices that promote equitable access to affordable, accountable, appropriate and quality health services for all people in Uganda.

3. **Natural resources management and ecosystem health**: ecosystem and land degradation are widespread challenges in Uganda. The network seeks transformative approaches that will reduce forest, wetland, and water resource degradation, and foster achievement of environmental sustainability.

4. **Renewable energy and energy efficiency**: energy poverty is a challenge in Uganda. The main source of energy being traditional biomass, and access to electricity is only at 20%. SDSN Uganda will work with stakeholders to increase access to clean and affordable energy access in rural and urban areas. Evidence-based solutions for increasing renewable energy in the country’s energy mix (solar, wind, waste to energy etc.) and energy efficiency (efficient cookstoves, bulbs, other home appliances) will be sought.

5. **Sustainable cities** face huge challenges including poor spatial planning, slums, poverty, air and water quality, transport, flooding, and urban ecosystem degradation. Uganda is urbanizing at a fast pace, so SDSN Uganda will support integrated urban planning approaches that address economic, social and environmental sustainability.

6. **Climate compatible development**: Uganda is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. SDSN Uganda will support capacity building and transformative solutions for climate compatible development pathways. The network will engage in activities that increase climate change awareness and knowledge, generating research evidence and innovations, and inform climate smart policies and practices.

## Looking ahead

SDSN Uganda’s formal launch was planned for May 2020, but has been postponed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and the lockdown in Uganda. The team is now focused on operationalizing the Secretariat at Makerere University, including designing a network website, establishing its governance structure, and starting an SDSN Youth chapter. The network will also prioritize monitoring of SDG implementation at subnational level and plans to conduct a survey on the likely impact of COVID-19 on SDG achievement in Uganda.

Makerere University is the leading public university in Uganda, and one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Africa. Within the university, the network is hosted by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), which is one the ten Constituent Colleges of Makerere University. CAES is a leading training and research institution in agriculture, environment, and natural resource management.

Makerere University

SDSN Uganda

SDSN USA is a dynamic network of more than 135 universities, colleges, and non profit organizations across 44 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Network members collaborate and share knowledge towards achieving a vision of a more equitable future through sustainable development. Since its launch in December 2018, the network has introduced a flagship project on deep decarbonization in the United States, produced research focused on measuring the SDGs in the United States, formed working groups around areas of common interest, and held a number of webinars and events to build network capacity and connectivity.

## Working Groups & Initiatives

In January 2019, SDSN USA launched a US Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project. Since then,the network has produced a national level white paper modeling the energy and infrastructure transition to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Furthermore, the network has issued two regional decarbonization studies to clarify technology choices and investment options, and to identify clean energy opportunities in the US Southeast and Midwest regions. Additionally, the network published a white paper on Spatial Planning for a Low-Carbon Future highlighting integrated planning tools used in California and the Southwest to improve renewable energy siting. In January 2020, a second phase of the project was launched with the formation of 11 working groups to jointly produce a supporting policy paper to be published in late 2020, coinciding with the presidential election, entitled Deep Decarbonization Action Plan for the United States. Additional working groups are in various stages of formation, on topics including: Zero Hunger; Indigenous Science; Curriculum; and University SDG Monitoring & Reporting. Co-chairs of each working group determine the scope and priorities of engagement, and all SDSN USA members are invited to participate.

## SDG Research

SDSN USA produces indices assessing US progress on the SDGs at the state, city, and national levels. The team is currently working on a project utilizing disaggregated data to assess disproportionate progress towards the SDGs in the United States across by race/ethnicity. All of these projects illustrate the need to take action towards this agenda in the United States, as well as significant data gaps, particularly on the disaggregated data needed to better understand US progress and needs on the Leave No One Behind Agenda.

## Building Network Capacity & Connectivity

The SDSN USA has held a range of events on topics related to the SDGs. This includes webinars and presentations on the SDG Indices and deep decarbonization pathways project, regional and national networking gatherings, and a panel discussion of university leaders during SDSN’s 24h Webinar.

## Looking ahead

Throughout 2020 and into 2021, SDSN USA will continue to build out the working groups program and support the development of new solutions initiatives. The network will also host a number of virtual events, including collaborations with other SDSN networks on the topic of University SDG Reporting, networking events, and topic specific webinars. The DDAP working group plans to release a report in Fall 2020, and the Zero Hunger Working Group plans to launch an initiative on Zero Hunger in the United States later in the year. In addition, an updated report on the SDGs in the United States, incorporating disaggregated data and examining disproportionate impacts across Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous populations is in progress.

The SDSN USA team is based out of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network New York Office. Co-chairs include: Helen Bond, Howard University; Dan Esty, Yale University; Gordon McCord, UC San Diego; and Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University located in Washington, DC; New Haven, Connecticut; and San Diego, California; and New York, New York, respectively.

SDSN Networks

Legend

Regional Networks

National Networks

SDSN Networks