The 2030 Agenda represents a fundamental shift in approach, recognising the interconnectedness of prosperous business, a thriving society and a healthy environment. It recognises that solving the most complex issues the world faces requires actors from every segment and sector of society -including civil society, business, government, NGOs, foundations, academia and others – to pool resources and expertise in pursuit of a future in which we can create opportunity, abundance and dignity for all while respecting planetary boundaries.

To succeed, the 2030 Agenda needs a far more holistic approach across traditional development silos and all levels of governance. It is partnerships at the national, sub-national, and city-level – those that can best harness and optimize the resources available – that will drive forward the real change required to deliver the SDGs and impact people’s lives for the better. Partnerships across silos and multiple stakeholders will be crucial to co-creating, resourcing, and delivering solutions to today’s development challenges.

Sustainable development only occurs when societal sectors (business, government, civil society) are pulling in the same direction and we can use ALL of societies’ limited resources in the most effective way.

All sectors and organisations have unique roles to play and a unique set of resources to bring to bear. Playing these roles and combining these resources differently can create forms of value that are otherwise impossible to create.

Only by working holistically across the SDGs, understanding their intrinsic inter-connectedness, rather than approaching them in siloes, can we deliver true sustainable development.

Current situation: little collaboration or coherence across business, government, civil society, academia, UN, etc.

Desired new normal: systematic collaboration across societal sectors wherever value can be created towards the common goal / polar star of the SDGs.

Understanding all of society, collaborative approaches

We partner across societal sectors because by aligning and combining resources we are able to deliver more – more efficiently, more sustainably, more holistically, more transformationally.

Business, government, civil society, media, academia, communities, parliamentarians, foundations, development cooperation partners, all have powerful, and in many cases, unique resources they bring to the table.

Further reading