United Nations University (UNU)
1. In the past year, has the governing body of your organization taken any decisions to advance sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ensure that no one is left behind? If yes, please briefly mention these decisions taken by your governing body in 2024 and provide the respective symbols.
The United Nations University (UNU) is dedicated to advancing the goals of the 2030 Agenda through strategic decision-making. A key decision towards this was the adoption of the draft 2025-2029 UNU Strategy Plan by the UNU Council in June 2024. This plan aims to strengthen research and educational activities related to the 2030 Agenda, introduce new workstreams, expand partnerships in the Global South, and foster connections between researchers and policymakers.
The UNU Council has also taken steps to establish the new UNU Institute on Artificial Intelligence (UNU-AI) in Bologna, Italy, which will focus on advancing research and education in AI. Key actions in this regard have included accepting the offer of the Government of the Italy to host UNU-AI, and further administrative and legal decisions to streamline this process. With aims to democratise access to digital infrastructure, UNU-AI will play a pivotal role in advancing the 2030 Agenda. By fostering accessible and equitable AI solutions, UNU-AI will contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.
2. During 2024, what actions have your entities taken to improve coordination among UN system entities across policy and normative activities as well as with ECOSOC subsidiary bodies with a view to increase impact and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda? Please provide any relevant links.
UNU-VIE collaborated with various UN organisations to enhance climate action at COP29. Key initiatives included Capacity Building Academy events and a session on "Driving Gender-just Energy Transition" in partnership with UN Women, UNFCCC and OHCHR. Additionally, UNU-VIE is working with UNFCCC focal points to outline capacity gaps around energy transition and how to address them through targeted gender transformative capacity-building initiatives. These efforts align with the energy transition and Agenda 2030.
UNU-EHS partnered with UNCCD G20 Global Land Initiative to develop an international teaching module on Urban Land Restoration, set to launch in 2025. Additional outreach efforts include coordinating with UNFCCC for COP 29, organising the Bonn Technical Forum on loss and damage and moderating a session on mountains and climate change during the June UN Climate Meetings in Bonn.
UNU-EGOV collaborated with UNDESA on the 2024 UN E-Government Survey, focusing on the Local Online Service Index to enhance local digital governance. It also launched the South and East Africa Digital Governance Forum (SEADGov) by UNU-EGOV in partnership with UNECA and UNDESA. The forum’s priorities include digital transformation, public sector digitalisation, and sustainable development across the region.
3. In the past year, has your organization organized any intergovernmentally mandated conferences, forums or events that contributed to the achievement of the SDGs, or has been in the process of planning and organizing any such mandated events to be held next year?
Event Name | SDG–UP Public Symposium |
Event Dates | 29 March 2024 |
Event Location (City, Country) | Tokyo, Japan |
Relevant SDGs | SDG 13 – Climate Action |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | The symposium touched on sustainability initiatives by universities participating in the SDG–Universities Platform (SDG–UP).
Held at UNU headquarters in Tokyo and online, the event engaged university administrators, professors, students, government officials and private sector representatives to discuss how Japanese universities can advance the SDGs through education, research, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
The event highlighted the initiatives under this forum which have led to transformational changes towards sustainability. It also featured panel discussions on student-led activities and their role in achieving the SDGs.
It was organised by UNU-IAS with support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT). |
Website (if applicable) |
Event Name | The UNU Macau AI Conference 2024: the Path towards AI For All |
Event Dates | 25 April 2024 |
Event Location (City, Country) | Macau SAR, China |
Relevant SDGs | SDG 9 – Innovation, Industry and Infrastructure |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | The UNU Macau AI Conference 2024 offered a unique opportunity to convene the Global North and the Global South, as well as the cultural East and West. This Conference was also UNU’s Contribution to the 2024 UN Summit of the Future.
Nearly 500 participants from governments, business, academia, and civil society from more than 30 countries, including 30 Ministers of ICTs and senior officials from 20 countries, participated in the meeting and connected across diverse viewpoints on the AI.
The conference convened under the theme AI for All: Bridging Divides, Building a Sustainable Future, featuring 26 sessions in 3 thematic tracks. The plenary session launched the UNU Policy Guideline: Recommendations on the Use of Synthetic Data to Train AI Models. The UNU Global AI Network was officially launched under the witness of over 30 members. |
Website (if applicable) |
Event Name | Urban Loss & Damage Dialogue: From Research to Action |
Event Dates | 5 June 2024 |
Event Location (City, Country) | Bonn, Germany |
Relevant SDGs | SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | The Dialogue brought together experts from UNU-EHS, GIZ, C40 Cities, UCLG, and UN-Habitat to address Loss and Damage (L&D) in urban contexts.
