This guide is a first and preliminary guide on how to “get started” with implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It aims to help stakeholders, including governments at all levels (national, regional, and local), to understand the SDG Agenda, to start an inclusive dialogue on SDG implementation, and to prepare SDG-based national development strategies (or align existing plans and strategies with the goals). It draws upon lessons learned from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and proposes guiding principles to help countries navigate the SDG Agenda. The guide reflects the universality of the SDG Agenda by recognizing countries’ different starting points.
We underscore the preliminary nature of this document and welcome comments and suggestions for improvement. These will be integrated into subsequent versions of the guide.
What is in the guide?
Chapter 1 introduces the concept of sustainable development, explains the evolution from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals, and discusses the importance of goal-based planning.
Chapter 2 offers practical guidance on how to get started with implementing the 2030 Agenda, including how to measure current performance, convene a multi-stakeholder dialogue, and prepare a roadmap for the design of SDG strategies.
Chapter 3 provides a set of tools to support the design of sector- and goal-based strategies to achieve the SDGs.
Download the PDF
A PDF version of the SDG.guide is also available for download.
Translations
See below for links to Google translations of this guide available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Who is this guide for?
This guide has been written primarily for:
- SDSN Member Institutions, notably universities
- Businesses trying to get oriented around the SDGs
- National and local policy makers responsible for thinking through the implementation of the SDG agenda
- Citizens and civic groups
Acknowledgments
This guide was written by SDSN Secretariat drawing upon extensive background work by Sophie Matte and Liz Moyer with Chaitanya Kanuri, Danielle Petretta and Claire Bulger. Thanks to the 2015 Human Ecology class at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, as part of the Master’s of Public Administration in Development Practice program, who made major contributions to this guide.
Translations
The guide is currently only available in English, but Spanish, French, Portuguese and Mandarin versions are expected in early 2016. Links to a Google translated version of the guide are available below.
Arabic — الشروع في العمل مع الأهداف الإنمائية المستدامة
الفصل 1: التعرف على أهداف التنمية المستدامة
الفصل 3: أدوات لتصميم استراتيجيات SDG وخرائط الطرق
المرفق 1: قراءات إضافية على الشروع في العمل مع SDGs
French — Premiers pas avec les objectifs de développement durable
Pourquoi un guide pour la mise en route?
Chapitre 1: Apprendre à connaître les objectifs de développement durable
Chapitre 2: Préparation de la mise en œuvre
Chapitre 3: Les outils pour la conception de stratégies et de feuilles de route SDG
Conclusion et d’autres ressources de SDSN
Annexe 1: Lectures complémentaires Mise en route de l’ODD
Sources et bibliographie par chapitre
Portuguese — Começando com os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável
Por que um guia para começar a trabalhar?
Capítulo 1: Conhecer os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável
Capítulo 2: Preparação para a implementação
Capítulo 3: Ferramentas para o desenho de estratégias e roteiros SDG
Conclusão e outros recursos SDSN
Anexo 1: Leitura adicional sobre Introdução ao ODS
Fontes por capítulo e Bibliografia
Spanish — Introducción a los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible
¿Por qué una guía para empezar?
Capítulo 1: Llegar a conocer los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible
Capítulo 2: Preparación para la puesta en práctica
Capítulo 3: Herramientas para el diseño de estrategias y planes de trabajo SDG
Conclusión y otros Recursos SDSN
