Introduction

Sustainable Development Goal 17, "Partnerships for the Goals," emphasizes the
crucial role of global partnerships in achieving the other 16 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, emphasizing the need for international
cooperation and multi-stakeholder collaborations.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• The Core Idea:
SDG 17 recognizes that achieving the SDGs requires a concerted global
effort, moving beyond traditional approaches and embracing partnerships
across sectors and countries.
• Official Wording:
The official wording of SDG 17 is: "Strengthen the means of implementation
and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development".
• Importance of Partnerships:
The goal highlights the importance of:
• Multi-stakeholder partnerships: Engaging diverse actors,
including governments, civil society, the private sector, and academic
institutions.
• Knowledge exchange and technology transfer: Facilitating the
sharing of expertise and resources to support development efforts.
• Financial resources: Mobilizing financial resources for sustainable
development.
• North-South and South-South cooperation: Encouraging
collaboration between developed and developing countries.
• Key Actions:
SDG 17 calls for countries to:
• Align policies: Ensure that national policies are aligned with the
SDGs and promote effective implementation.
 • Strengthen international cooperation: Enhance collaboration on
issues of global concern.
• Promote partnerships: Encourage and support the development of
partnerships at all levels.

Partnerships for the Goals

Partnership for the Goals is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
established by the United Nations in 2015. It emphasizes the importance of
collaboration and cooperation among various stakeholders, including
governments, private sector, civil society, and international organizations, to
achieve the broader sustainable development agenda by 2030.

What are Partnerships for the Goals?

Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) recognizes that addressing complex global
challenges and achieving all the SDGs requires joint efforts and collective action.
This goal aims to mobilize resources, knowledge, technology, and expertise from
diverse actors to support sustainable development initiatives worldwide. It calls
for fostering partnerships that are inclusive, well-coordinated, and based on
mutual accountability and respect.
 Definition of Partnerships for the Goals

Partnerships for the Goals refers to collaborative efforts among governments,

private sector entities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to work
together in advancing sustainable development. These partnerships leverage
different strengths and resources to implement sustainable solutions that tackle
poverty, inequality, climate change, and other pressing global issues.

Partnerships for the Goals," or SDG 17 emphasizes that achieving the

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires collaboration and
cooperation among diverse stakeholders, including governments, the private
sector, civil society, and international organizations, to mobilize resources,
knowledge, and technology.
 Partnerships for the Goals Intiatives

Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

Initiatives that bring together governments, businesses, civil society, and

academia to address specific challenges and promote sustainable development
in a coordinated manner. These partnerships encourage diverse perspectives and
expertise, leading to more comprehensive and innovative solutions that can
effectively tackle complex global issues.
 Global Knowledge-Sharing Networks

Platforms that facilitate the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and innovative
solutions among countries and organizations to accelerate progress toward the
SDGs. By promoting information sharing and collaboration, these networks enable
faster learning and replicating successful initiatives across different regions,
maximizing the impact of sustainable development efforts.

Capacity Building and Technology Transfer Programs

Supports developing countries in acquiring and utilizing technology and

knowledge to implement sustainable practices and projects. These programs
empower local communities and institutions with the skills and resources needed
to implement sustainable solutions, fostering self-reliance and ownership of
development processes. Additionally, technology transfer ensures that
innovations are accessible to those who need them most, promoting equitable
development.

Why Partnerships for the Goals is Important

Fostering Collaboration

Partnerships for the Goals are essential for fostering collaboration among
governments, businesses, civil society, and academia. By bringing together
diverse stakeholders, these partnerships enable collective problem-solving and
joint decision-making processes. This collaborative approach ensures that
different perspectives, expertise, and resources are harnessed, leading to more
effective and sustainable solutions to complex global challenges.

Mobilizing Resources

By pooling financial and non-financial resources from various actors, these

partnerships can leverage investments and scale up projects that address poverty,
inequality, climate change, and other pressing issues. This increased resource
mobilization empowers sustainable development efforts to reach more
communities and have a more significant impact.

Partnerships for the Goals in the News.

Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable
development

Goal 17 is about revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable

development. The 2030 Agenda is universal and calls for action by all
developed and developing countries to ensure no one is left behind. It
requires partnerships between governments, the private sector, and civil
society. The Sustainable Development Goals can only be realized with a
strong commitment to global partnership and cooperation.