It was strategically held alongside the UNFCCC SB60 sessions and the Daring Cities 2024 conference. The Dialogue followed a Daring Cities event co-led by UNU-EHS highlighting the need for ambitious urban action benefiting the most vulnerable.
The event focused specifically on losses and damages in informal urban settlements. Next to inputs from leading experts from UN Habitat, C40 and UCLG, UNU-EHS researchers presented findings from their project on loss and damage in informal urban settlements. The event identified opportunities for urban and climate professionals to bridge urban development and L&D across multiple scales, and benefit from mutual expertise.
Findings were taken up in the planning of side-events at Innovate4Cities Conference, World Urban Forum and COP29, where the discussion will be continued, strategically positioning UNU-EHS as leading actor.
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Event Name | South and East Africa Digital Governance Forum (SEADGov Forum) |
Event Dates | 25-26 June 2024 |
Event Location (City, Country) | Gaborone, Botswana |
Relevant SDGs | SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | The SEADGov forum was launched by UNU-EGOV in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). It aims to strengthen governance in the region using digital technologies.
The forum provides a platform for governments, international organisations, and civil society to share best practices and explore solutions for creating more transparent and accountable institutions. This forum will address the challenges and opportunities of digital governance by sharing best practices, fostering regional collaboration, and empowering citizens through technology.
The forum contributes to SDG 16 by promoting digital governance frameworks that address institutional challenges towards stronger institutions. Additionally, it contributes to SDG 17 by fostering international and regional partnerships to enhance digital governance, emphasising the importance of multilateral cooperation and knowledge sharing.
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Website (if applicable) | https://unu.edu/egov/news/launch-south-and-east-africa-digital-governance-forum |
Event Name | Addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence to Safeguard Digital Spaces |
Event Dates | 28 August 2024 |
Event Location (City, Country) | Online |
Relevant SDGs | SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | This webinar was hosted by UNU-IIGH as part of the African Community of Practice on Gender and Health. The webinar aimed to create a space for discussing the health impacts of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and to explore the opportunities linked to employing gender-intentional design to prevent and respond to abuse in the African context.
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Website (if applicable) |
Event Name | International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2024) |
Event Dates | 24-27 September 2024 |
Event Location (City, Country) | Cape Town, South Africa |
Relevant SDGs | SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | UNU-EGOV organises the ICEGOV conference on a yearly basis to share knowledge, advance public policy, and foster international cooperation on digital governance through academic presentations, plenaries, and networking.
ICEGOV aims to bridge the gap between research and policy by fostering collaboration among universities, research centres, governments, and international organisations, including the United Nations system.
ICEGOV 2024 focused on Trust and Ethical Digital Governance to advance sustainable development on a global scale. The main outcome was the global exchange of best practices. Relevant to SDG 16, ICEGOV supported the development of transparent, accountable, and effective institutions by showcasing digital governance research, findings and solutions that advance peace, justice, and strong institutions at local, national, and global levels.
Relevant to SDG 17, the conference facilitated international partnerships by bringing together stakeholders from multiple sectors to collaborate on digital governance initiatives, enhancing the implementation of the SDGs through collective action and knowledge-sharing.
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Website (if applicable) |
Event Name | The Jobs and Development Conference (#Jobs4Dev) |
Event Dates | 8-9 October 2024 |
Event Location (City, Country) | Cairo, Egypt |
Relevant SDGs | SDG 1 – No Poverty SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | The Jobs and Development Conference (#Jobs4Dev) is a global event co-organised by the World Bank, UNU-WIDER, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the now concluded Network on Jobs and Development (NJD) – a partnership of research institutes from various regions of the world: the Development Policy Research Unit at University of Cape Town (DPRU, South Africa), Institute for Structural Research (IBS, Poland) and the HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies (HKUST IEMS, Hong Kong).
The 2024 edition of the conference took place from 8-9 October, 2024, hosted by J-PAL MENA at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. The conference aims to expand the frontiers of global knowledge around jobs, improve understanding of the interplay between development and quantity and quality of work, and advance the discussion on the most effective policies to improve jobs outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
The two-day format featured keynote speeches, a policy panel, special sessions and about 50 paper presentations in parallel sessions. The event focused on policy-relevant research, applicable to identifying solutions to jobs challenges in low- and middle-income countries.
