The Unassuming Economist

Forging new paths to action for the Sustainable Development Goals

The Centre for Sustainable Development at The Brookings Institution and The Rockefeller Foundation convened the fourth annual 17 Rooms global flagship process to augment action, insight and community initiatives across the realm of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). 17 working groups or “rooms” were developed, one per SDG, and leaders came together to advance action on each goal while also expanding opportunities to cooperate across goals.

Several themes were discussed and deliberated upon, some of which are as follows.

• Digital Public Goods: Discussions involved themes like the use of digital cash transfer systems to respond to emergencies, preempt disasters, broaden inclusion and reduce poverty, use of DPGs for gathering public health data, the need to educate communities, etc.
• Climate Change: This room discussed the role of leveraging societies’ dependency on the nature to catalyze large scale investments into preserving natural ecosystems, the need for new financing methods, etc.
• Support to Local Communities and Women’s Empowerment: This room discussed the dire need for international actors need to embrace existing local models and update legacy funding structures, focus on financial transparency, etc.
• Justice and Equity: The focus here was on promoting intergenerational learning teams, network for women leaders, community best practices in education, leadership and innovation, etc.
• Private Capital and Businesses: This room concentrated its attention at new tools, metrics, data systems, and reporting requirements that can help drive better alignment between private sector incentives and SDG outcomes.

Besides, several rooms also called for reframing the SDG ambitions, reflecting a desire for ongoing improvement in how the SDGs can promote human dignity, opportunity, and co-benefits across Goals.

Click here to read the full report.