SDG-pathfinding

The challenge ahead: There is substantive evidence that the prevailing silo approach in public policy is threatening the materialization of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, approaches to research SDG interactions are still in its infancy, and available ones fail to adequately incorporate the social and governance dimensions, which are instrumental in the implementation of sustainable development models. Also, managing real world SDG problems requires strong stakeholder engagement approaches. The hypotheses: Supporting regions to get on the sustainability path requires a systems approach to map and untangling the interlinkages that emerge across sectors, policies, actors, and scales, through the integration of different sources of knowledge, tools and values. The proposed approach: A combination of analytical tools with strong stakeholder engagement approaches to: 1) support social learning to drive the change in mindsets required to match our ambitions for sustainability; and 2) to design transformations pathways that match countries capacities and socioeconomic-physical-governance contexts. The main research questions and objectives: SDG-pathfinding aims to develop novel tools and capacities support a sustainable development pathway for African countries that is adapted to local capacities. We will pursue this goal by adopting a strongly inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches that will: 1) Analyze multilevel governance structures and path dependencies; 2) Develop and test an innovative, online and participatory SDG scenario policy tool to support the development of inclusive and bottom up narratives and transformation pathways; and 3) Foster exchange and collective learning experiences to promote social learning and innovation on SDGs. We will implement our approach in two African case studies where multiple SDG gaps intersect due to a number of drivers. Project originality and innovation: The SDG pathfinding approach is an experiential and fully participatory process, engaging participants in defining their desirable futures, assessing trade -offs, and finding solutions within the chosen sustainability pathways. Main innovations: 1) the integration with a governance framework to unpack impediments and enablers for SDG implementation, including vertical and horizontal cooperation; 2) a flexible integration of the participatory tools developed by the consortium partners; 3) an approach suitable to support the localization of the SDG agenda, and 4) that can be implemented online in situations where face-to-face meetings are not possible. Primary researchers involved: The consortium is lead by IIASA (Austria), and involves the participation of INRAE (France), GAIA (Senegal), and Rhodes University (South Africa). Team members (interdisciplinary scientists and practitioners) have a broad range of complementary skills needed to identify and represent essential interactions between SDGs and translate them down to the field level to support action.

The SDG Pathfinding Project addresses the need for integrated approaches to tackle sustainability challenges and advance the 2030 Agenda. Recognizing the limitations of siloed methods, the project developed and tested a novel, participatory framework tailored to local capacities and governance contexts. Implemented in the Fimela District (Senegal) and the Swartkops catchment (South Africa), the project aimed to empower stakeholders through experiential learning and collaborative planning. Main Results: 1. Development of a Scalable and Adaptable Methodological Toolkit: A comprehensive and flexible toolkit was created to guide the application of the SDG Pathfinding framework. It integrates tools for identifying sustainability challenges, co-developing visions, and creating actionable plans. The toolkit's adaptability allows integration of various participatory tools tailored to local needs, resources, and stakeholder dynamics, with practical examples and lessons learned from the case studies. It supports the localization of the SDG agenda and fosters capacity-building for exploring and addressing sustainability challenges. 2. Simulation Games:Two bespoke participatory games were developed, one per case study. 1) Fim-WAAGA (Fimela Water and Agriculture Governance Analysis) in Senegal focuses on governance and management solutions for soil salinization. 2) NMB WatEqS (Nelson Mandela Bay Water Equity and Security) in South Africa, addressing water scarcity and equity challenges in the drought-affected Swartkops catchment. The game enables stakeholders to simulate real-world decision-making and explore governance dynamics, fostering learning and collaboration. 3. Collaborative Pathways Design Guidebook:The project produced a guidebook on CoSMoS (Collaborative Design of Pathways to Sustainability), offering practical guidance for designing participatory workshops and fostering social learning. 4. Stakeholder-Centric Dissemination Materials: Materials documenting stakeholder perspectives and participatory experiences demonstrate how the framework supports SDG localization and builds capacity for collective action. 5. Capacity Building and Systemic Understanding: Through tools like system mapping and serious games, stakeholders gained a deeper understanding of governance dynamics and the interdependencies of socio-ecological systems. These methods empowered participants to co-develop and test pathways for sustainable development. The SDG Pathfinding project demonstrates how participatory tools and interdisciplinary methods can bridge global SDG goals with local realities. Its outputs, including the games, toolkit, and guidebook, offer a replicable model for tackling sustainability challenges while fostering collaboration and innovation. This approach strengthens local capacities to address systemic issues, ensuring progress toward sustainability that is inclusive and context-specific.