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Website (if applicable) |
Event Name | Bonn Technical Forum “Beyond economic losses: Towards a holistic approach on tracking losses and damages” |
Event Dates | 22-23 October 2024 |
Event Location (City, Country) | Bonn, Germany |
Relevant SDGs | SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG 13 – Climate Action |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | Co-organised by UNDRR, UNDP, WMO, the Overseas Development Institute and UNU-EHS, the forum aimed at proposing solutions to comprehensively track non-economic losses caused by natural hazards.
Loss and damage in societal, environmental, and economic systems resulting from natural hazards, particularly those driven by climate change, are often assessed as economic or non-economic. While economic loss and damage can be quantified in economic terms, challenges arise when attempting to determine or assess the non-economic losses and damage, associated with such hazards.
Recognising these existing gaps and challenges, the 2024 Bonn Technical Forum aimed to advance a collective understanding of non-economic losses to inform policy for increased well-being and sustainability of climate-impacted communities. |
Website (if applicable) |
4. In the past year, has your organization published or planned to publish any analytical work, guidance or reference materials, or toolkits to guide and support the implementation of SDGs at national, regional, and global levels? Please select up to three to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs.
Resource Name | Localising the Sustainable Development Goals: Needs and Challenges (EN) |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | All |
Publishing entity/entities | UNU-CRIS/UNU-IAS |
Target audience | Local policymakers |
Description (max 150 words) | Localising the SDGs is crucial for effective implementation, yet this can face significant challenges, including unclear national strategies, limited local capacity, and weak multi-stakeholder involvement. Additionally, monitoring and evaluation at the local level are hindered by reliance on national metrics, data gaps, and a lack of cross-initiative coordination.
The Flanders SDG monitor, highlighted in this brief, is a comprehensive database that tracks the SDG performance of all 300 Flemish municipalities since 2011. It demonstrates how local indicators can be adapted for the SDGs using selection, normalisation, aggregation, and presentation via tools like quadrant plots. Key recommendations for local SDG indices include tailoring to local needs, simplicity in construction and communication, and combining statistical rigor with intuitive visuals.
Gaps remain in SDG monitoring for developing regions and there is a need for convergence of frameworks, necessitating expansion and standardisation of measurement initiatives.
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Language(s) | English |
Website (if applicable) | https://cris.unu.edu/localising-sustainable-development-goals-needs-and-challenges |
Resource Name | Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development: Evidence from Asia-Pacific cities |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being SDG 4 – Quality Education SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG 13 – Climate Action |
Publishing entity/entities | United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) |
Target audience | Policymakers, urban planners, AI practitioners, and stakeholders involved in sustainable urban development in the Asia-Pacific region |
Description (max 150 words) | This report investigates the responsible adoption, implementation, and governance of AI in Asia-Pacific cities to address urban challenges and promote sustainable development.
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Language(s) | English |
Website (if applicable) | 06_Responsible_artificial_intelligence_for_sustainable_development.pdf |
Resource Name | Loss and Damage in Informal Urban Settlements: Summary Report |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG 13 – Climate Action |
Publishing entity/entities | UNU-EHS |
Target audience | Urban Actors Worldwide, Loss & Damage Finance Actors, policymakers |
Urban Actors Worldwide, Loss & Damage Finance Actors, policy-makers Description (max 150 words) | This summary report investigates the disproportionate impact of climate-induced losses and damages (L&D) on informal urban settlements, focusing on São Paulo, Nairobi, and Jakarta. These communities are highly vulnerable to floods, heatwaves, and droughts due to inadequate infrastructure and limited services, leading to cascading effects from climate disasters.
The report identifies three key pathways to enhance L&D finance: expanding multi-level governance, supporting community actions, and ensuring accessible funding. It concludes with 20 actionable recommendations for policymakers to develop inclusive, responsive policies for informal settlements.
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Language(s) | English |
Website (if applicable) | Loss and Damage in Informal Urban Settlements: Summary Report - UNU Collections |
5. The United Nations has defined six key transitions, or transformative entry points, that can have catalytic and multiplier effects across the SDGs, and which have been guiding the UN development system work since the 2023 SDG Summit. In the past year, how has your organization contributed to these transformative actions and how various actors are being rallied behind them to mobilize further leadership and investment to bring progress to scale? Please provide any relevant links.
Food systems
UNU-BIOLAC has significantly contributed to food security research, aiming to transition food systems through science and technology. Since 2023, the institute has sponsored around 22 research projects and courses focused on food security, engaging leading academic institutions and scholars across the LAC region.
