Blog Post

How much do we know about countries preparedness to respond to pandemics? Insights from two country-level indices

Guillaume Lafortune (SDSN) • Apr 20, 2020

Guillaume Lafortune
Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

Guillaume Lafortune coordinates the SDSN annual Sustainable Development Report which tracks the performance of all UN
member states on the Sustainable Development Goals. Contact: guillaume.lafortune@unsdsn.org. This article benefited
from excellent research assistance from Finn Woelm (SDSN).

The Covid-19 pandemic is shedding light on the vulnerability of health systems, including in rich countries, that many thought were best prepared to face epidemics. SDG3.D. calls all countries to strengthen their capacity for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. As of April 16, the country with the highest number of reported cases and deaths due to Covid-19 is the United-States. This is likely to continue as the number of reported cases and deaths continue to grow in the United-States. As a share of the population, besides small city-states, Spain, Belgium, Italy, France and the United Kingdom report the highest number of deaths per capita. By contrast, countries located closer to where the disease outbreak started - such as South Korea - seem to have managed more effectively the Covid-19 outbreak. Some of these countries have started to loosen up lockdown measures.

The situation remains highly unpredictable. Data and statistics on cases and mortality due to Covid-19 move rapidly. Experts question at times their reliability. Yet, it is already clear that much of what we thought to know about countries’ health systems and their ability to cope with such a major public health challenge was incomplete or incorrect. This raises important questions on how we measure countries’ preparedness.

This paper presents a first comparison between two country-level indices that aim to measure countries’ preparedness to face epidemics. One produced before Covid-19 and one that has recently been released following the initial outbreaks. The findings on this latter index remain preliminary and will be updated as the health crisis unfold. These two measures received a lot of media attention in the past few weeks. The paper aims to highlight potential limitations in pre-Covid-19 measures of health systems’ preparedness and capacities to face epidemics but also to identify other reasons, non-health related, that might affect the effectiveness of countries responses to disease outbreaks.

The Covid-19 “reality” check between health care systems’ supposed preparedness and responses


In November 2019, a consortium of organizations [2] released the Global Health Security (GHS) Index. The goal of the GHS is to help understand and measure improvement in global capability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. It is according to the consortium, and to our knowledge, the first comprehensive assessment of global health security preparedness. The GHS covers 195 countries and territories. It is based on a comprehensive framework that comprises 140 questions organized around six categories: Prevention, Detection and reporting, Rapid response, Health system, Compliance with international norms and risk environment. More details on what each category aims to capture is available in the supplementary material section. Overall, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands topped the global 2019 GHS ranking.

In March 2020, the Deep Knowledge Group (a consortium of profit and non-profit organizations) released the Covid-19 Safety, Risk and Treatment Efficiency framework and indices. The Indices cover 150 countries. They use 72 metrics grouped into three indices (Safety, Risk and Treatment Efficiency) and twelve underlying quadrants. The data is collected from publicly available sources including World Health Organization, Johns Hopkins University, Worldometers, and the CDC. Many elements of the methodology and results are proprietary and have not been released publicly. This makes it impossible to fully assess this new index and its sub-components. The top 40 ranks for the “Safety” Index are accessible online. The “Safety” Index includes four quadrants: Quarantine efficiency, Government management efficiency, Monitoring and detection and Emergency treatment readiness. More details are available in the supplementary material section. Overall, Israel, Germany and South Korea topped the 2020 Covid-19 Safety Index. The Covid-19 Safety Index is dynamic; scores and ranks have already evolved since it was launched and will continue to evolve over time as the health crises unfold.

One would assume that the top performers in the November 2019 GHS Index would also perform best in terms of responses based on the preliminary results from the Covid-19 Safety Index. However, looking at 43 countries for which data are available on both indices as of 15 April 2020 [3], there is no correlation in the GHS ranks and Covid-19 Safety ranks (see figure below). While a few countries like Australia and South Korea rank well on both indices, the two top performers in the GHS – the United-Kingdom and United-States – are not in the top 40 performers in the Covid-19 Safety Index. Other OECD countries that ranked well (in the top 20) in the November GHS index such as France, Spain or Sweden are also not in the top 40 Covid-19 Safety ranks. By contrast, countries such as Austria, China, Hungary, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates perform better on the Covid-19 Safety Index than what could be “predicted” by their GHS ranks. Germany performed only 14th on the GHS index while it is ranked 2nd on the Covid-19 Safety Index, whereas France ranked better than Germany on the GHS index but much worse on the Covid-19 Safety index (not in the top 40).

There is also a very poor relationship between the November GHS ranks & scores and the number of Covid-19 cases and Covid-19 deaths per capita (fig 3.). In our view, death rate is the useful indicator of effectiveness. The number of cases reported might simply reflect that a greater portion of the population are being tested.

Out of the six categories of the GHS, three really capture the health systems capability to respond to an epidemic outbreak. The three other categories on Prevention, Compliance with international norms and Risk environment capture more issues that go beyond the preparedness of the health care system (including behavioural factors). Yet, even when focusing on the GHS categories related to detection, response, and health preparedness the rank correlation with the Covid-19 Safety Index remains completely random (fig 4). Surprisingly, there is an inverse relationship between the GHS ranks on the “Detection” category and the number of Covid-19 tests per capita according to the data available as of April 16th (fig 5).

Beyond health care system preparedness: The central role of political decisions in shaping the response to epidemic outbreaks

These results suggest that the November 2019 GHS might have greatly overestimated the preparedness and capacity of certain health care systems to respond to major epidemics - particularly those of France, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. By contrast, the preparedness of certain countries, including for instance Germany and South Korea, seems to have been underestimated.

