Sustainable Development Solutions Network IV

The SDSN's biannual reports are substantive as the organisation and the number of initiatives and activites continues to grow at a steady pace. The impact of SDSN's operations is very difficult to present in a way that gives justice to the broad work, spread across the entire world. It is thereful useful to look into the report as a whole (each biannual reports is usually around 100 pages long). Besides the main report even further detail is presented in annexes to each report: ongoing progress by the SDG Academy (Annex 1); key reports and publications by the SDSN (Annex 2); key events organized and co-hosted by the SDSN (Annex 3); SDSNs presence in the media (Annex 4); and updates on national and regional networks main activities during the reporting period (Annex 5). Most of the outputs and activities described in the report are related to Sidas priority countries and topics (including for instance the global Sustainable Development Report but also the SDG Academy and Pathways work). Sida notes that SDSN this year (from 2022) has highlighted in bold sections that are directly related to one or several priority countries, regions and topics. Selection of reported results in the period Results under outcome 1: The Sustainable Development Report achieves increasing media coverage and thousands of website visits and downloads, and was cited in the latest European Parliament resolution on the SDGs in the past year. Downloads of the report increased by over 30% over last year, and over 38,000 users visited the report website in the two weeks following its launch (in June). Notable is that the 2022 policy chapter focused on fiscal spa ce issues in LICs and LMICs and the need for a global plan to finance sustainable development. SDSNs Asia headquarters (SDSN-Asia) was officially launched. The number of users of SDSN Northern Europes SDG Impact Assessment Tool, has more than doubled, from 7,000 in June 2021 to over 18,000 in June 2023. The work of the SDG Index and Data team continues to be featured and discussed in mainstream media, specialized journals, referenced by governments and parliaments, presented at high-level events, and published in the scientific literature. For example: In November, the SDSN released a new study tracking forced labor, accidents at work, and the climate impacts of the EUs consumption of fossil and raw materials. It found that the EUs supply chains are linked with 1.2 million cases of forced labor (across all sectors), and that minerals specifically are responsible for major socio-environmental impacts, mainly in South Asia, the Asia-Pacific, and Africa. Also, work has continued developing the SDG Transformation Center (to be launched by SDSN ahead of the September 2023 UN SDG Summit). The SDSN is building on the success of the Science Panel for the Amazon, which has developed a strong framework for scientific collaboration and dissemination of outputs, and will formally launch a Science Panel for the Congo in 2023. Following an exploratory call (March 2022), SDSN hired a consultant based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to conduct stakeholder mapping of institutions and experts (so that a larger, follow-up meeting can be held in early 2023). Results under outcome 2: The SDSN now has 55 Networks, with several new networks being approved in the last 12 months, including National SDSNs covering Bulgaria, Chile, the Czech Republic, Ghana, Ireland and Kazakhstan; and a Regional SDSN covering the Western Balkans. The networks focus on the following types of activities: 1. Supporting national and/or regional discussions on adapting and implementing the SDGs 2. Promoting practical Solution Initiatives for sustainable development 3. Teaching sustainable development, including through the SDG Academy For example SDSN Youth accomplished the following three (amongst several more) milestones: 1. Successfully awarded four youth entrepreneurs out of 12 finalists during the Investment Readiness Pitch competition held on October, 15, 2022. 2. Successfully graduated 77 fellows out of a cohort of 101 from the 2022 Local Pathways Fellowship (LPF), bringing the total number of program alumni to 450 from 180 cities across 6 continents. 3. Graduated 50 social entrepreneurs working on sustainable development solutions from our Investment Readiness Program (IRP). Restults under objective 3: For example: Since its inception, the SDG Academy has garnered over 849 821 ( 100 000 since last year enrollments across its platforms, from more than 193 ( 3 since last year) countries in its mission to reach one million learners. Sida notes that SDSN remains committed to increasing this number and ensuring open access to the content globally, particularly in least developed countries. edX is the SDG Academys primary learning platform. Learners continue to show a keen interest in obtaining an edXVerified Certificate at a rate of 5.7%, which is slightly higher than platform averages. Enrollments in the period January to June (Spring semester) reached 54,716. The SDG Academy now offers a new professional certificate in Foundations of Sustainable Development. As of December 2022, the program has garnered 213 enrollments and awarded 74 certificates. In March 2023, the SDG Academy launched a second edX Professional Certificate in Sustainable Water Management.

This intervention provides core support to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). As stated in the agreement the overall objectives of the core activities are to partner with Sida in supporting the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement with a focus on three outcomes: Outcome 1: Successful operationalization of the Sustainable Development Goals and the international agreement to curb human-induced climate change, supported by SDSNs diverse research and policy programs, in particular data and pathways work. Outcome 2: A strong Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) comprised of National and Regional SDSNs Outcome 3: World-class education on sustainable development, accessible to everyone with an internet connection through the SDG Academy, with an increased focus on capacity development and short-term courses.