Help & FAQ

What is the SDG Knowledge Hub project?

Who are the partners of the SDG Knowledge Hub project?

What are the objectives of the SDG Knowledge Hub?

What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Where does the content on the SDG Knowledge Hub come from?

How is the content on the SDG Knowledge Hub organized?

What should I do if something on the SDG Knowledge Hub site does not work?

How can I suggest a news item or calendar event to be included on the SDG Knowledge Hub?

What is the SDG Knowledge Hub project?

The SDG Knowledge Hub brings the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s (IISD) expertise in raising the transparency and accountability of sustainable development decision making to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDG Knowledge Hub is a knowledge management project that provides original content regarding meetings, announcements, projects and publications related to the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), backed by a sophisticated content management system and search function. The site also features a calendar of upcoming events related to the SDGs, as well as guest articles, policy briefs and other commentary from IISD experts and invited guest authors. The SDG Knowledge Hub was launched in October 2016, and consolidates IISD’s former Policy & Practice knowledgebases, along with the tens of thousands of published articles contained within them.

Who are the partners of the SDG Knowledge Hub project?

The SDG Knowledge Hub project is managed by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

What are the objectives of the SDG Knowledge Hub?

The SDG Knowledge Hub brings together news and recommendations regarding the implementation of the global sustainable development agenda in a freely available, online and mobile-friendly platform. This Hub is a central component of IISD’s SDG work, which seeks to increase the accessibility and relevance of the information, data and knowledge that sustainable development decision makers require. IISD’s approach to knowledge management collects and connects sustainable development information from diverse sources to assist decision makers in addressing complex international and national challenges, to enable sustainable solutions.

What are the SDGs?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets are at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted in September 2015 by all UN Member States as a new plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. The SDGs were proceeded by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which expired at the end of 2015. Unlike the MDGs, all UN Member States agreed to strive to achieve the SDGs within their own countries, at all levels, as well as to use them to guide their bilateral and multilateral interactions with other countries. The 17 Goals aim to reduce poverty and hunger, improve health, advance education, promote gender equality, make cities more sustainable, ensure energy access and combat climate change, ensure peaceful and inclusive societies, and secure the resources and partnerships to implement the Agenda, among other ambitions.

Where does the content on the SDG Knowledge Hub come from?

IISD’s team of experts research and write the news and event posts featured on the SDG Knowledge Hub. We research by being at the meetings we report on, talking to those involved, and gathering information from official, primary sources. We also developpartnerships with the actors we report on, and publish original content from invited experts who are working on the frontlines of SDG implementation. This platform does not aggregate news from other sources.

How is the content organized on the SDG Knowledge Hub?

The content on the SDG Knowledge Hub is organized and searchable according to the 17 SDGs.

The material on this platform is also categorized according to actors, focusing on intergovernmental bodies, agencies and funds within the UN system but also encompassing national governments, major partnerships, stakeholders and non-state actors.

In addition, the content on this platform is searchable by seven regional groups as well as three regional groupings of small island developing States (SIDS).

A comprehensive calendar provides details on events that address SDG policy and practice.

Users can also filter the news posts by issue area, action type and specific elements in SDG 17, on the global partnership.

  • Each news story is categorized according to 27 issues, which highlight the interdependence of the SDGs as well as in broader international agreement on sustainable development issues, such as sustainable energy, poverty eradication, food security and agriculture, population, human rights and climate change.
  • The content on the SDG Knowledge Hub can also be searched according to five types of action: key policy announcements and statements; meetings during which participants discuss scientific findings or policy, negotiate agreements, or provide training to build capacity; key publications related to sustainable development policy or practice; news about specific projects to implement sustainable development objectives; and key legally binding outcomes, decisions and agreements that will guide implementation efforts.
  • The Global Partnership filter permits users to focus in on news based on whether it addresses means of implementation (MOI), including capacity building and education, finance, technology/transfer, and trade, or the following systemic issues: data, monitoring and accountability; multi-stakeholder partnerships; and policy and institutional coherence.

What should I do if something on the SDG Knowledge Hub site does not work?

If you are experiencing difficulties in viewing the contents of the SDG Knowledge Hub website, please contact sdgs (at) iisd.org

If you are experiencing difficulties with the SDG community list, please review the SDG Update Newsletter page for information and contact details here.

How can I suggest a news item or calendar event to include on the SDG Knowledge Hub?

To bring a news item or upcoming event to the attention of our content editors, please contact Faye Leone <faye (at) iisd.org>