Considering the level of uncertainty, it is too early to draw any final conclusions. There are uncertainties related to the accuracy of Covid-19 data including on incidence and death rate. Some countries like China have already started to review the number of covid-19 related deaths upwards, and in many OECD countries death rates in nursing homes have not been reported accurately yet. Also, should some countries face a “second wave” of Covid-19 international assessments of countries’ response and effectiveness in managing the pandemic would evolve.

Besides the degree of uncertainty, technical choices made in constructing these indices and ranks (including weights given to certain variables or normalization and aggregation techniques) might also explain some of the discrepancy. The figure above focuses on rank correlations because total scores on the Covid-19 Safety Index are not available. Score correlation should also be conducted to provide a more comprehensive picture. The numerous moving pieces should therefore call for prudence in interpreting these results.

Yet, we highlight below two broad preliminary hypothesis that might explain parts of the discrepancy between the GHS and the Covid-19 Safety Index and other measures of Covid-19 impacts (including incidence and death rates) at country-level.

1. Has the GHS framework put too little emphasis on testing and the adaptability of health systems (including reserve capacity)?

The GHS is meant to apply to a wide range of health and biological risks: natural, intentional, or accidental. Still the key messages and the conceptual framework presented in the November 2019 GHS are highly relevant in the Covid-19 context. The key message of the November GHS report was that most countries are not well prepared to face pandemic threats. The six categories of the GHS framework prove to be very relevant in the Covid-19 context. Under category 1 (prevention) the GHS tracks for instance the existence of surveillance systems for zoonotic diseases/pathogens. Category 2 (early detection) tracks the capacities of national laboratory systems and epidemiology workforce and the existence of electronic reporting surveillance system. Category 3 (rapid response) tracks the existence of national public health emergency plans and Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) and whether countries conducted health emergency exercises recently. Category 4 (Health System) focuses on the capacities of the hospital system (e.g. number of hospital beds) and primary care system (e.g. number of doctors), on the availability of equipment and on measures of access to care (UHC, out of pocket expenditure). It also has a specific focus on processes for approving medical treatments. Category 5 (Norms) and Category 6 (Risk) cover aspects that go much beyond the health care system preparedness including the adoption of international resolutions, recent political statements and risk factors in case of an epidemic outbreak (poverty, education, quality of infrastructure etc.).

The weights assigned to the six categories by the International Expert Panel for the construction of the overall GHS score and ranks also resonates quite well in the current context. Categories 2 (early detection) and 3 (rapid response) have the greatest weight (19.2%), higher than the four other categories (16.7% or less). It is likely that part of the success of Asian countries in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis can be attributed to massive testing, acute surveillance systems and rapid isolation of infected patients. This likely helped flattening the epidemic curve and reduced burden on the hospital system. In fact, in light of the Covid-19 crisis, one could argue that these two categories could be weighted even higher in the GHS methodology. It is possible for users to adjust the weights themselves on the GHS website.

Yet, in light of the Covid-19 crisis, there might be elements of effective disease control and management that might have been overlooked or not adequately captured in the November GHS. This is highlighted by the comparison of the results obtained by three countries: Germany, South Korea and the United States.

First, the GHS evaluates primarily what is on paper (rules, regulations, processes, existence of specific bodies) based on the judgement of people who developed the index. It relies extensively on binary data (0 or 1) and aggregates altogether 140 data points. The comprehensiveness of the methodology may hide poor performance on some crucial aspects. On category 4 (health system) the United-States (73.2) obtains a much better score than Germany (48.2). While the U.S. performs very poorly on the “Healthcare access” sub-component of the category (measured notably by UHC, out-of-pocket expenditure), this poor results is offset by a perfect score (100) on other dimensions notably on “Communications with health workers during a public health emergency” (measured by two binary questions on the existence of communication systems in place [4] ). On this latter dimension Germany obtains a straight 0 which considerably affects it overall performance on the category. This binary score of “all or nothing” based on expert judgement affects greatly the overall results. It is very doubtful that the German health system was less well prepared than the U.S. system to respond to the Covid-19 crisis given their huge hospital capacity and medical staff capacity. Also considering that the U.S. Global Health Security and Biodefense unit — responsible for pandemic preparedness – was dismantled by the current administration in May 2018.

Second, the GHS indicator set might overlook or not capture well enough elements that proved to be crucial in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic. We focus on two elements (there might be others). The first element is the crucial role that testing, surveillance and rapid isolation played in flattening the epidemic curve to avoid excess pressure on the health care and hospital system. In the GHS, the United States scores better (98.2) than Germany (84.6) and South Korea (92.1) on category 2 (detection and reporting). The U.S. also scores better on the subcomponent “Capacity to test and approve new medical countermeasures". Yet, according to the latest data available as of April 16th, the United-States took much more time than Germany and South Korea to test a significant proportion of its population (figure below). As of, April 12th the Germans had tested two times mor people relative to its population size than the U.S.

The GHS methodology focuses notably on laboratory capacities to perform WHO-defined core tests and on timely procurement systems. The U.S. performs well on both according to the GHS, but in practice during Covid-19, tests prepared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proved faulty and tests other than the CDC’s were approved late (on Feb. 29). It is also likely that South Korea was able to mobilize faster the private sector to develop and implement test kits, building on their past experience in dealing with similar epidemics in the past twenty years. These results suggest that the GHS might have overestimated the U.S. capacity to administer massive tests for a new virus like Covid-19.