These initiatives seek evidence-based solutions to climate change-related challenges. One notable example is the 2024 course “Hands-on Molecular Approaches for Honeybee Research in Health and Disease” organised by the IIBCE in Uruguay. This course addressed the critical need to protect honeybees, which are essential for pollination and crop production, by training researchers in molecular biology techniques to improve honeybee health management. Protecting honeybees is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring crop productivity, directly impacting food security.
UNU-BIOLAC have also sponsored a fellowship scholar from Argentina to conduct infiltration experiments of effectors from Trichoderma harzianum in Nicotiana benthamiana to enhance plant immune responses, thus reducing reliance on chemical controls and contributing to sustainable crop protection, in CICY, Mexico.
These efforts support SDGs Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 15 (Life on Land) by developing resilient food systems for stable food supplies, highlighting UNU’s commitment to advancing food security through innovative research and collaboration.
Energy access and affordability
Through its ImpulSouth project, UNU-VIE aims to create a network of trainers to implement capacity-building initiatives that promote energy transition in the Global South and demonstrate the value of building a gender-just energy transition. Likewise, through its APV-MaGa project, UNU-VIE aims to provide energy access through Agrivoltaics installation to selected communities in Mali and The Gambia, focusing on its productive uses related to agriculture and irrigation.
Digital connectivity
UNU-EGOV’s project "National Strategy for Digital Transformation in Guinea-Bissau" supports the country’s efforts to establish a comprehensive digital transformation strategy, addressing critical governance and development needs. The project collaborates with Guinea-Bissau’s government to develop a roadmap that promotes sustainable digital growth, focusing on enhancing institutional efficiency, service delivery, and social inclusion through digital technologies.
Key components include assessing current digital capabilities, identifying priority areas for digital advancement, and addressing barriers such as infrastructure, digital literacy, and regulatory challenges. By prioritising transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement, the project fosters a more accessible and effective public administration.
Beneficiaries include government entities, local communities, and policymakers, with impacts expected to improve public service delivery, promote economic opportunities, and support a robust digital ecosystem. This project aligns with global goals for inclusive digital development and positions Guinea-Bissau to harness technology for socio-economic progress.
Education
In 2024, UNU-MERIT continued its flagship initiative, the Migration Management Diploma Programme (MMDP), a highly regarded capacity-building effort targeting mid-level migration professionals, primarily from developing and emerging economies. This three-month full-time course equips government officials and practitioners involved in migration and asylum policies with theoretical foundations and practical skills, including policy writing, evidence-based policymaking, and collaborative problem-solving.
The MMDP takes a hands-on approach, blending lectures, interactive sessions, and scenario-based exercises to provide a comprehensive learning experience. Central to this approach is Problem-Based Learning (PBL), ensuring participants can immediately apply concepts in real-world contexts. The programme also offers extensive networking opportunities, with field visits to institutions in The Hague, Brussels, and Geneva, providing insights into national, regional, and international migration governance.
Funded by the EU Migration Partnership Facility and the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Safety, the 2024 cohort trained 25 government officials and policymakers. These participants benefit from the curriculum and contribute to a growing network of MMDP alumni, many of whom have advanced into senior policy positions, continuing to shape migration policy worldwide. The programme’s impact is further extended through its "local spin-offs"—notably, the Kenyan "Better Migration Management" project, funded by GIZ, which was initiated based on lessons learned from the MMDP.
By 2025, the programme aims to train 25 more government officials, with additional cohorts funded for online training through the "Moving Migration Policy Agenda Forward" initiative, reaching an even broader audience. The MMDP's sustained success underscores its value in shaping future migration leaders, impacting global migration management.
Jobs and social protection
The Southern Africa – Towards Inclusive Economic Development (SA-TIED) programme, led by UNU-WIDER, supports inclusive economic growth and transformation in South Africa. It fosters collaboration between academia and government, with key partnerships involving the National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service.
SA-TIED focuses on evidence-based policymaking through research, covering areas like job creation, public revenue, structural transformation, inequality, and climate change. A key feature of the programme is its provision of anonymised tax data for researchers, enhancing policy formulation. The relevance of SA-TIED’s research is built into its implementation from the start, co-created by leading researchers and National Treasury policy leads. Additional capacity development of government officials South African University students helps support the programme's longevity.
