Questions/Answers
Question 1
Please describe the objective of the initiative introduced (200 words maximum)
In Belgium the Federal administration tasked with Sustainable Development (the Federal Institute for Sustainable Development ) has created a wide array of tools to tackle the challenge of raising awareness for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The administration does this in an integrated manner and in partnership with other public-sector institutions and external partners. The idea from the start was to make sure that no one is left behind and that resources can be used as efficiently as possible.
Question 2
Please explain how the initiative is linked to the category and criteria selected (100 words maximum)
Communicate the 2030ASD in an integrated approach with a wide variety of stakeholders was the objective of our communication efforts. We tick three of the criteria (I have accidently clicked only 2): With focus on the holistic aspect of sustainable development we have created an innovating mechanism with the SDG Voices. This has led to leadership with these organisations, but also with civil servants as showed in our SDG Forum. Central through all of our communications was leaving no one behind to ensure that all levels of society can see our message.
Question 3
Please describe in what ways the initiative is contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the SDGs. Specify which SDG(s) it is relevant to. (100 words maximum)
The specific SDG is 12.8, but of course our communication efforts also touch on 4 and especially the partnership SDG 17. More specifically with the SDG Voices our main idea was to reach beyond the usual suspects so the different key SDGs of the respective SDG Voices are also touched, for example SDG Voice Colruyt (one of Belgiums biggest retailers) definitely touches 2 and 8 (among others) as well.
Awareness-raising is crucial as the Agenda is non-binding, but the more people aware of the 2030ASD the more strength and traction it gets.
Question 4
The initiative must have positive impact on a group or groups of the population, especially the vulnerable (i.e. children, women, older persons, people with disabilities, etc.) within the context of your country or region. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant shortfall in governance, public administration or public service within the context of a given country or region. (200 words maximum)
The federal government has no competences on education our children, but as the 2030ASD is a trans-generational Agenda it is crucial to have young people on board, that's way several of our efforts specifically focus on young people. Such as our SDG Voice GoodPlanet who made children aware of the 2030ASD or the city of Ghent who organized world largest lesson on 2030ASD.
Question 5
a. Please explain in which way the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region (100 words maximum)
The dedicated SDGs.be website was the first of its kind and has been copied by several other countries by now, such as the Netherlands. Some aspects of our communication campaign are not new, an SDG Forum is something many countries (should) organise but the way it come to be was definitely unique: we were no longer at the steering wheel by ourselves but everyone was welcome to join and create the event together. The SDG Voices were truly innovative and have received many praise internationally, Ireland for example will adapt the project themselves and we assist them in their implementation.
b. Please describe if the innovation is original or if it is an adaptation from other contexts (100 words maximum)
Not adopted, but we were inspired by the fact that our Queen Mathilde of the Belgians was one of the SDG Advocates appointed by Ban Ki Moon. We have however changed the concept significantly in our efforts to create a snowball campaign (reaching beyond usual suspects).
Question 6
Has the initiative been transferred and adapted to in other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions) to your organization’s knowledge? If yes, please explain (100 words maximum)
As already discussed the SDG Voices have received a very wide interest, and are currently being developed in Ireland (although painted green so to say). Our dedicated website with interactive aspect will possibly exist elsewhere as well. We are currently promoting the organisation of our SDG Forum so this might spread as well. As I fill out this candidacy I receive a mail of the next SDG Action Festival using the exact wording as we did for the organisation of our SDG Forum "The Festival adopts a crowd-sourced approach to shape the most impactful programme, designed BY the SDG Action community FOR the SDG Action Community.". Coincidence?
Question 7
a. What resources (i.e. financial, human or others) were used to implement the initiative? (100 words maximum)
Over half of the team of our organisation has worked on these communication efforts in varying degrees. But overal human resources have been very high. Financial resources vary from project but have also been fairly high with six figure subsidy for stakeholder network the Shift for their assistance in the SDG Voices and each SDG Voice also receiving a five figure subsidy for their efforts. The construction of the dedicated website has also been high as this could not happen in-house. Financial aspect can be detailed afterwards when necessary of course.
b. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable (covering the social, economic and environmental aspects) (200 words maximum)
True sustainability (so beyond the environmental aspect) has been key in all of our workings in of course also in this projects. Several fail-saves have been added on varying degrees of the process to avoid SDG-washing or unsustainable aspects.
Question 8
a. Has the initiative been formally evaluated either through internal or external evaluation?
Yes
Evaluation has happened on several levels. On a macro level this has been part of a general impact evaluation of our organisation,The project itself has also been evaluated by the partners (ex. selected SDG Voices). Furthermore data such as website views,social media hits, amount of publications spread, etc. is used to measure our effectiveness.
b. Please describe the indicators that were used (100 words maximum)
Focus on qualitative but some quantitative such as as website views, social media hits, amount of publications spread, etc. is used to measure our effectiveness.
c. Please describe the outcome of the evaluation (100 words maximum)
The communication efforts have received a very positive evaluation and are thus being prolonged, tthe third generation of SDG Voices is now being selected for example.
Question 9
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, coordination, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe what and how stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative. Please also highlight their roles and contributions (200 words maximum)
Stakeholders have been on board from the beginning of our communication efforts, regarding the SDG Voices for example a double jury existing of sustainability experts and communication experts selected the first round of SDG Voices. So stakeholders have been within the project from day 1.
Question 10
Please describe the key lessons learned, and any view you have on how to further improve the initiative (100 words maximum)
- It is worth it to go beyond the usual suspects.
- Financial costs are rather high, such as human resources, so it takes a lot of investments.
- Stakeholders have to be on board from the beginning and need the necessary trust of administrations.
- Other public administrations have to be taken on board to engage them for the 2030ASD.
- Efforts have to be made to reach out enough high-qualitative candidates for SDG Voices so to make a selection possible.