The global goals and systems team is thematically centred on systems thinking in decision-making, supporting implementation of global goals, commitments and principles for sustainable development such as the UN 2030 Agenda/the Sustainable Development Goals and Stockholm+50.
These agendas reflect a global consensus that economic, social and environmental aspects of development are inextricably linked and mutually dependent. At the same time, policy-makers and implementing actors often lack methods and tools to overview the interlinkages between different policy objectives and to plan and act informed by the synergies and goal conflicts posed.
The global goals and systems team draws on systems analysis and governance studies to offer scientific support, innovative methods and tools to policy- and decision makers. The objective is to enhance the capacity of governments and other actors to adopt systems thinking, and to see this thinking reflected in more coherent decision-making. The SDG Synergies approach is developed by researchers in the team. We work with global, national and subnational level processes and in close collaboration with stakeholders.
The Sustainable Development Goals are projected onto the UN Headquarters, bringing to life each of the 17 Goals to raise awareness about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Photo: “Projections on Sustainable Development Goals and 70th Anniversary of the United Nations” by United Nations Photo, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Journal article / What actions can help build a more sustainable world in the wake of Covid-19? This article sets out key responses that can underpin action.
Journal article / The authors analyzed three applications of a decision-support approach called SDG Synergies in Mongolia, Colombia and Sri Lanka that aims at building capacity.
SEI brief / SEI applied two different kinds of tools to the question of putting health and social care services online to improve access.