The other element is related to the availability of equipment to face a pandemic. In the GHS, the United States obtains a perfect score (100) on the sub-component “Infection control practices and availability of equipment” whereas Germany and South Korea obtain half of the points only (50). Yet, Germany and South Korea did not face greater shortages of protective equipment (including masks) and Germany had a greater number of hospital beds, intensive care beds and ventilators than the United-States to respond to any peak in demand. Here also, the GHS tracks primarily the existence of strategic plans for medical equipment probably because of data availability limitations at the global level. However, this rough dichotomous scoring approach is not precise enough to assess the availability of key equipment to respond to this specific crisis and the ability to mobilize quickly additional equipment, like masks and ventilators.

2. The GHS cannot anticipate political decisions and difficult arbitrations

Another interpretation of the poor correlation between pre-Covid-19 measures of preparedness and new indicators developed during Covid-19, is that certain countries should have been able to respond in a better way to the Covid-19 health crisis than what they have done as they were, in theory, better prepared. As highlighted above the GHS did not get it all wrong; and many of the underlying measures used are highly relevant in the current context. Ultimately, the response and management of an epidemic does not only depend on health care resources and preparedness only, but also to a large extent, on the ability of political leaders to mobilize actors and take the correct decisive actions at the right time.

The decision to shutdown non-essential economic activities to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak was taken by most political leaders in countries highly affected by the virus; albeit at very different speed. There is a growing consensus among experts that this a very effective measure to deal with rapid virus spread but this has huge economic consequences. Most Asian countries, including South Korea, have adopted, and implemented strict confinement measures at a very early stage. Some European countries, including France and Germany, have also adopted rapidly similar approaches. In these cases, health considerations took precedence very early on over any economic considerations. As highlighted in recent OECD and IMF reports, the economic consequences of lockdowns are huge, in terms of production and employment loss. It seems that for some of the countries that topped the GHS ranking – such as the United States and the United Kingdom – the political decision to shutdown the economy in order to save lives was harder to make and took longer to take effect (or were only implemented in certain States)

As many countries start deconfining, this political trade-off between health and the economy will remain delicate to handle considering on one hand the risk of a second-wave and on the other hand the desperate need of many people and industries to restart economic activities.

This article argues that the lead pre-Covid-19 measure of countries’ preparedness to face epidemics – the Global Health Security Index - overestimated the level of preparedness of certain countries (including the United Kingdom and United States) and underestimated the preparedness of other countries (including Germany, South Korea and other Asian countries). This can be partly attributed to the limited emphasis in the GHS methodology on testing and the adaptability of health systems (including reserve capacity for strategic medical equipment). At the same time, it is beyond the scope of the GHS to anticipate rapid and decisive political actions which are critical for the effective management of any epidemics. These findings would need to be updated in light of the evolution of the Covid-19 health crisis.

Notes

[1] The GHS Index is a project of the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (JHU) and was developed with The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
[2] Imputations on the Covid-19 Index ranks were made for six countries that were not included in the top 40 ranks available publicly. These are France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. A rank of 41 for these six countries was assumed. These will be updated should we get access to the detailed results.
[3] The exact questions are: 4.4.1a. Is there a system in place for public health officials and healthcare workers to communicate during a public health emergency? and 4.4.1b. Does the system for public health officials and healthcare workers to communicate during an emergency encompass healthcare workers in both the public and private sector?

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Supplementary Material

Global Schools Launches Fifth Cohort of the Advocates Program to Build Capacity of Educators to Teach Sustainable Development

By Global Schools • 16 Apr, 2024
The Global Schools Program (GSP) is thrilled to open applications for this year’s Global Schools Advocates Program cohort. This initiative drives transformative change in classrooms by fostering sustainable development through enhanced teacher training, aligning with SDG 4.7.

