Blog Post

Aligning the European Recovery Plan and the European Semester with the SDGs

Andrija Erac • Oct 29, 2020

Summary and recording of the SDSN event on the sustainability of the European Recovery and the role of knowledge institutions, held on 22 October 2020

SDSN’s online event of October 22, 2020 focused on the alignment of the European Recovery Plan and the European Semester with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. The event included speakers from the European Commission , the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) , the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) , as well as representatives from the SDSN networks in Europe (Germany, Italy and Greece).


María Cortés-Puch , Vice-President of SDSN Networks , opened the webinar by evoking the historic agreement reached by the European leaders to address the consequences of the pandemic. The European Recovery Plans seeks to address the immediate crisis, but also to lay the foundations for a more resilient and more sustainable Europe. Ms. Cortés-Puch stressed that the European Recovery Plan and the European Semester would need to lead to a transformation that is aligned with the SDGs. Although the recently published Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy for 2021 recognizes this necessity in principle, there are still many questions regarding the operationalization of such transformations. In this context, Ms. Cortés-Puch referred to the Six Transformations approach proposed by SDSN, an integrated and holistic framework for action that reduces complexity, yet encompasses the 17 SDGs, their 169 targets and the Paris Agreement.
Estelle Göger , Member of the Cabinet of the European Commissioner for Economy , Paolo Gentiloni, presented the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the cornerstone of the EU Recovery Plan. Here are some of the key features of the RRF, as discussed by Ms. Göger:
  • RRF constitutes approximately 90% of the Next Generation EU;
  • National Recovery and Resilience Plans are to be submitted by April 2021;
  • Recovery and Resilience Plans made by the Member States under the RRF will be embedded in the European Semester and the Commission's assessment thereof will replace the European Semester Country Reports in 2021;
  • There will be no Country-Specific Recommendations in 2021;
  • 37% of the expenditure under the Recovery and Resilience Plans has to be related to climate;
  • 20% of expenditure has to be related to the digital transition.
While the main focus of the RRF is the digital and green transition, RRF is also expected to foster the Member States’ overall resilience. Ms. Göger further explained that the policy objectives of the RRF can be linked to the SDGs and that the national plans will be assessed, among other criteria, on whether they effectively contribute to the green and digital transitions. However, she said that more efforts were needed to align the Recovery and Resilience plans to the SDGs.

Jorge Núñez Ferrer , Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) evoked the response to the 2008 financial crisis and raised concerns regarding the rising levels of public-debt in the Member States due to the pandemic. He noted that the recovery from the 2008 financial crisis was based on the notion of economic sustainability, whereas little attention was given to the notion of social sustainability. For this reason, Mr. Núñez Ferrer underlined that Member States need to be very prudent about the way they spend the resources from the Recovery Fund. The RRF will need to appropriately prioritize public spending and the implementation of National Recovery and Resilience Plans will need to be closely monitored. In order to monitor better, greater use should be made of the big data related to the SDGs.


Eloïse Bodin , Policy Analyst at the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) , presented the five sustainability tests proposed by the IEEP together with other sustainability think tanks and which Europe’s recovery plans must pass. Ms. Bodin noted that there had been a change in semantics, putting the European Green Deal at the heart of the recovery plans. Furthermore, Ms. Bodin noted that with the 2020 Spring Package the European Semester had shifted away from a traditional growth focus. The Country-Specific Recommendations included an annex on the SDGs and recognized the interconnectedness of economic, social and environmental spheres. However, she found that, although the European Semester can be a key instrument in the EU’s progress towards the SDGs, there is an implementation gap in the Country-Specific Recommendations that needs to be closed.

IEEP proposes the following:

  • Aligning the different processes, such as the European Semester and the European Green Deal, to have coordinated recommendations and monitoring;
  • Picking the right indicators and monitoring tools;
  • Aligning funding, incentives and compliance mechanisms; Supporting greater policy coherence for sustainable development at the Member State level;
  • Enhancing democracy to promote public support; Introducing an independent assessment of green recovery plans to fuel democratic  debate.

