13 July 2016: Civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector have released reflection papers and blogs on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Other inputs address the contributions of the private sector to the SDGs, and highlight a course on development as a business strategy.

On implementation, the German Development Institute (DIE) released a paper titled, ‘How are we getting ready? The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the EU and its member States: analysis and action so far.’ The paper highlights areas where the EU and its member States face specific challenges, including on the production, distribution and delivery of goods and services. To translate the SDGs into a regional and national context, the paper suggests pursuing three parallel tracks: domestic policies with domestic impacts; domestic policies with external impacts; and external policies with external impacts. It recommends: establishing and maintaining governance structures at the EU and member State level to overcome traditional silo approaches and reinvigorate horizontal coordination and policy integration; establishing multi-level, multi-sector and multi-actor governance processes that are transparent, inclusive and reflexive; and promoting policy coherence for development.

Also on implementation, the Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development published its first annual report assessing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, which the Group launched on the sidelines of the 2016 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). ‘Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2016’ focuses on inequalities, means of implementation (MOI) and systemic issues, among others. The report argues that the adoption of appropriate strategies and policies, resource availability and MOI, like accountability mechanisms, will be critical to achieving the 2030 Agenda. The report highlights as “positive signals” recent discussions and consultations on how to adapt the 2030 Agenda to national realities and the creation of cross-sectoral alliances among CSOs and networks at international and national levels.

A publication by INNOVE identifies four key reasons that the SDGs are relevant for business: viable context, or the interconnected nature of development; risk management; new opportunities to go beyond social investment or philanthropy to incorporate sustainability targets throughout the business value chain; and contribution to development. The report, titled ‘Business and the SDGs: A guide for getting started,’ also provides illustrative examples of how business can contribute to each SDG, such as by designing and manufacturing products that address the basic needs of people in emerging markets to contribute to SDG 1 (End poverty in all its forms everywhere) and developing products that use little water and energy and generate zero waste to contribute to SDG 8 (Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all) and SDG 12 (Ensure sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns). INNOVE intends to release a series of publications to facilitate private sector understanding and commitment to the SDGs.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Institute for the Study of International Development at McGill University and Google are offering a programme, ‘Real Development, a Good Business Strategy? Closing the Gap’ that aims to empower today’s leaders to think and do things differently, writes Matias Bendersky, IDB, in a blog post on Bizfor2030. The course will help participants explore whether real development is a good business strategy. Other recent posts on Bizfor2030 address: the first annual Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum), including the role of business in the discussions; and public-private partnerships (PPP). [How are we Getting Ready? (DIE Discussion Paper)] [Spotlight on Sustainable Development (Report by Reflection Group)] [Business and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Guide for Getting Started (INNOVE Publication)] [Bizfor2030 Blog]