Finance Consultant, Science Panel for the Amazon

By Info • 15 Apr, 2024
ABOUT SDSN The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. We aim to accelerate joint learning and promote integrated approaches that address the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world. SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society. It is directed by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs and operates through offices in New York, Paris, and Kuala Lumpur. ABOUT THE SCIENCE PANEL FOR THE AMAZON The Science Panel for the Amazon, convened under the auspices of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) represents the world’s first high-level science initiative dedicated to the survival of the Amazon. The first report of the SPA, launched at the COP26 in Glasgow, is the most in-depth and holistic report of its kind on the Amazon. The state of urgency and the complexity and scope of the challenges the Amazon is facing calls for continued specialized research and scientific knowledge. It is thus paramount to ensure that the SPA remains active and operational in the long-term to develop much needed scientific assessments on the state of the Amazon and build and share knowledge to advance evidence-based sustainable development pathways for the Amazon. POSITION SUMMARY The consultant will work with the SPA team and several colleagues to develop an overall engagement strategy to work with the financial sector in the Amazon region and support conservation and a sustainable bioeconomy. The consultant may oversee several projects and initiatives. The consultant will analyze data on the supply chains for key commodities in the Amazon, highlighting key players involved as well as the risks and opportunities for more sustainable production systems in the Amazon. Based on the SPA Report’s assessment and recommendations on bioeconomy and restoration, the consultant will identify potential key partners to be engaged in the dialogue for sustainable solutions for the Amazon. Working with the SPA team, the consultant will support the development and implementation of an engagement strategy for dialogues with key development banks and financial institutions. The consultant will support the establishment of partnerships with key stakeholders such as the World Bank, InterAmerican Development Bank and with the GEF and GCF to engage in a series of dialogues on the main findings and proposals to advance sustainable development in the Amazon, and to stimulate financial institutions to adopt science-based social and environmental performance standards to contribute to the sustainable development of the Amazon region. The consultant will develop a strategy for SPA’s engagement with government finance policy makers and financial institutions at the Spring and Autumn meetings of Finance Ministers convened by the IMF and World Bank. The incumbent will prepare presentations for high-level meetings (e.g. with InterAmerican Development, CAF, FEBRABAN). The consultant will support the establishment of partnerships (e.g. with UNEP Financial Initiative) and engage in dialogues with financial institutions at high-level summits and events. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES Work with SPA leadership to direct work on financing Conduct an analysis of supply chains for key commodities in the Amazon Map of key players in supply chains Build a compendium / database of key financial industry stakeholders in the region Develop an engagement strategy for the finance sector Implement the strategy, including key dialogues, meetings, and events QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE 7-10 years of experience working with or researching international finance institutions An advanced university degree (preferably a Ph.D) in biology, ecology, economics, conservation, sustainable development, or related field. Excellent organizational and project leadership skills. Demonstrated track record of effectively leading a performance-based and outcome-based program. Candidates must have developed and executed strategies that have taken an organization or program to the next stage of impact and growth. They must be skilled in developing strategy. Proven ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a matrixed team environment. Demonstrated experience managing a high-performance team with a deep commitment to diversity, inclusiveness, and empowerment. Ability to adapt technical knowledge and complex concepts to products aimed at policymakers. Strong analytical, quantitative, and empirical research skills; and the ability to link findings to public policy analysis and recommendations. Ability to operate with independence, under pressure, and to meet deadlines and commitments. Excellent interpersonal skills requiring knowing when to use courtesy, tact and/or diplomacy to effectively communicate with all constituents. Ability to effectively prioritize and produce high-quality work under time constraints. Ability to demonstrate integrity in deliverables, behavior, and demeanor. Must be fluent in English and either Portuguese or Spanish. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Location: Remote Travel: None. Contract Length: 6 months, with possibility to renew Benefits: SDSN team members are given the opportunity to follow some of the most thought-provoking discussions on sustainability. In their work, team members get the opportunity to meet and exchange with some of the world’s greatest leaders in sustainable development – professors, economists, bestselling authors, educators, and academics. In addition to this, SDSN team is composed of brilliant, dynamic, sustainable development professionals that come from different countries and backgrounds. With such unique exposure and environment, each member of SDSN can learn and grow while doing the work they love and contribute with a positive impact. Reports to: Emma Torres, Vice President of the Americas SDSN is an Equal Opportunity Employer SDSN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, military or veteran status, age, and physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. APPLICATION PROCESS To apply, please submit a cover letter INCLUDING DAILY RATE OF PAY and a CV on HR Partner at the following link. https://sdsn.hrpartner.io/jobs/finance-consultant--science-panel-for-the-amazon-z2vy5

April 2024 Employee Spotlight - Celebrating Gaëlle Descloîtres!

By Info • 15 Apr, 2024
The SDSN has launched an 'Employee Spotlight Campaign' to showcase the passion and expertise of our staff.