Furthermore, Ms. Bodin said that more coordination was needed among competent authorities at EU level as well as an independent assessment of the recovery plans.

Three chairs and managers of the European SDSN Networks then provided their input, focusing on how knowledge networks can engage with the EU’s key instruments and their implementation in the Member States.

Adolf Kloke-Lesch from SDSN Germany observed a fundamental shift in the narrative that seems to have taken place after the outbreak of the pandemic. Contrary to 2019, main European documents (President Von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech, Sustainable Growth Strategy, Commission’s working papers on the Recovery Plans) make no or very little reference to the SDGs. What is more, in their wording, the CAP and the Commission’s working papers on the Recovery Plans that were discussed and released recently, do not seem to reflect the transformations and the wording of the EU Green Deal. As confusion is likely to emerge from the changing political communication, Mr. Kloke-Lesch advised the sustainable development community to limit the number of key messages that they communicate and which should correspond to the transformations envisioned by the EU Green Deal.

He further stressed that there was a risk of the stimulus package trickling away in a myriad of channels and levels of government, without creating long term impacts. The sustainable development community therefore needs to engage in the public debate on the recovery. So far, there has been only limited involvement of the knowledge institutions in the European Semester process, but, moving forward, organisations such as SDSN should engage with the process, at the Member State level, with the governments and the Commission representations.


Angelo Riccaboni and Sabina Ratti from SDSN Mediterranean and SDSN Italy reiterated that SDSN resources can be used to effectively contribute to the national and European political processes. He said that SDSN Networks have the capacity to support the integration and measurement of the SDGs in the EU Semester’s instruments, including the National Resilience and Recovery Plans (NRRP). Networks can therefore help in determining targets and indicators related to the 17 SDGs and the Six Transformations, both in the planning phase and in the monitoring phase. In particular, SDSN Networks may be able to contribute to the improvement of the SDGs social indicators. Commenting on the European Recovery Plan, Prof. Riccaboni highlighted the relative absence of a reference to youth and of a gender-equality perspective in the NGEU, despite its focus on future generation.

He, therefore, called for a global and holistic approach to sustainable development and to the SDGs as a framework for the whole Semester process. Resilience, he said, should serve as a compass for the EU’s future and the academic community should be its main advocate in the national and European policy debates. In this regard, constant interaction and dialogue among the SDSN EU Networks and the EU institutions and MPs would certainly be worthwhile. Finally, he reflected on the digital transition desired by the Commission and specified that, in order to ensure a transformative impact against each of the 17 SDGs for a greater, global, social integration, such transition should be purposeful.


Phoebe Koundouri from SDSN Greece emphasized the need for cooperation on the SDGs in Europe in order to identify sustainable pathways that can have a long term impact on our countries and the EU as a whole. She also saw the need to influence and train policy makers in building truly resilient plans funded through the Recovery & Resilience Facility.

She highlighted the work of the SDSN Working Group on the Energy Transition and the Six Transformations to Achieve the SDGS and Support the European Green Deal. This working group is currently conducting an assessment on the basis of the SDSN SDG Index and dashboards that is aimed at supporting the alignment of the Recovery and Resilience Plans, the European Green Deal and the Country-Specific Recommendations with the SDGs. This document is expected to serve as a basis for recommendations regarding national Investment Pathways that will be funded in great part through the RRF. Those Investment Pathways will be grouped according to SDSN’s 6 transformations identified by the SDSN.


María Cortés-Puch reminded the audience that the UN SDSN was a member-based organization with some 1400 members (universities, research centers and NGOs) organized under national and regional Networks. In Europe only, SDSN brings together more than 300 members that cover 22 EU countries. On the one hand, SDSN Networks work on generating knowledge and evidence on sustainable development for the attention of policymakers. On the other hand, the networks educate on sustainability - not just academically - but also by creating discussion spaces, and uniting different stakeholders.