Partnerships for the Goals

Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international

support to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and
other revenue collection. Developed countries to implement fully their
official development assistance commitments, including the commitment
by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 percent of gross
national income for official development assistance (ODA/GNI) to
developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 percent of ODA/GNI to least
developed countries; ODA providers are encouraged to consider setting a
target to provide at least 0.20 percent of ODA/GNI to least developed
countries.

Sustainable Development Goals: What are they and are we on

track?

According to the Neste, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs) were adopted by 193 countries that sit in the UN General Assembly,
in 2015. Ever since, they have acted as a north star for businesses,
governments, and organizations in our quest to make our planet a better
place for us all. Journalist Chris Stokel-Walker takes a look at what progress
is looking like – and the continuing value of the SDG’s in our changing
world.
 How to Help Partnerships for the Goals Initiatives

Advocate for Corporate Social Responsibility

Encourage businesses to adopt sustainable practices, invest in green

initiatives, and participate in partnerships that contribute to the SDGs.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an increasingly important aspect of
business operations, and companies that prioritize sustainability can drive
significant positive change.
Engage with Local NGOs

Support and collaborate with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

that are actively working on sustainable development projects. Local NGOs
often have a deep understanding of community needs and possess
valuable knowledge about cultural and environmental contexts.

Stay Informed and Advocate

Stay updated on global development issues and advocate for governments

and institutions to prioritize and invest in sustainable development
initiatives and partnerships. Being informed about the latest challenges and
opportunities in sustainable development allows individuals to engage in
informed discussions and advocacy efforts.
 Objective of Partnership for the Goals
The primary objective of "Partnerships for the Goals" (SDG 17) is to strengthen
the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for
sustainable development, mobilizing resources, knowledge, technology, and
expertise from diverse actors to support sustainable development initiatives
worldwide.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Strengthening Implementation:
SDG 17 focuses on improving how countries and organizations work
together to achieve the other 16 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Revitalizing the Global Partnership:
It emphasizes the importance of a strong global partnership for sustainable
development, involving governments, the private sector, civil society, and
other stakeholders.
• Mobilizing Resources:
SDG 17 aims to mobilize resources, including financial resources,
technology, and expertise, to support developing countries in their efforts to
achieve the SDGs.
• Promoting Cooperation:
It encourages greater cooperation between countries, particularly in areas
like science, technology, and innovation, as well as in trade and finance.
• Capacity Building:
SDG 17 also aims to increase international support for capacity-building
activities in developing countries, helping them to better implement the
SDGs.
• Policy Coherence:
It promotes policy coherence for sustainable development, ensuring that
different policies are aligned to achieve the SDGs.
• Measuring Progress:
SDG 17 also aims to develop indicators to measure sustainable
development progress and support statistical capacity-building in
developing countries.

History of partnership for Goals

The history of "Partnerships for the Goals" (SDG 17) stems from the 2015 UN
adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which recognizes
the need for global partnerships to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). This goal emphasizes the importance of strengthening
international cooperation and collaboration across sectors to ensure no one is
left behind.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Key Milestones:
• 1992: The Earth Summit (Rio Conference):
 This conference established the concept of sustainable development as an
international guiding principle, laying the groundwork for future global
cooperation.
• 2000: The Millennium Summit:
The UN Millennium Summit adopted the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), which focused on addressing extreme poverty and other
development challenges.
• 2012: The United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development (Rio+20):
Member States adopted "The Future We Want" outcome document,
launching a process to develop a new set of SDGs to build upon the MDGs
and establish the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable
Development.
• 2015: The UN Sustainable Development Summit:
The 17 SDGs, including "Partnerships for the Goals" (SDG 17), were adopted
as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Goal 17 is about revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development.

The 2030 Agenda is universal and calls for action by all countries – developed and
developing – to ensure no one is left behind. It requires partnerships between
government , public and private sector.
The Sustainable Development Goals can only be realized with a strong
commitment to global partnership and cooperation to ensure no one is left behind
in our journey to development.

However, not all countries are setting off from the same start line, and low and
middle income countries are facing a tidal wave of debt which they are treading
water.

Developing countries are grappling with an unprecedented rise in external debt

levels following the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by challenges such as
record inflation, escalating interest rates, competing priorities and constrained
 fiscal capacity, underscoring the urgent need for debt relief and financial
assistance.

While official development assistance (ODA) flows continue to reach record peaks,
the increase in 2022 is primarily attributed to spending on refugees in donor
countries and aid to Ukraine.