Junior Full Stack Web Developer

By Info • 05 Apr, 2024
Paris, Ile-de-France, France ABOUT SDSN The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. We aim to accelerate joint learning and promote integrated approaches that address the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world. SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society. It is directed by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs and operates through offices in New York, Paris, and Kuala Lumpur. ABOUT THE DATA VISUALIZATION UNIT We are a small but growing unit at the UN SDSN, focused on building interactive web platforms and data tools for the organization’s flagship reports and products. For our data visualizations, we work primarily with React and Next.js to generate interactive, static websites hosted on Netlify. For our data work, we work primarily in Python and R. We like to innovate, prototype, and push the boundaries of what is possible. POSITION SUMMARY We are looking for a junior full-stack web developer to join our team to support the development of our interactive web platforms and data tools on the Sustainable Development Goals, including those featured in the SDG Transformation Center . Our platforms and tools help educate and empower policymakers, civil society organizations, and the general public to make data-driven decisions for greater impact. If you are seeking a web developer position within a mission-driven organization, SDSN is a place where you could grow and thrive. TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Web Application Management: Maintain our current web application portfolio, including data visualizations and static websites. Feature and Web Application Development: Work closely with a product owner and GIS specialist to conceptualize and implement new features to our existing web application portfolio, as well as the creation of brand-new web applications. Your creativity and technical skills will help visualize complex data models to a wide variety of users. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Actively coordinate with cross-functional teams to define specifications and deliver tailored web applications that meet their needs. Data Workstreams Support: Engage with various data-centric activities at SDSN, such as data extractions and data analysis. Industry Awareness: Keep up to date with the latest industry trends and best practices in web development and data visualization. Apply this knowledge to continuously improve our technology stack and processes. Other: Perform other tasks as needed CORE QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Economics, or another quantitative field OR two to three years working experience. Strong knowledge of React and Node environments, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Knowledge of git version control and GitHub. Experience developing websites Fluency in English. Attention to detail. Self-driven, able to work independently as well as on cross-functional teams. Proactive and problem-solving attitude OPTIONAL QUALIFICATIONS UX/UI design skills Knowledge of data and statistics Experience building web applications with NextJS Knowledge with modern CSS frameworks such as Material UI or Tailwind. Familiarity with Python, R, or Stata Familiarity with interactive mapping tools (ArcGIS) Experience testing web applications using Jest and Cypress Familiarity with graphics design (e.g., Illustrator, Inkscape) IMPORTANT INFORMATION Location: Paris. Remotely 2 to 3 days / week. Contract length: CDD, 12 months, with possibility of renewal and conversion into an open-ended contract CDI. The selected candidate would start as soon as possible . Salary range: depending on experience. Benefits: SDSN offers generous leave allowances and flexible, hybrid work policy. SDSN team members are given the opportunity to follow some of the most thought-provoking discussions on sustainability. In their work, team members get the opportunity to meet and exchange with some of the world’s greatest leaders in sustainable development – professors, economists, bestselling authors, educators, and academics. In addition to this, SDSN team is composed of brilliant, dynamic, sustainable development professionals that come from different countries and backgrounds. With such unique exposure and environment, each member of SDSN can learn and grow while doing the work they love and contribute with a positive impact. Work authorization: You must have the right to work in France. The SDSN cannot sponsor a work visa for this position. SDSN IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER We are an equal opportunity employer and value inclusion and diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We welcome all applicants! APPLICATION PROCESS To apply, please submit a CV on HR Partner . Please include links to relevant projects and code samples that you have worked on. Deadline for applying: 26 April 2024 (Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A PROPOS DE SDSN UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (“SDSN”) opère depuis 2012 sous les auspices du Secrétaire général de l'ONU. SDSN mobilise l'expertise scientifique et technologique mondiale afin de promouvoir des solutions pratiques pour le développement durable, notamment la mise en œuvre des Objectifs de Développement Durable (ODD) et de l'Accord de Paris sur le climat. Nous visons à accélérer l'apprentissage commun et à promouvoir des méthodes intégrées qui répondent aux défis économiques, sociaux et environnementaux interconnectés auxquels le monde est confronté. SDSN travaille en étroite collaboration avec les agences des Nations Unies, les institutions financières multilatérales, le secteur privé et la société civile. Il est dirigé par le professeur Jeffrey D. Sachs et fonctionne par l'intermédiaire de bureaux à New York, Paris et Kuala Lumpur. À PROPOS DE L'UNITÉ DE VISUALISATION DES DONNÉES Nous sommes une petite unité en pleine croissance au sein du SDSN de l'ONU, qui se concentre sur la construction de plateformes web interactives et d'outils de données pour les rapports et produits phares de l'organisation. Pour nos visualisations de données, nous travaillons principalement avec React et Next.js pour générer des sites web interactifs et statiques hébergés sur Netlify. Pour nos travaux sur les données, nous travaillons principalement en Python et R. Nous aimons innover, prototyper et repousser les limites du possible. SYNTHESE DU POSTE A POURVOIR Nous recherchons un/e développeur/développeuse junior full stack pour rejoindre notre équipe afin de soutenir le développement de nos plateformes web interactives et de nos visualisations de données sur les objectifs de développement durable, y compris ceux présentés dans le SDG Transformation Center . Nos plateformes et outils aident à informer et à donner aux décideurs politiques, aux organisations de la société civile et au grand public les moyens de prendre des décisions fondées sur des données pour un plus grand impact. Si vous recherchez un poste de développeur/développeuse au sein d'une organisation axée sur une mission, SDSN est un endroit où vous pourriez grandir et prospérer. PRINCIPALES RESPONSABILITES Gestion des applications Web : maintenir notre portefeuille d'applications Web actuel, y compris les visualisations de données et les sites Web statiques. Développement de fonctionnalités et d'applications Web : travailler en étroite collaboration avec un ‘product owner’ et un spécialiste GIS pour conceptualiser et mettre en œuvre de nouvelles fonctionnalités dans notre portefeuille d'applications Web existant, ainsi que pour la création de toutes nouvelles applications Web. Votre créativité et vos compétences techniques aideront à visualiser des modèles de données complexes pour une grande variété d'utilisateurs. Collaboration interfonctionnelle : coordonner activement avec les équipes interfonctionnelles pour définir les spécifications et fournir des applications Web sur mesure qui répondent à leurs besoins. Prise en charge des flux de travail de données : participer à diverses activités centrées sur les données au SDSN, telles que les extractions et l'analyse de données. Mise à jour dans le domaine du web développement : rester informé des dernières tendances du secteur et des meilleures pratiques en matière de développement web et de visualisation de données. Appliquer ces connaissances pour améliorer continuellement nos processus. Autre : effectuer d'autres tâches selon les besoins QUALIFICATIONS, FORMATION ET EXPERIENCE Baccalauréat ou maîtrise en informatique, statistiques, économie ou dans un autre domaine quantitatif OU deux à trois ans d'expérience professionnelle COMPETENCES CONNEXES Requis: Solide connaissance des environnements React et Node, JavaScript, HTML et CSS Connaissance du contrôle de version git et de GitHub Expérience en développement de sites Web Maîtrise de l'anglais Souci du détail Autonome, capable de travailler de manière indépendante ainsi qu'avec différentes équipes Attitude proactive et axée sur la résolution de problèmes Facultatif: Compétences en conception UX/UI Connaissance des données et des statistiques Expérience dans la création d'applications Web avec NextJS Connaissance des frameworks CSS modernes tels que Material UI ou Tailwind Familiarité avec Python, R ou Stata Familiarité avec les outils de cartographie interactive (ArcGIS) Expérience de test d'applications Web à l'aide de Jest et Cypress Familiarité avec la conception graphique (par exemple, Illustrator, Inkscape) INFORMATION IMPORTANTE Lieu de travail: Paris, régime de travail hybride (2 ou 3 jours par semaine de télétravail) Durée du contrat: CDD pour 12 mois, avec possibilité de renouvellement et de transformation en CDI à durée indéterminée. Le poste est à pourvoir dès que possible. Salaire: En fonction de l’expérience. Avantages: SDSN offre des congés généreux et une politique de travail flexible et hybride. Les membres de l'équipe de SDSN ont la possibilité de suivre certaines discussions très stimulantes sur le développement durable. Dans le cadre de leur travail, les membres de l'équipe ont l'occasion de rencontrer et d'échanger avec certains des plus grands leaders mondiaux en matière de développement durable - professeurs, économistes, auteurs de best-sellers, éducateurs et universitaires. En outre, l'équipe du SDSN est composée de professionnels du développement durable brillants et dynamiques, issus de pays et d'horizons différents. Grâce à cette exposition et à cet environnement uniques, chaque membre de SDSN peut apprendre et se développer tout en faisant le travail qu'il aime et en contribuant à un impact positif. Permis de travail: SDSN ne sponsorise pas les visas, et par conséquent, les candidats doivent avoir un permis pour travailler en France. EGALITE DES CHANCES A L’EMPLOI SDSN est un employeur offrant l'égalité des chances et tous les candidats qualifiés seront considérés de la même manière. PROCESSUS DE CANDIDATURE Pour postuler, veuillez soumettre un CV sur HR PARTNER jusqu’au 26 avril 2024 . Veuillez inclure des liens vers des projets pertinents et des échantillons de code sur lesquels vous avez travaillé. Veuillez noter qu'en raison du volume important de candidatures reçues, seuls les candidat(es) présélectionné(es) seront contacté(es).