Ms. Cortés-Puch concluded by saying that a lot needs to be done in the upcoming period. SDSN will continue its efforts of bringing these somewhat arduous processes closer to the sustainable development community and ensure that knowledge institutions are participating in them. SDSN Europe Sustainable Development Report 2020 will be launched at the beginning of December and soon thereafter the document prepared by the SDSN Working Group on the European Green Deal.


Estelle Göger's presentation

Eloïse Bodin's presentation


Questions & Answers

  • What instruments are there within the European Semester to ensure close monitoring of the Recovery and Resilience Plans? Will there be any sanctions or any kind of enforcement?
Esttelle Goeger: The monitoring is not built into the Semester but rather in the RRF regulations themselves. In their National Plans, Member-States do have to identify clear milestones and targets, and they can present a request for disbursement twice a year. They will then have to prove that at least a certain number of targets and milestones have been reached. The Commission assesses whether it is the case, with the Council validating the conclusions, and only then can the disbursement be completed. A form of a sanction would be that the Commission does not disburse if it considers that the milestones have not been reached.

  • What do we mean by the term ‘resilience’? What is key about ‘resilience’ in the EU? ”
Phoebe Koundouri: Resilience is about economy, society, and interaction between humans and nature. It means being better prepared and less vulnerable to shocks. After a shock (environmental, economic, cultural), resilient societies and organizations have the ability to quickly regain their structure and function. In all academic and scientific documents, sustainability includes resilience. There can be no sustainable development without resilience. Resilience, of course, includes the capacity to adapt.

Adolf Kloke-Lesch: The notion of resilience is somewhat problematic. “Resilience” appeared relatively recently in the narrative, and it is a notion that is rather defensive. It is not so progressive in the way that it may refer to a future that one envisions. It was encouraging to hear from the EU Commissioner responsible for the strategic foresight processes, Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, that some sort of objective that society is thriving for needed to be built into the notion of resilience. The sustainable development narrative is still more progressive since it rolls out objectives that we are working towards. Commission President Von der Leyen spoke about fragility, which is more or less the flipside of resilience. We should have a vision for society that actually strives for human wellbeing.

Jorge Núñez Ferrer: Resilience is the capacity to go on when things change, which also means flexibility. Some see resilience as maintaining a status quo, but it is also being able to adapt to change more easily. This means for example that a country’s economy does not rely entirely on tourism, or that it focuses on one thing and neglects others. Resilience is the capacity to absorb and to adapt to change. This is more important than sustaining things the way they were in the past.


  • How can the RRF as well as the European Semester be used to avoid divergence from social dimensions, specifically following the pandemic, in particular leaving vulnerable groups behind?
Estelle Goeger: The idea to avoid divergences between Member States, or to avoid their increase was at the core of the NGEU Proposal. The Commission’s activation of the General Escape Clause and Temporary Framework for State Aid at the beginning of the crisis has allowed Member States to take the necessary measures to confront the crisis. But not all Member States had the same margin of action and capacity to do this. This is why, in May 2020, the Commission published the Proposal to give all Member States more support, also with the Allocation Key so that those in need could receive the greatest share of the funds. That is the whole philosophy behind NGEU.

For the RRF specifically, addressing some of the CSRs would already help the convergence.The logic of the CSRs is to compare the Member States and determine areas in which progress would be needed.

The temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) was also part of the European Semester spring package. This was opened to all Member States, but only 17 or 18 applied. It’s an additional layer of support for short-term work schemes, for instance.


  • We have a decision to realign the Semester and the SDGs, and a decision that the Semester and Recovery will work together for the years to come - so why has the Commission not included any reference to the SDGs in its working documents?
Estelle Goeger: It is unlikely that that was a conscious political decision against the SDGs.With the crisis new language was used in the documents, with a focus on vulnerabilities and how to address them (the reply is resilience). However, if you look at the policy objectives as such, you do find the link to the SDGs, referred to through a different terminology. More can be done of course to strengthen this linkage through implementation, final decisions and the stepping stones towards the implementation of the RRF. The Commission should come forward with a document before the end of the year to focus again on the SDGs and to explain how the Commission approaches the SDGs. It will not be a fully-fledged SDG strategy, but it will explain how the Commission intends to take the SDGs forward.

