Blog Post

Reaching a Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine

The Science and Ethics of Happiness Study Group • Jun 16, 2022

This statement is solely that of the individual participants of the Science and Ethics Study Group under the auspices of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and not that of any other organization, including the Holy See, the United Nations, or any national government.


Reaching a Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine

Statement by Participants of the Science and Ethics of Happiness Study Group

Meeting hosted at the Casina Pio IV, Vatican City, June 6-7, 2022

Jesus taught the world that peacemakers are bles­­­­­­­sed, for they are the children of God. As war rages in Ukraine, the world needs peacemakers to help the warring sides to choose peace over continued conflict. The US, European Union, Turkey, China, and other countries should help both sides to feel secure in a negotiated peace agreement. For Ukraine, security means that a peace agreement will not be followed by renewed Russian threats or incursions. For Russia, security means that withdrawing from Ukraine will not be followed by the eastward expansion of NATO and heavy armaments into Ukraine. Peace, in short, means a neutral Ukraine that is secure in its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

Pope Francis has put his plea for peacemaking in plain and powerful terms:

I renew my appeal to those who govern nations: do not lead humanity to ruin. Please! Do not lead humanity to ruin!

His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew has declared:

We call upon all parties involved to pursue this path of dialogue and respect for international law, in order to bring an end to the conflict and allow all Ukrainians to live in harmony. Arms are not the solution.


The aim of peacemaking in Ukraine is not merely a negative peace – that is, a peace without justice – but a positive peace, based firmly on the four pillars of moral relations between states recognized by Saint John XXIII in his magisterial Pacem in Terris : truth, justice, willing cooperation, and freedom (Paragraph 80). Such moral relations are needed not only between Russia and Ukraine, but also between Russia, the US, and the European Union.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is no doubt in flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law. Russia’s differences with Ukraine should certainly have been worked out through negotiations backed by the UN Security Council, with the security interests of all countries respected. Now, the grim realities of the ongoing battle, with neither side likely to win a decisive military victory, should push both sides to the negotiating table as soon as possible to avoid the prolongation of the war and to reach a peace with justice.

The war in Ukraine is likely to evolve into a war of attrition and end to as either a frozen conflict or a negotiated peace , rather than as an outright victory of one side over the other. A negotiated peace would be a superior outcome than the sacrifices of a war of attrition and a frozen conflict for both the peoples and governments of Ukraine, Russia, the US and EU, and the rest of the world.

If the war ends as a frozen conflict, Russia would continue to occupy a sizable part of eastern and southern Ukraine, while Western sanctions against Russia would remain in place. Trade and investment between Russia and the West would remain blocked, turning into a general contraction of world trade and development. Arms and military personnel would also continue to flow into Ukraine from outside sources.

If the war instead ends in a negotiated peace, further heavy casualties among the civilian population of Ukraine and the militaries of both sides would be avoided and the existence and independence of the Ukrainian state could be guaranteed against outside attempts to overthrow it. Most of the regions that Russia currently occupies would return to Ukrainian sovereignty, certain regions might become subject to special regulations, the Russian military would be withdrawn, and the Western sanctions would be lifted, allowing reconstruction and the implementation of a higher level of security for all the actors in the Ukrainian society and neighboring countries.

The basic terms of a possible peace agreement were outlined in the second part of March when negotiations between the two sides were reported by both sides to be progressing well, and again more recently in Italy’s proposal of a four-part peace plan in late May. In the negotiations in the second part of March, Ukraine suggested four points for a peace settlement: neutrality; international security guarantees for Ukraine; a prolonged period to determine conclusively the status of Crimea; and negotiations over “the complex issues of Donbas.” Italy’s Peace Plan also has four points: a ceasefire; Ukraine’s neutrality; ongoing negotiations over Crimea and Donbas; and multilateral negotiations within the OSCE and between Russia and NATO on regional security arrangements.