Strategic Advisor

By Info • 05 Apr, 2024
Paris, Ile-de-France, France ABOUT SDSN The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. We aim to accelerate joint learning and promote integrated approaches that address the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world. SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society. It is directed by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs and operates through offices in New York, Paris, and Kuala Lumpur. POSITION SUMMARY The SDSN Paris Office is looking for an experienced Strategic Advisor to support partnership development and fundraising efforts. Working closely with the Vice President and Head of Paris Office the Strategic Advisor will be in charge of engaging with existing and potential global partners to advance the implementation of the SDGs. The Strategic Advisor will work closely with SDSN’s global network of Universities and Research Institutions as well as other partners. The Strategic Advisor will also contribute to supporting the efforts of the SDSN, in particular of the SDG Transformation Center , in tracking SDG policies at the country-level. The Strategic Advisor will report directly to the Vice President and Head of Paris Office and will work closely with the Director for Operations and Grant Management. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES Partnerships, fundraising & reporting (50%): Lead and coordinate the fundraising strategy of the SDSN Paris, in collaboration with the VP and Head of Paris Office and senior managers. Prepare project proposals and approach potential partners including governments, philanthropists and foundations. Represent the SDSN Paris in high-level meetings. Liaise with senior managers in Paris to understand needs and strategic priorities. Gain transversal knowledge across projects of timelines, reporting mechanisms. Help increase the outreach and visibility of SDSN’s work and in particular the work of the SDG Transformation Center internationally. Contribute to donor compliance, audit processes and grant management. Communications & outreach (30%): Present the work of the SDSN in seminars, workshops and roundtables. Working closely with the SDSN Head of Communications, lead communications efforts for the SDSN Paris Office in particular the social media and website of the SDG Transformation Center and FABLE teams Help prepare press releases and liaise with reporters. Organize the logistics and send out invitations for high-level launch events. Analytical work on SDG policy & data (20%): In collaboration with the SDSN Networks’ team, prepare the annual survey and collect data on Government Efforts and Commitment for the SDGs Expand SDSN’s work on Policy Trackers for key SDG Transformations, in particular on SDG localization. Working closely with the SDG Index team, explore innovative ways to leverage geospatial (GIS) technologies to track SDG progress Provide inputs when needed to SDSN’s flagship reports and working papers, including the Sustainable Development Report & Global Commons Stewardship Index. Perform any other tasks as needed. QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE An advanced University degree (Master’s or Ph.D) in economics, international studies, political science, business administration, industrial ecology, environmental science, or other relevant topic Experience working on sustainable development issues, preferably acquired in an international context Strong background in partnership development at the international level Experience in fundraising, managing donor relationships and preparing audit reports RELATED SKILLS Strong analytical, quantitative, and empirical research skills; and proven ability to link findings to public policy analysis and recommendations Proven ability to develop constructive relationships with key actors and networks in the area of environmental sustainability Diplomatic skills and ability to work in a team environment Knowledge of one statistical package, preferably STATA and/or R, would be a plus Fluency in English (both written and spoken) is required Professional capacity in French and other languages would be a plus IMPORTANT INFORMATION Location: Paris. The office has a hybrid model of work with 2-3 days at the office. Contract Length: CDD, 18 months (with possibility of conversion to a CDI). The selected candidate would start ideally by June 2024 or in September 2024. Salary Range: depending on experience. Benefits: SDSN offers generous leave allowances and flexible, hybrid work policy. SDSN team members are given the opportunity to follow some of the most thought-provoking discussions on sustainability. In their work, team members get the opportunity to meet and exchange with some of the world’s greatest leaders in sustainable development – professors, economists, bestselling authors, educators, and academics. With such unique exposure and environment, each member of SDSN can learn and grow while doing the work they love and contribute with a positive impact. Reports to: VP and Head of the Paris Office Work authorization: SDSN does not sponsor visas, and therefore applicants must have the right to work in France. SDSN IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER SDSN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, military or veteran status, age, and physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. APPLICATION PROCESS To apply, please submit a cover letter , your CV and references on HR Partner . Application materials should be submitted in English preferably (but possible also to submit them in French). Deadline for applying: 23 April 2024 (Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSEILLER/E STRATEGIQUE A PROPOS DE SDSN UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (“SDSN”) opère depuis 2012 sous les auspices du Secrétaire Général de l'ONU. SDSN mobilise l'expertise scientifique et technologique mondiale afin de promouvoir des solutions pratiques pour le développement durable, notamment la mise en œuvre des Objectifs de Développement Durable (ODD) et de l'Accord de Paris sur le climat. Nous visons à accélérer l'apprentissage commun et à promouvoir des méthodes intégrées qui répondent aux défis économiques, sociaux et environnementaux interconnectés auxquels le monde est confronté. SDSN travaille en étroite collaboration avec les agences des Nations Unies, les institutions financières multilatérales, le secteur privé et la société civile. Il est dirigé par le professeur Jeffrey