Phoebe Koundouri: The wording of the European Green Deal, of the Recovery Plan and of the SDGs is not identical but the concepts are consistent. What Estelle has said is absolutely true, especially if you study the documents word by word and do the 3D mapping. It would have been better if we had an explicit SDG reference, but consistency is there. Maybe the lack of explicit SDG reference in the Commission’s documents is our fault, the one of the SDG advocates who have not been vocal enough and maybe countries find it difficult to implement the SDGs. It would therefore probably be better if we decide to communicate the 6 transformations in a stronger way.


  • Is it possible to envisage an EU well-being strategy, moving away from GDP-oriented fiscal policies?

Eloise Bodin: Indeed this is possible and is something that various stakeholders are advocating for. We see this type of strategies adopted by the well-being economy alliance, which includes New-Zealand, Iceland, Scotland. These territories have been doing a lot of work on wellbeing in the past years. In New Zealand, for instance, 83 indicators are used to measure the well-being of the population, and the Ministry of Economy uses these results for their economic policy-making. It is showing good results for now. This could one day be implemented in the long run as part of European Semester in the EU and the EU could be at the forefront of the well-being economy.

Angelo Riccaboni: In the last 2 years, the movement of Beyond-GDP was not really at the centre of the debate. We hope we can return to the debate of beyond-GDP, but the impression is that with the global pandemic, everyone is just referring to GDP and the need to restore it. We are not optimistic that we can go back to the Beyond-GDP debate.

  • UN SDSN’s community has agreed to coordinate action across the European SDSNs, and needs to bring these processes to the general public more prominently, bring universities and knowledge producing centers to provide evidence to this debate. But how can we do this in terms of mobilising funds?

Jorge Núñez Ferre: Much of the funding that knowledge institutions can apply for goes through the Horizon programme, but also through individual DGs of the European Commission (eg. DG for Regional and Urban Policy). Knowledge institutions could also look at the national structural funds.

Phoebe Koundouri: Horizon Europe and the European Green Deal calls are a good opportunity to raise funds, especially the calls focused on citizen participation. SDSN has sufficient capacity to respond to one of these calls. SDSN European networks could try and jointly build a common proposal. Organisations should also bring in other regular, non-academic partners. This proposal needs non-academic partners, explicit co-funding that proves the interest of different stakeholders’ and deep demonstration projects. We have the capacity to bring all of this in.