While relying on the practical wisdom ( phronesis ) of the blessed peacemakers, based on the identifiable roots of the conflict, the negotiations in March, and the peace initiatives to date, we would suggest the following benchmarks for a ceasefire and positive peace agreement:

(1)Neutrality of Ukraine, i.e., relinquishing the national ambition to join NATO while recognizing Ukraine’s freedom to enter into agreements with the European Union and others;

(2)Security guarantees for sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine provided by the P-5 members of the United Nations (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and United States) plus the European Union and Turkey, which might include military transparency and restrictions of military stationing and large-scale exercises in border areas under international observation connected to the lifting of economic sanctions;

(3)Russian de facto control of Crimea for a period of years, after which the parties would seek through diplomacy a permanent de jure settlement, which might include facilitated access for local communities to both Ukraine and Russia, liberal border crossing policies for persons and trade, stationing of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and financial compensations;

(4)Autonomy of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions within Ukraine, which might include economic, political, and cultural aspects, to be further detailed within a short period of time;

(5)Guaranteed commercial access of both Ukraine and Russia to the Black Sea Ports of both countries;

(6)The phased removal of Western sanctions on Russia in conjunction with the withdrawal of the Russian military according to the agreement;

(7)A Multilateral Fund for Reconstruction and Development of the war-torn regions of Ukraine – in which Russia also participates -- and immediate access for humanitarian relief;

(8)A UN Security Council Resolution to provide international monitoring mechanisms to support the peace agreement.


T owards a Positive Peace

President John F. Kennedy wisely observed that “Genuine peace must be the product of many nations, the sum of many acts. It must be dynamic, not static, changing to meet the challenge of each new generation. For peace is a process—a way of solving problems.” To solve problems, we need cooperation, and for cooperation, we need trust. Lasting peace, therefore, depends not only on formal treaties but also on the cooperation in communities, across ethnicities, religions, and nation states. The media also bears the responsibility that the drumbeats of war give way to words of peace.

Religious communities are at the forefront of positive peace. Religious communities bring people together in the spirit of human dignity and justice under God, and have the ability and mission to bring people together across faiths and ethnicities as well. The Catholic Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine are the pillars of a positive peace between Russia and Ukraine, and within the diverse communities within Ukraine, and can play a crucial role in the needed reconciliation process as a path to positive peace.

We commend the religious leaders of all faiths to support Russia and Ukraine to seek a positive peace, and to abide by the words of Isaiah:

They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation,

nor will they train for war anymore. Isaiah 2: 3-4.


Addendum. Further Considerations

Even if fighting continues to rage, neither Russia nor Ukraine is likely to achieve any outcome superior to a negotiated peace. Nonetheless, the terms outlined above will certainly provoke the following four claims, to which we offer our response.

Claim 1. Ukraine has the right to choose to join NATO

While the OSCE Charter (para 8) recognizes the right of OSCE member states to choose their security arrangements, including treaties of alliance, states are also obliged “not [to] strengthen their security at the expense of the security of other States.” Instead, they committed to create a common OSCE security area “free of dividing lines and zones with different levels of security” (para 1), in which “no State, group of States or organization can have any pre-eminent responsibility for maintaining peace and stability …. or can consider any part of the OSCE area as its sphere of influence.” (para 8) To that end, NATO member states and the Russia Federation have committed in the NATO-Russia Founding Act (1997) to keep strategic restraint and stability through arms control commitments and by enhancing mutual security cooperation and strengthening the OSCE as the common security organization. Moreover, NATO is not obliged to accept applications by other States to join the alliance but needs to weigh its implications for regional and strategic stability and mutual security. In Russia’s view, NATO enlargement to Ukraine and Georgia would come at the expense of Russia’s security. With the intended NATO enlargement, the U.S. and its allies might have taken hold of the strategic base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, created new potential stationing areas for troops and missiles closer to the Russian heartlands, thereby undermining the strategic balance, and NATO forces would be in a position to limit Russia’s access to the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean for its commercial and military purposes. These are age-old considerations, that were at play in the Crimean War (1853-56) and are at play again today. Moreover, while NATO describes itself as a purely defensive alliance, Russia’s views are otherwise. Russian leaders and diplomats have repeatedly expressed grave concerns over NATO’s bombing of Russian- partner Serbia in 1999; the US-led “coalition of the willing” in the war against Iraq in 2003 over the objections of the UNSC; and the violation of UNSC mandates in the NATO allies’ bombing of Russian partner Libya in 2011 that led regime change and prolonged chaos. In Russia’s view, NATO serves the geopolitical interests of the US and allies well beyond its stated rationale of the collective defense of Western Europe made in the context of the long-ended Cold War. However, while taking seriously such Russian concerns, they do in no way justify a military aggression against a sovereign neighbor state.