To be successful, everyone will need to mobilize both existing and additional

resources, and developed countries will need to fulfill their official development
assistance commitments.

Current Situation of partnership for the Goals

The current situation regarding "Partnerships for the Goals" (SDG 17) reveals a mixed
picture: while global cooperation is increasingly recognized as crucial, challenges
persist in mobilizing resources, addressing debt, and ensuring equitable access to
technology and trade, particularly for developing countries.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Key Areas and Challenges:

• Mobilizing Resources:
Despite record-high aid levels in absolute terms, the share of gross
national income (GNI) dedicated to aid in DAC donor countries remains
modest.
• Debt Sustainability:
Developing countries face an unprecedented rise in external debt levels,
compounded by challenges like inflation and escalating interest rates.
• Trade and Connectivity:
While global trade has increased, the share of exports from least
developed countries has stagnated, and a significant portion of the
world's population remains unconnected to the internet.
• Capacity Building and Technology Transfer:
There's a need for enhanced knowledge-sharing and
regional/international cooperation on science, technology, and
 innovation, particularly in areas like data collection and resource
management.
• Global Shocks and Conflicts:
The COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and the triple planetary
crisis (climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss) have further strained
global partnerships and the progress towards achieving the SDGs.
• Data and Monitoring:
While data coverage on SDG indicators has increased, many child-
related SDG indicators still lack sufficient data or show insufficient
progress.
• Need for Stronger Partnerships:
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize the
importance of global collaboration and partnerships to achieve the
other 16 SDGs, highlighting the need for stronger implementation
methods and a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable
Development.
• The Role of Civil Society and Private Sector:
The 2030 Agenda calls for partnerships between governments, the
private sector, and civil society to ensure no one is left behind.
• India's Approach:
India is actively forging partnerships and giving international
cooperation and collective efforts the center stage, emphasizing
"leaving no one behind".

Specific Examples and Initiatives:

• UN Partnerships Platform:
The UN Sustainable Development Goals offers a platform for all
stakeholders to register voluntary commitments and multi-stakeholder
partnerships.
• Together for SDGs:
 Together for SDGs is an online data portal that displays information on
the nationwide approach to achieving SDG priorities by the private
sector, non-governmental organizations, and civil society.
• Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation:
This partnership aims to maximize the effectiveness of all forms of co-
operation for development.
Importance of Partnerships for the Goals

Partnerships are crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs) because they mobilize resources, share knowledge, and foster
collaboration among diverse stakeholders, leading to more effective and
sustainable solutions to complex global challenges.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Mobilizing Resources:
Partnerships bring together governments, businesses, civil society,
and academia, enabling the pooling of financial resources, expertise,
and technologies to address global issues.
• Sharing Knowledge and Expertise:
Collaboration allows for the exchange of knowledge, best practices,
and innovative solutions, leading to more effective and sustainable
outcomes.
• Fostering Collaboration:
 Partnerships encourage joint decision-making and collective
problem-solving, ensuring that different perspectives are considered
and that solutions are tailored to specific contexts.
• Strengthening Implementation:
Partnerships are essential for implementing the SDGs, as they
provide the necessary resources, expertise, and political will to
achieve the goals.
• Addressing Global Challenges:
Partnerships are vital for addressing complex global challenges,
such as climate change, poverty, and inequality, which require a
coordinated and collaborative approach.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals:
The United Nations recognizes the importance of partnerships by
including "Partnerships for the Goals" as one of the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG 17), emphasizing the need for
strengthened global partnerships to achieve the SDGs.
• Examples of Partnerships:
• Governments partnering with businesses to promote
sustainable practices.
• Universities collaborating with NGOs to address social issues.
• International organizations working with local communities to
implement development projects.
• Benefits of Partnerships:
• Increased efficiency and effectiveness in achieving the SDGs.
• More sustainable and equitable solutions to global
challenges.
• Greater ownership and engagement of stakeholders in the
SDGs.
STRENGTHEN THE MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND
REVITALIZE THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT.

The Global Goals can only be met if we work together.International

investments and support is needed to ensure innovative technological
development, fair trade and market access, especially for developing
countries. To build a better world, we need to be supportive, empathetic,
inventive, passionate, and above all, cooperative.

RESOURCES

TAKE ACTION

THINGS TO DO

THE TARGETS

Everyone can help to make sure that we meet the Global Goals. Use these
nineteen targets to create action for partnerships for the goals.