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By Info 14 Nov, 2023
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 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 a global movement to support the conservation of the Amazon and prosperity for its peoples. The SPA has developed a massive, open, online course (MOOC) based on its 2021 Assessment Repot to disseminate its findings to a broad audience. The SPA is seeking a teaching assistant to support the MOOC The Living Amazon. The SDG Academy expects an online student population of approximately 5,000 students for the course. The teaching assistant will help to prepare and manage the course platform, release course materials, answer questions from the students and manage an online discussion forum, and facilitate student engagement with faculty, in collaboration with the course instructors and the SPA team. The student body as well as the course team are divided across time zones. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES Supporting preparation of the course platform as needed pre-launch. This includes sequencing of course lectures, uploading and/or updating reading materials, communicating course protocols and expectations, developing and/or updating comprehension questions and assignments, and other related tasks Sending out emails to students regarding class materials and schedules Keeping the course team informed by monitoring statistics generated by the platform regarding student enrollment, assignment completion, and video usage Managing the discussion boards and responding to student inquiries Managing the course email inbox and responding to student inquiries Managing and troubleshooting any issues related to the submission of assignments (i.e. online technical issues) Referring students to edX support as needed Assisting instructors in the coordination and preparation of live Q&A sessions via Google Hangouts Organizing live sessions with faculty and supporting faculty engagement with students QUALIFICATIONS The position is open to both undergraduate and graduate students with the requisite skills Familiarity with biology, ecology, anthropology, hydrology, climatology, public policy, conservation, economic, or related disciplines and their implications for sustainable development Passion for the work/mission of the SDSN Highly organized and responsive Strong oral and written and communication skills Interest in online education and MOOCs Ability to quickly learn new software and general computer fluency required Experience coordinating work across individuals and time zones Fluency in English is required Fluency in Spanish OR Portuguese is required IMPORTANT INFORMATION Location: The position reports to the SDSN Office in New York City, but the candidate can be based in a remote location. Travel: None Contract Length: January 8 – May 30, 2024 Salary Range: Hourly wage of US $8-19 depending on qualifications and geographical location of candidate (USA or abroad). 15-20 hours per week. 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 the 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: Chief of Staff Work authorization: SDSN does not sponsor visas, and therefore applicants must have proper authorization to work in the United States. SDSN is required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to secure verification of eligibility to work in the United States. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to HR Partner at the following link. https://sdsn.hrpartner.io/jobs/teaching-assistant-internship--science-panel-for-the-amazon-ozzre SDSN is an equal opportunity employer SDSN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicant s 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.
By Info 14 Nov, 2023
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 This position will support and report to the Chief of Staff of the New York Office. The incumbent provides a wide range of duties. Primary responsibilities include supporting the production of reports (e.g. formatting citations, fact checking, requesting permissions for figures, organizing meetings of authors, copyediting, developing graphs and figures), organizing events and meetings (e.g. updating agendas, preparing invitations, taking notes, drafting summaries), and supporting the development of a massive open online course (MOOC). PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES Program Support The incumbent will predominantly support the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA). This will include working with an international team and liaising with consultants, service providers, and partners. This includes developing and/or following workflow procedures, and timely completion of a large number of assignments on tight timelines. The incumbent may also conduct substantive research on topic(s) of relevance to SDSN projects; write blogs; and support SDSN publications, analyses, and donor reports. Supports the planning of events (meetings, webinars, workshops, etc. of various scales), both in-person and virtual. Supports general communications and promotion, email production, and administrative systems. Supports financial systems management, including the initiation of vendor relationships and the processing of invoices. Performs all other duties and responsibilities, as deemed appropriate by the Chief of Staff. QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s Degree (completed or currently enrolled) in sustainable development, biology, ecology, climatology, geography, forestry, anthropology, economics, or a related discipline is required; Master’s Degree (completed or currently enrolled) is preferred. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Google Office (Sheets, Docs, Forms, etc.) Accuracy, strong organizational skills, and attention to detail. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and writing skills. Ability to work under pressure on competing responsibilities with resilience, discretion, and diplomacy. Passion for the mission of the SDSN. Ability to work in a multicultural and international team environment English fluency required. Fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese is an asset. Experience with the following software is an asset: Mailchimp, Wordpress, Intacct, Vena, Canva, Candid, Dropbox, HR Partner, GrantHub, Expensify, Egencia, Zoom, and Adobe Acrobat. