Strategy for the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Ireland

Our vision

To achieve accelerated progress toward implementation of the SDGs and a sustainable future for all, on the basis of all island collaboration.

Our mission

To encourage collaborative solutions-oriented approaches amongst knowledge generating institutions to advance the SDGs and 2030 Agenda, and The Paris Agreement through research, education, and engagement and at local, regional, national, and international levels.

Our three main pillars

• Transformative solutions: Co-developing and co-creating integrated solutions for the SDGs with a view to accelerating policy progress, implementation, and meaningful impact, including through cooperation between North and South in Ireland.

• Learning & teaching: Collaborating on Education for Sustainable Development, professional training and other learning opportunities, and events to showcase best practices for all stakeholders to shift behaviours and motivate action.

• Awareness & engagement: Providing leadership and support for co-creative multi-stakeholder engagements to advance SDG implementation with national and local authorities, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

Priority Areas

  1. RESEARCH AND DATA: Support collaboration amongst SDSN Ireland member organisations and other SDSN national and regional networks. Promote research and data collection on key sustainability issues across Ireland including development of all-island SDG indicators and working collaboratively with governmental and civil sectors in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

  2. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS: Co-create educational programs, campaigns, or events to raise awareness about key SDG challenges across the shared island of Ireland at local or national scales. Engage with schools, universities, and community organizations as partners to promote embedding research practices into curriculum, foster the Education for Sustainable Development ethos, and share institutional best practices. Also, offer training and capacity-building programs to motivate and empower individuals and organizations to amplify positive sustainability impacts through direct actions.

  3. CROSS-CUTTING INITIATIVES AND FLAGSHIP PROJECTS: Identify emergent cross-cutting or intersectional themes such as climate change, gender equality, biodiversity, and youth empowerment, and integrate them into all aspects of the strategy’s action plan. Develop Flagship Projects that connect with and amplify these integrative cross-cutting themes to create intentional active impacts.

  4. POLICY ADVOCACY: Advocate for the integration of the SDGs into national, regional, and local policies and action plans. Promote research that informs public policy based on scientific principles, engaged research (co-production), and best practices. And collaborate with national, regional, and local government agencies to accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs.

  5. ESTABLISH ORGANISATIONAL GOALS: Define clear, measurable, and impactful goals and performance indicators for SDSN Ireland network development including membership targets, flagship projects, collaborations, outreach events, seminars, conferences, etc.

  6. MEMBER ENGAGEMENT: Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of members to identify priority economic, social, and environmental sustainability challenges and opportunities for impacts across the shared island of Ireland. Also, to survey and map specific member needs and institutional capacities, and recruit members to champion strategic pillars.

  7. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: Engage with a diverse range of stakeholders in co-creative processes, including NGOs, local communities, government bodies, businesses, and academic institutions to broaden and amplify impacts. Establish multistakeholder working groups focused on cross-cutting themes and/or strategic pillars.

  8. FUNDING AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION: Develop a sustainable funding model that includes public and private sector contributions, grants, and donations and allows for programmatic growth. Forge partnerships with private sector organizations and philanthropic foundations to secure funding and support.

  9. COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH: Maintain an active online presence, including the website and social media channels, to communicate events, initiatives, opportunities, solutions, and progress. Create a knowledge hub or repository within the webpage to centralize research findings and data relevant to the SDGs across Ireland, and to facilitate collaboration with SDSN members in the United Kingdom and Europe.

  10. EVALUATION AND ADAPTATION: Continuously evaluate the direct impact of SDSN Ireland's initiatives and adjust strategies accordingly to reflect emerging challenges and priorities. Seek periodic feedback from stakeholders and the public to improve the network’s effectiveness and reach.