In 2024, SA-TIED delivered over 40 working papers and shared through various dissemination channels, including three major policy dialogues this year, focusing on broadening the personal income tax base, climate financing, and addressing the South African electricity crisis, engaging approximately 370 participants. SA-TIED phase II is supported by the UK FCDO, the National Treasury of South Africa, and the EU. The programme aims to address South Africa’s socio-economic challenges and promote sustainable, research-backed policymaking.
Climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution
The International Satoyama Initiative project addresses urgent biodiversity needs to sustain a healthy planet and provides evidence-based inputs for implementing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). As the Secretariat for the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI), UNU-IAS engages over 300 member organisations globally to foster mutually beneficial human–nature relationships.
In 2024, the project facilitated policy dialogue on GBF implementation at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia (21 October – 1 November), and contributed to CBD meetings in Nairobi.
The project produced an updated version of the toolkit, "Indicators of Resilience in Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes," enhancing local strategies for sustainable landscape management. Training on the new toolkit was delivered to country teams in July.
Additionally, UNU-IAS and UN DESA organised a side event at the UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP29) in Baku, showcasing synergistic solutions for nature protection and socio-ecological resilience. UNU-IAS also co-hosted a Regional Dialogue on National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans for South and East Asia, presenting a publication on landscape approaches in these strategies. Other outputs include a Policy Brief on sustainable business practices for biodiversity, disseminated at SBSTTA 26.
6. Please provide strategies (policies, guidance, plan) and/or collective actions taken to implement the 2024 Ministerial Declaration of the Economic and Social Council and the high-level political forum on sustainable development convened under the auspices of the Council. Please note any challenges foreseen and provide any relevant links.
In July 2024, UNU-EHS hosted the third annual meeting of the Environmental and Climate Mobility Network., highlighting that migration can be a necessity for inclusive growth rather than merely a negative consequence of climate change.
UNU-EHS contributes critical insights on loss and damage in vulnerable urban areas, to inform policy design, focusing on operationalising funding for resilience in informal settlements. Its Migration Portfolio Review of the Climate Justice Resilience Fund provides lessons for the Loss and Damage Fund, emphasising community involvement in climate-impacted areas. Meanwhile, the research project Barriers to action engages local communities and promotes multi-level governance to integrate climate resilience with social protection.
Meanwhile, UNU-VIE's Pan-African Cooperation and Educational Technologies (PACET) programme, supports agricultural innovation through projects like APV-MaGa and RETO-DOSSO, which promote advanced technologies to enhance smallholder productivity in Mali, Gambia, and Niger. These initiatives include smart irrigation practices and capacity-building events led by women and youth.
Additionally, the ImpulSouth project aligns with statements on energy transition and climate finance, fostering gender-transformative pathways and training for stakeholders in the Global South. Challenges include aligning national and local policies to ensure effective implementation.
7. What collective efforts is your entity undertaking to support countries in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the areas of Goal 3 (Good health and well-being), Goal 5 (Gender equality), Goal 8 (Decent work and economic growth), Goal 14 (Life below water) and Goal 17 (Partnerships), which will go under in-depth review at the HLPF in 2025? Please note any achievements, challenges and gaps and provide any relevant links.
Goal 3 (Good health and well-being) | The UNU-IIGH Catalysing Policy Improvement in Africa (CPIA) project addresses significant challenges in Maternal, Newborn, Sexual, and Reproductive Health (MNSRH) in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as inadequate funding and fragmented healthcare systems. It promotes MNSRH policies in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Uganda, and Mozambique using a de-colonial, nationally led approach that strengthens local research and policymaking while prioritising equity.
In 2024, CPIA aims to produce updated and new policies tailored to each country's needs. The project conducts prospective evaluations for real-time adjustments, generating well-documented, country-specific case studies and generalizable lessons. CPIA also offers two structured courses for young professionals from diverse stakeholder groups, focusing on policy analysis and implementation research, equipping participants with essential skills to tackle MNSRH challenges.
By providing a neutral space for dialogue on global health priorities, CPIA fosters collaboration and develops strategies that contextualise and operationalise evidence for effective policy implementation. Ultimately, the project aims to improve health outcomes for mothers and newborns across the region.
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Goal 5 (Gender equality) | In South-East Asia, UNU Macau and UN Women have partnered to enhance digital security for gender equality advocates. The "Training of Trainers to Strengthen Digital Security and Cyber Resilience of Gender Equality and Women's Rights Advocates" was successfully launched in Bangkok from 27-28 March, 2024.