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Location: The position reports to the SDSN Office in New York City, but the candidate can be based in a remote location. Travel: None Contract Length: December 1, 2023 – May 30, 2024 Salary Range: Hourly wage of $16-19 depending on qualifications. 15-20 hours per week. 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 the 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: Chief of Staff  Work authorization: SDSN does not sponsor visas, and therefore applicants must have proper authorization to work in the United States. SDSN is required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to secure verification of eligibility to work in the United States. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to HR Partner at the following link. https://sdsn.hrpartner.io/jobs/program-intern--science-panel-for-the-amazon-edd1v SDSN is an equal opportunity employer SDSN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicant s 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.
By Info 14 Nov, 2023
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 SDG ACADEMY The SDG Academy is the education division of the SDSN, with the mandate of creating and curating the best available online educational content on sustainable development and making it available as a global public good. The Academy brings together the world’s foremost experts on sustainable development, from fields as varied as early childhood development, public health, food systems, and macroeconomics – to offer a comprehensive core curriculum around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), equipping the next generation of sustainable development practitioners to take on the complex challenges facing our planet. The SDG Academy is hosted by the SDSN Association, a 501(c)3 organization based in New York. POSITION SUMMARY The SDG Academy is seeking a Communications Intern to provide support for the development of promotional content, external communications, and marketing materials on sustainable development for Fall 2023. You will play a key role as part of a small team that values proactivity and creative thinking to meet our ambitious goals. You will be crucial in supporting our 40+ online courses, and will also have the opportunity to contribute to other education and communication projects. The position requires ~10-15 hours/week via remote work using the Google Suite and Zoom for collaboration. The SDG Academy team is based out of New York City and Kuala Lumpur.  PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES Monitor social media accounts and flag or respond to comments to increase engagement Assist in developing and managing new content on our online platforms, including uploading and formatting content under strict timelines. Assist in creating written content for various communication channels, such as blog posts, social media updates, press releases, and newsletters Assist in planning, coordinating, and executing hybrid events, including logistics, and promotional materials. QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE Declared major in international studies, communications, or a related field Interest in graphic design, communications, marketing, public relations, web design Passion for collaboration, sustainable development, and knowledge of the SDGs. Strong work ethic, and time management, attention to detail, comfort with technology and software, creative ideas, and an eagerness to thrive in a small team setting. RELATED SKILLS Some experience with teaching or pedagogy, particularly online courses or e-learning is useful. Strong English communication skills. Other languages are a plus. Strong computer skills with preferred knowledge of Google Suite, Canva, Buffer, Asana At least 2 semesters of an undergraduate degree program have already been completed. Comfort working on an international team with colleagues across time zones. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Location: Remote (U.S. based) Contract Length: ASAP - May 31, 2024 (exact dates TBC - flexible) Salary Range: $18-$20 hourly (expected 15-20 hours/week) Benefits: SDSN offers a flexible, hybrid work policy. SDSN team members, including interns, 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 a 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: Helen Perham, Communications Coordinator, SDG Academy Work authorization: SDSN does not sponsor visas, and therefore applicants must have proper authorization to work in the United States. SDSN is required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to secure verification of eligibility to work in the United States. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to HR Partner at the following link. https://sdsn.hrpartner.io/jobs/communications-intern--sdg-academy-m88o7 SDSN is an equal opportunity employer SDSN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicant s 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.
By Info 14 Nov, 2023
BACKGROUND 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. This position will support and report to the Vice President for the Americas and Head of the New York Office. The incumbent provides a wide range of highly confidential duties. Primary responsibilities include using independent judgment and initiative in managing electronic correspondence directed to the Director, as well as in preparing draft replies to correspondence and organizing and prioritizing all electronic and regular mail correspondence; provide administrative support for highly confidential and complex items, including report production, coordination of logistics for special and high-level events, booking extensive travel, managing extremely busy calendars, and preparing expense reports. Other responsibilities include helping to edit writing, conducting background research in preparation for external meetings, preparation and distribution of minutes to relevant parties at meetings, and support to donor outreach and management. Travel will be required with this position. Responsible for all additional assignments deemed appropriate by the Vice President for the Americas and Head of the New York Office or senior members of the SDSN team. DUTIES Act as a central resource for the