Claim 2. Ukraine will soon recapture territories taken by Russia since the February invasion

Ukraine and its backers argue that Ukraine will win a war of attrition, pointing out the damage to the Russian economy from Western sanctions and the poor performance of the Russian military. Yet Russia is taking a significant amount of land, and continues to increase the occupied territories in the Donbas. According to the IMF, Russia’s GDP in 2021, at $1.8 Trillion, was roughly 9 times larger than Ukraine’s GDP, at $200 Billion. Since the invasion, Ukraine’s economy is in desperate condition threatening utter collapse, with a decline of perhaps 50% of GDP, while Russia’s economic decline is projected to be around 10%. According to some reports, Russia’s dollar export earnings have actually risen, not declined, because the sanctions have raised the world price of Russian export commodities, while Ukraine’s export earnings have plummeted.

Ukraine’s prospects in a war of attrition therefore depend entirely on continued large-scale financial and military support from the West. Yet public support in the US and EU for further major appropriations is already waning, especially under the heavy burden of falling living standards resulting from the economic dislocations of war and sanctions.

Claim 3. Russia should be punished, not rewarded, for the invasion

Russia’s differences with Ukraine and with NATO should certainly have been worked out through peaceful negotiations. Yet when Russia tried to negotiate with the Biden Administration and NATO in 2021 over the question of NATO enlargement, the US and NATO responded that Ukraine’s prerogative to join NATO is non-negotiable. When Russia raised the issue of the failure of Ukraine to implement the Minsk agreements, the European guarantor countries provided no support. These facts do not in any way whatsoever justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but they do help to explain them, and more importantly, help to indicate benchmarks that will help to end the war. Russia must also refrain from creating narratives denying the national identity of Ukraine and willfully reclaiming territories it asserts to be historically Russian, as this would lead to a prolonged war and destroy any chances for reconciliation and peace.

Claim 4. Russia and Ukraine are far from a negotiated settlement, so fighting will continue

The reasons for confidence in negotiations are the following. On the military front, the war has settled into an intense conflict in a narrow region of Ukraine (Donbas and southern coast line, 20 % of Ukraine’s territory). Gains on the ground by either side come at high costs. The Western fears that Russia will overrun Ukraine and then continue on to other countries is long over. On the other hand, the belief that NATO weapons will quickly push Russia from the battlefield have also been refuted. Moreover, the West’s sanctions, once considered the means to crush the Russian economy, have been shown to be of limited effectiveness, and with high costs to the rest of the world. Both sides have reached the condition of “painful stalemate,” which has long been considered a primary indication of the ripeness of conflicts for resolution. A negotiation would also dramatically reduce the risks of destabilization in societies of non-neighboring countries, in Europe and other continents for the social and economic consequences of a persisting conflict.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine is likely to improve on such benchmarks by continued fighting. Russia might be able to capture more Ukrainian territory at heavy cost to its military and the Russian economy, but it would not likely be able to convert occupation of that additional territory into a more advantageous peace agreement. Rather, the occupation of even more territory, or the unilateral annexation of the Donbas into Russia, would almost certainly lead to a frozen conflict in which the West’s sanctions regime would remain in place, hundreds of billions of dollars of Russia’s foreign exchange reserves would remain blocked, trade and investment between Russia and the West would be suspended indefinitely, and the financial burdens of reconstruction in occupied regions would fall entirely on Russia.