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Goal 8 (Decent work and economic growth) | UNU-VIE’s RETO-DOSSO project strengthens Niger’s progress toward SDG 8 by enhancing the entrepreneurial capacities of youth and women in agricultural innovation. Through a Hackathon focused on smart agriculture, participants develop and pitch business solutions, with winning ideas receiving incubation and entrepreneurial support for further development.
Additionally, UNU-VIE’s GREENOVATIONS project empowers youth and women to achieve SDG 8 by supporting green start-ups and early-stage enterprises in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, water management, waste management, and climate action. The incubation programme includes a seed fund grant, sector-specific skills, entrepreneurial knowledge training, mentoring, and business coaching, all designed to boost their chances of success.
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Goal 14 (Life below water) | UNU-CRIS is member of the Global Seaweed Superstar project which works to protect global wild seaweed stocks, whilst enhancing the biodiversity of their habitats and strengthening the livelihoods of the seaweed farms and their local communities.
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Goal 17 (Partnerships) | The “Empowering Innovators: Strategies for Sustainable Agri-tech Solutions” workshop organised in August 2024 by UNU-INRA brought together 30 green entrepreneurs from the INFoCAT Innovation Challenge to learn about green entrepreneurship, funding strategies, and renewable energy-powered agritech solutions.
The event, held in Accra, Ghana, featured mentorship opportunities and sessions focused on refining participants’ business models to make their innovations more bankable for Ghana’s agricultural sector. This initiative was aimed at advancing women’s and youth economic empowerment. Through practical training and expert advice, participants gained valuable insights on sustainable agriculture.
A selection process will see 10 of the 30 participants awarded grants for piloting and scaling their innovations. INFoCAT is sponsored by International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada. The project is being implemented in 3 countries including Ghana, Senegal (Partner: Enda Energie) and Côte D’Ivoire (Partner: UNU-INRA Operating Unit).
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8. If your organization has been part of any initiatives or multi-stakeholder partnerships in the past year that support these goals, please copy the table below to fill out for each initiative/partnership.
Initiative/Partnership Name | Post-Mining Landscape Restoration Workshop |
Partners (please list all partners) | G20 Land Initiative under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Saxony (Germany) |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | SDG 13 – Climate Action SDG 15 – Life on Land |
Member States benefiting from it | Germany |
Description (max 150 words) | UNU-FLORES facilitated an international workshop from 15-18 April 2024 on post-mining landscape restoration, drawing participants from over 30 countries. The workshop, held in collaboration with the G20 Land Initiative under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, featured more than 20 speakers and facilitators. Saxony, Germany, known for its pioneering approaches to post-mining land restoration, served as a model for discussions.
The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, academics, private sector representatives, development agencies, and NGOs. Following the event, UNU-FLORES and the G20 Land Initiative are exploring further opportunities for joint initiatives.
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Website | https://unu.edu/flores/workshop/post-mining-landscape-restoration-hands-workshop |
Initiative/Partnership Name | The African Academy for Water, Environment, and Health (AA-WEH) |
Partners (please list all partners) | Water Research Commission (WRC) |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | SDG 2 – Zero Hunger SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy |
Member States benefiting from it | African countries |
Description (max 150 words) | The African Academy for Water, Environment, and Health (AA-WEH), led by UNU-INWEH, aims to cultivate future African leaders equipped to address critical issues in water, environment, food, and health. clean water, affordable energy, and food security. |
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Initiative/Partnership Name | Net Zero 101 |
Partners (please list all partners) | UNITAR, Ministry of Environment Japan (MOEJ), Korea Environment Corporation, Government of the Republic of Korea |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | SDG 4 – Quality Education |
Member States benefiting from it | All |
Description (max 150 words) | UNU-IAS collaborated with UNITAR to create a free e-learning course that introduces key concepts of climate science and practical steps for climate action. Launched in June 2024, the course has attracted 6,851 enrolments, with 3,362 certificates issued as of October 3.
Designed for those seeking a foundational understanding of climate change and net zero, the course requires no prior knowledge. Participants earn a digital certificate from UNU-IAS upon successful completion. It is delivered through the One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC) platform, led by UNITAR.
Additionally, the course is available on other learning hubs, including SDG: Learn and the SEAMEO Resource Centre. Developed by UNU-IAS as part of the K-eco Global Net Zero Partnership (K-GNP) Project, it received support from Japan’s Ministry of Environment and the Korea Environment Corporation.
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Website | https://unu.edu/ias/announcement/unu-ias-launches-e-learning-course-net-zero |