D. Sachs et fonctionne par l'intermédiaire de bureaux à New York, Paris et Kuala Lumpur. A PROPOS DU POSTE A POURVOIR Le bureau parisien du SDSN recherche un/e conseiller/conseillère stratégique expérimenté/e pour soutenir le développement de partenariats et les efforts de collecte de fonds. En étroite collaboration avec le Vice-Président - Chef du bureau de Paris, le/la conseiller/conseillère stratégique sera chargé/e de nouer des relations avec des partenaires au niveau mondial afin de faire progresser la mise en œuvre des ODD. Le/la conseiller/conseillère stratégique travaillera en étroite collaboration avec le réseau mondial d'institutions internationales, nationales et d'universités et centres de recherche de SDSN ainsi qu'avec d'autres partenaires. Le/la conseiller/conseillère stratégique contribuera également à soutenir les efforts du SDSN, en particulier ceux du Centre de transformation des ODD , dans le suivi des politiques relatives aux ODD au niveau national. Il/elle rendra compte directement au Vice-Président - Chef du bureau de Paris et travaillera en étroite collaboration avec la Directrice des Opérations & de la Gestion des Subventions. PRINCIPALES RESPONSABILITES Partenariats, collecte de fonds et suivi (50%) : Diriger et coordonner la stratégie de collecte de fonds du SDSN Paris, en collaboration avec le Vice-Président - Chef du bureau de Paris et les managers. Préparer des propositions de projets et approcher des partenaires potentiels, y compris des gouvernements, des philanthropes et des fondations. Représenter le SDSN Paris dans des réunions de haut niveau. Assurer la liaison avec les managers à Paris pour comprendre les besoins et les priorités stratégiques. Acquérir une connaissance transversale des échéances et des mécanismes d'établissement de rapports pour l'ensemble des projets. Contribuer à accroître la portée et la visibilité du travail du SDSN et en particulier du travail du SDG Transformation Center à l'échelle internationale. Contribuer au respect des exigences des donateurs, aux processus d'audit et à la gestion des subventions. Communication et sensibilisation (30 %) : Présenter le travail du SDSN lors de séminaires, d'ateliers et de tables rondes. En étroite collaboration avec la responsable de la communication du SDSN, diriger les efforts de communication pour le bureau de Paris du SDSN, en particulier les médias sociaux et le site web du SDG Transformation Center et de l’équipe FABLE. Aider à préparer les communiqués de presse et assurer la liaison avec les journalistes. Organiser la logistique et envoyer les invitations pour les événements de lancement de haut niveau. Travail analytique sur la politique et les données relatives aux ODD (20 %) : En collaboration avec l'équipe du réseau SDSN, préparer l'enquête annuelle et collecter des données sur les efforts et l'engagement des gouvernements en faveur des ODD. Développer le travail du SDSN sur les indicateurs de suivi des politiques pour les transformations clés des ODD, en particulier sur la localisation des ODD. En étroite collaboration avec l'équipe de l'indice SDG, explorer des moyens innovants d'exploiter les technologies géospatiales (GIS) pour suivre les progrès des SDG. Contribuer, le cas échéant, aux rapports et documents de travail phares du SDSN, notamment le rapport sur le développement durable et le Global Commons Stewardship Index (indice mondial de gestion des ressources communes). Effectuer toute autre tâche nécessaire. QUALIFICATIONS, FORMATION ET EXPERIENCE Diplôme universitaire supérieur (Master ou doctorat) en économie, études internationales, sciences politiques, administration des affaires, écologie industrielle, sciences de l'environnement ou autre sujet pertinent. Expérience de travail sur les questions de développement durable, acquise de préférence dans un contexte international. Solide expérience en matière de développement de partenariats au niveau international. Expérience de la collecte de fonds, de la gestion des relations avec les donateurs et de la préparation de rapports d'audit. COMPETENCES CONNEXES Solides compétences en matière d'analyse, de recherche quantitative et empirique ; et capacité avérée à relier les résultats à l'analyse et aux recommandations en matière de politique publique. Capacité avérée à développer des relations constructives avec des acteurs et des réseaux clés dans le domaine de la durabilité environnementale. Compétences diplomatiques et capacité à travailler en équipe. La connaissance d'un progiciel statistique, de préférence STATA et/ou R, serait un plus. La maîtrise de l'anglais (à l'écrit et à l'oral) est requise. Une capacité professionnelle en français et dans d'autres langues serait un plus. INFORMATION IMPORTANTE Lieu de travail: Paris. Le bureau suit un mode de travail hybride, avec une présence au bureau à raison de 2-3 jours par semaine. Durée du contrat: CDD, 18 mois (avec la possibilité d’une extension en CDI). Le/la candidat/e sélectionné/e commencera idéalement en juin 2024 ou en Septembre 2024. Avantages: SDSN offre des congés généreux et une politique de travail flexible et hybride. Les membres de l'équipe de SDSN ont la possibilité de suivre certaines discussions très recherchées sur le développement durable. Dans le cadre de leur travail, les membres de l'équipe ont l'occasion de rencontrer et d'échanger avec certains des plus grands leaders mondiaux en matière de développement durable - professeurs, économistes, auteurs de best-sellers et universitaires. En outre, l'équipe du SDSN est composée de professionnels du développement durable brillants et dynamiques, issus de pays et d'horizons différents. Grâce à cette exposition et à cet environnement uniques, chaque membre de SDSN peut apprendre et se développer tout en faisant le travail qu'il aime et en contribuant à un impact positif. Superviseur: Vice-Président et chef du bureau de Paris Permis de travail: SDSN ne sponsorise pas les visas, et par conséquent, les candidats doivent avoir un permis pour travailler en France. EGALITE DES CHANCES A L’EMPLOI SDSN est un employeur offrant l'égalité des chances et tous les candidats qualifiés seront considérés de la même manière. PROCESSUS DE CANDIDATURE Pour postuler, veuillez soumettre un CV , une lettre de motivation et les coordonnées de référence à HR PARTNER jusqu’au 23 avril 2024 . (Les candidatures seront examinées au fur et à mesure.) Les dossiers de candidature doivent être soumis en anglais de préférence (mais il est également possible de les soumettre en français)