MOBILIZE RESOURCES TO IMPROVE DOMESTIC REVENUE

COLLECTION
Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international
support to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and
other revenue collection.
IMPLEMENT ALL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE COMMITMENTS
Developed countries to implement fully their official development
assistance commitments, including the commitment by many developed
countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income for
official development assistance (ODA/GNI) to developing countries and
0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries; ODA
providers are encouraged to consider setting a target to provide at least
0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries.

MOBILIZE FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPING

COUNTRIES
Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from
multiple sources.

ASSIST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN ATTAINING DEBT

SUSTAINABILITY
Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability
through coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief
and debt restructuring, as appropriate, and address the external debt of
highly indebted poor countries to reduce debt distress.

INVEST IN LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed
countries.
KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND COOPERATION FOR ACCESS TO
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and
international cooperation on and access to science, technology and
innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms,
including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in
particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology
facilitation mechanism.

PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES TO DEVELOPING

COUNTRIES
Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of
environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable
terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually
agreed.

STRENGTHEN THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

CAPACITY FOR LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and
innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by
2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information
and communications technology.
ENHANCE SDG CAPACITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted
capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to
implement all the Sustainable Development Goals, including through
North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation.

PROMOTE A UNIVERSAL TRADING SYSTEM UNDER THE WTO

Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable
multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization, including
through the conclusion of negotiations under its Doha Development
Agenda.

INCREASE THE EXPORTS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Significantly increase the exports of developing countries, in particular with
a view to doubling the least developed countries’ share of global exports by
2020.

REMOVE TRADE BARRIERS FOR LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Realize timely implementation of duty-free and quota-free market access
on a lasting basis for all least developed countries, consistent with World
Trade Organization decisions, including by ensuring that preferential rules
of origin applicable to imports from least developed countries are
transparent and simple, and contribute to facilitating market access.
ENHANCE GLOBAL MACROECONOMIC STABILITY
Enhance global macroeconomic stability, including through policy
coordination and policy coherence.

ENHANCE POLICY COHERENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT
Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.

RESPECT NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES FOR

THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Respect each country’s policy space and leadership to establish and
implement policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development.

ENHANCE THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT
Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development,
complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share
knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the
achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in
particular developing countries.

ENCOURAGE EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS

Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society
partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of
partnerships.
ENHANCE AVAILABILITY OF RELIABLE DATA
By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries,
including for least developed countries and small island developing States,
to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable
data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory
status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in
national contexts.

FURTHER DEVELOP MEASUREMENTS OF PROGRESS

By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress
on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and
support statistical capacity-building in developing countries.
Facilitating Technology Transfer
Promoting technology transfer from developed to developing regions, these
initiatives bridge the technology gap and promote access to innovative solutions.
This countries to leapfrog and adopt accelerating progress toward achieving the
SDGs.

Facilitating Technology Transfer

Promoting technology transfer from developed to developing regions, these

initiatives bridge technology gap and promote access to innovative solutions. This
enables developing countries to leapfrog and adopt sustainable technologies,
accelerating the SDGs. Facilitating Technology Transfer
Promoting technology transfer from developed to developing regions, these
initiatives bridge the technology gap and promote access to innovative solutions.
This enables developing

conclusions
Notwithstanding the shortcomings of the SDG text, Gupta and Vegelin
(2016:446) observe that Agenda 2030 offers a ‘comprehensive and holistic
context’ for commitment to the principles of inclusive development. In line
with this argument, we argue that while the reductionist vision of partnership
outlined in SDG 17 is unsatisfactory, this does not mean that we should
dismiss it outright. Rather, the aim should be to reframe it by promoting a
more rounded view of the potential that multidimensional and multilevel
relationships offer for transformation. An understanding that the process of
building collaborative relationships may offer
lasting benefits for individuals, organisations and society as a whole is central
to this. A richer appreciation of both the instrumental and intrinsic value of
working in partnership will further assist us to move beyond what Klein
(2014:446) describes as ‘linear one-way relationships of pure extraction’ to
‘systems that are circular and reciprocal ‘. To construct and support the vision,
it is essential that ongoing critical debate is encouraged among multiple
stakeholders from diverse backgrounds about how SDG 17 is interpreted
implemented and monitored .

ritical stakeholders from diverse about how