Ukraine too is unlikely to improve on these benchmarks by continued fighting. The US and other NATO countries have made clear the limits of the kinds of military and financial support that they will offer. Ukraine’s economy has already been ravaged, and even graver losses would ensue with continued fighting. Ukraine has already conceded the reality of NATO’s non-enlargement, but striking a deal on that point with Russia could secure significant benefits for Ukraine in the counterpart steps agreed by Russia.

The greatest obstacle to a negotiated outcome is perhaps the fear of negotiations itself. Politicians fear that they will be attacked as appeasers and even defeatists if they call for compromise at the negotiating table rather than outright military victory. This is why peacemakers are so vital at this stage. The role of His Holiness Pope Francis and United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, and other esteemed peacemakers, could be instrumental to this end. Supporters of peace must bolster the politicians who take the risk of seeking negotiations. Those like Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who recently put forward Italy’s proposals for peace, deserve our deep commendation. We must mobilize civil society organizations and the global public opinion in favor of peace and call for an Alliance for Peace.

Participating Signatories from the SEH Study Group


  • Jeffrey D. Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and University Professor at Columbia University
  • Anthony Annett, Gabelli Fellow at Fordham University
  • Maria Paola Chiesi, Science and Ethics of Happiness Study Group
  • Richard Falk, Milbank Professor of International Law and Practice, Emeritus, Princeton University
  • Owen Flanagan, James B. Duke Professor of Philosophy at Duke University
  • Ana Marta Gonzalez, Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Navarra
  • Nina Khrushcheva, Professor of International Affairs at The New School
  • Anatol Lieven, Senior Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
  • Mario Marazziti, Former Deputy and President of Human Rights Committee, Italian Parliament
  • Miguel Ángel Moratinos, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, and Former Foreign Minister of Spain
  • Romano Prodi, Former Prime Minister of Italy and tenth President of the European Commission
  • Wolfgang Richter, Senior Associate in International Security at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs
  • Richard E. Rubenstein, University Professor of Conflict Resolution and Public Affairs at George Mason University
  • Michael von der Schulenburg, Former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General in UN Peace Missions
  • Anna Sun, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Duke University
  • William F. Vendley, Vice President for World Religions and Spirituality at the Fetzer Institute and Secretary-General Emeritus at Religions for Peace
Additional Signatories
  • David Carment, Professor of International Affairs at Carleton University
  • Daniela Dahn, Writer
  • Elisa Hoven, Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Leipzig and Judge at the Constitutional Court of Saxony
  • Hans Joas, Ernst Troeltsch Professor for the Sociology of Religion, Humboldt University, Berlin
  • Svenja Flasspöhler, Editor-in-Chief of Philosophie Magazine
  • Jake Lynch, Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at The University of Sydney
  • Peggy Mason, President of the Rideau Institute on International Affairs and Former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament to the United Nations
  • Daniel Rothbart, Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University
  • Helmut Schäfer, Former Vice Minister at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Antje Vollmer, Former Vice President of the German Bundestag
  • Jeremy Wildeman, Adjunct Professor at Carleton University
  • Juli Zeh, Writer and Judge at the Constitutional Court of Brandenburg

If you would like to add your name as a signatory, please request so online.

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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. 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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).
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)
By SDSN Secretariat 01 Apr, 2024
Welcome to SDSN's Month Year Newsletter!
By Info 01 Apr, 2024
The SDSN has launched an 'Employee Spotlight Campaign' to showcase the passion and expertise of our staff.
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.
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."
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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