SDSN Newsletter - March 2024

By SDSN Secretariat • 01 Apr, 2024
Welcome to SDSN's Month Year Newsletter!

April 2024 Employee Spotlight - Celebrating Daniel Bernstein!

By Info • 01 Apr, 2024
The SDSN has launched an 'Employee Spotlight Campaign' to showcase the passion and expertise of our staff.

SDSN Kenya Co-hosts Carbon Markets Clinic and Debate

By SDSN Kenya • 28 Mar, 2024
On 25 March 2024, SDSN Kenya joined WRI Africa and other Kenyan partner organizations in co-hosting an interactive workshop and debate format entitled: ‘Carbon Markets: Which Way for Kenya? A Carbon Markets Clinic and Debate’. The full-day event was hosted at Strathmore University in Nairobi, a local SDSN network member institution, ahead of an official Carbon Markets Conference organized by the Kenyan government on 26-27 March. Close to 200 participants were in attendance with leading experts and practitioners from the Nairobi Climate Network, Aspen Initiative, Green Belt Movement, Climate Action Platform-Africa (CAP-A), as well as community and civil society leaders throughout Kenya. In addition to bringing in Kenyan climate and development researchers from the SDSN Kenya network , we were able to facilitate the active involvement of Kenyan ‘carbon’ farmers through contacts of the SDSN FELD (Food, Environment, Land and Development) Programme. These farmers are members of the vast TIST network that links more than 100,000 Kenyan farmers across 5,000 villages with regular payments from global carbon markets for more than a decade. A representative of TIST actively joined the discussion panel to present on the everyday experience of her fellow farmers with already existing carbon market mechanisms – an important practical contribution on what unfortunately is often a controversial, polarized, and abstract issue in Kenyan development discussions. To stimulate vivid debate, expert-led clinic sessions that explained key issues in carbon markets were followed by an Oxford-style debate in the late afternoon. Key issues raised during the event include: Carbon credits and their role in the pursuit of climate commitments under the Paris Agreement to reach “Net Zero”; Carbon pricing mechanisms and controversies around them; Carbon trading transaction costs and project finance; Land ownership and its implications for carbon markets; Inclusivity, benefits sharing, and community safeguarding; Current concerns around integrity, transparency, and the pervasiveness of corporate greenwashing; and Kenya’s legal and policy provisions regulating carbon trading, and their effectiveness. Carbon markets continue to garner significant interest in Kenya, where the government is currently developing a ‘Carbon Credit Trading and Benefit Sharing Bill’. This full day of civil society and expert-led discussions with stakeholders from across the spectrum in Kenya demonstrated both the demand and the importance of bringing complex development and financing issues to a broader audience, alongside government meetings. SDSN is grateful to its partners in Kenya, especially WRI Africa and the FOLU Coalition Kenya Platform, and its funders at the Robert Bosch Stiftung for their support and partnership.

Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA) Launches First-of-its-kind Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): "The Living Amazon: Science, Cultures and Sustainability in Practice"

By Science Panel for the Amazon • 27 Mar, 2024
The Amazon, the world's largest rainforest and river basin, faces urgent environmental challenges such as deforestation, degradation, and criminality. In response, the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA) is taking an important step to foster a better understanding of these threats and their impacts to promote participation in developing solutions. In collaboration with the SDG Academy, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the World Bank (WB), and with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), today, the SPA launched its groundbreaking massive open online course (MOOC), "The Living Amazon: Science, Cultures, and Sustainability in Practice."

SDSN Youth Announces the Seventh Cohort of the Local Pathways Fellowship

By SDSN Youth • 27 Mar, 2024
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth Initiative (SDSN-Youth) is delighted to announce the 2024 Local Pathways Fellows (LPF) cohort. Following an exhaustive selection process, we are honoured to introduce 103 exceptional young professionals from 51 countries and 85 cities. These individuals were chosen from a highly competitive pool of 1740 applicants for this prestigious fellowship.
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