coordination of the VP’s administrative requests. Manages a demanding and frequently changing calendar. Assists in scheduling and coordinating the agenda of internal staff meetings. Prepares meeting materials and follow-up documents Ensures the Vice President is well informed of upcoming commitments and responsibilities and is appropriately briefed. Coordinates and assists in gathering resource information for meetings and presentations and prepares reports and presentation materials Books travel, both domestic and international, often complex and crossing multiple cities and borders, on behalf of the VP and other partners where applicable. Prepares expense reports on behalf of the VP and other partners where applicable upon returning from travel. Reconciles corporate credit card transactions of the VP. Manages incoming requests to the Vice President and exercises independent judgement to determine most appropriate action for routing, responding to, and/or addressing inquiries. Welcomes guests, in person and on the phone, and answers or directs inquiries as needed. Interacts, on behalf of the Vice President, with senior members of SDSN Team and networks. Plans and develops workflow procedures, ensuring correct and timely completion of assignments. Proactively undertake initiatives to enhance the quality and effective operations of the VP’s Office. Edits or completes first drafts for written communications (emails, memos, letters) to internal and external stakeholders, on behalf of the Vice President, as needed. Follows up, as appropriate, on contacts made by the Vice President and supports the cultivation of ongoing relationships. Working with other SDSN staff, drafts documents and reports for donors, including fundraising proposals, budgets, interim and final narrative and financial reports, email correspondence, and forms. As needed plans, implements, and coordinates special events and projects. Participates actively in organizational initiatives and projects. Serve as a resource to SDSN as a whole. Manages all other duties as assigned. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree required. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Google suite (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, etc.). Accuracy, strong organizational skills, and attention to detail. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and writing skills. Ability to exercise discretion and handle confidential information. Ability to work under pressure on competing responsibilities with resilience, discretion, and diplomacy. Self-starter capable of working on projects independently as well as working well as part of a team. Passion for the mission of the SDSN. Interest in sustainable development. English fluency. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS One to two years related experience preferred. Fluency in Spanish, French, and/or Portuguese will be an asset in this position. Basic knowledge of GIS will be an asset in this position. SALARY US $60,000-65,000  As this is a New York based position, SDSN is required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to secure verification of eligibility to work in the United States. Please let us know which form of work authorization you will be providing (we don't need the document until the first day of employment, but we wish to establish eligibility in advance). Kindly refer to page 3 of Form I-9 for a list of acceptable documents, which must be current (and not expired). To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to HR Partner at the following link. https://sdsn.hrpartner.io/jobs/special-assistant-to-the-vp-for-the-americas-and-head-of-the-new-york-office-z2285 SDSN is an equal opportunity employer SDSN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicant s 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.
By Santiago Nocelli Pac, UNIDO 10 Nov, 2023
Norah Maguero, CEO of Drop Access and member of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET), passionately addressed the critical hurdles facing Africa's energy sector. Poverty, the lack of electricity access, and the scarcity of clean cooking solutions are at the forefront of these challenges. She stressed the importance of engineers' roles in ensuring equitable research and development (R&D). Notably, women are disproportionately affected, making gender-inclusive technologies a must. Maguero emphasized the central role of women in rural, off-grid communities, and the need for women to be at the heart of future innovations. Engineers, she argued, have a pivotal role in maturing technologies while advocating for sustainability through circular practices.
By Jon Beale | SDSN-Canada 09 Nov, 2023
The Youth Leadership Certificate for the SDGs is a new online program to support university and college students across Canada in developing the expertise and skills needed to take action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By SDSN 07 Nov, 2023
On November 2nd, 2023, SDSN hosted its inaugural Asia-Pacific Solutions Forum (APSF), themed “Accelerating Local Action for the SDGs in the Asia-Pacific”, at the Sunway Resort Hotel in Sunway City, Malaysia. The APSF brings into focus both challenges and key enablers for sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific. Taking inspiration from SDSN’s past four Global Solutions Forums, the APSF showcases research-backed, innovative, replicable, and scalable solutions identified among the members and local business partners of SDSN. This forum and discussion comes at a critical juncture at the Agenda 2030 midpoint, and as progress towards realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The event had 140 in-person attendees including representatives from CSOs, academia, government, and corporate sector.
By SDSN 06 Nov, 2023
Climatic and social challenges that the world faces today need to be addressed with new patterns, technologies, policies, and ways of thinking. This is essential to the accomplishment of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although there has been some progress since the implementation of the Agenda in 2015, the SDG endeavors have stalled, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that now, more than ever, sustainability upskilling is crucial.
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