Our idea for a better future for South Africa
South Africa is harnessing its strong research capabilities to drive impactful change through the Sustainable Development Goals Initiative. SDGi recognises the potential of evidence-based policy-making. The initiative fosters collaboration between academia, civil society, and government to address national priorities and accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
How we started
As a key step forward in South Africa’s commitment to evidence-based policy-making, President Cyril Ramaphosa re-established the Policy and Research Services Unit (PRS) in the Presidency in 2019. The PRS is mandated to ensure policy coherence and facilitate policy coordination of the implementation of the government’s programme of action.
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, in February 2020, the Presidency of South Africa, University of Pretoria and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ formed a partnership to bridge academia with policymakers
Launched as a pilot with two founding partners, this initiative has grown into a multi-stakeholder-partnership, now including civil society organization African Monitor Trust (AMT) and Stellenbosch University (SU).
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Meet the team behind SDGi
The SDGi team brings together diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives from academia and policymakers in South Africa, namely from the Presidency of South Africa, the University of Pretoria, and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ. Together we share the belief in evidence-based policy-making to drive impactful policies and meaningful change.
The Presidency
The Presidency of South Africa leads the executive branch, implementing laws, guiding policies, and ensuring government accountability. The Policy and Research Services (PRS) Unit is located in the Presidency.
The University of Pretoria
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University offers a wide range of programs across faculties like science, humanities, and technology. The university emphasizes sustainability, inclusivity, and global engagement, contributing significantly to African and international research. The Policy Innovation Lab is hosted by the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking of Stellenbosch University.
African Monitor
African Monitor is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable development in Africa by monitoring resource flows, accountability, and social change. Established to amplify African voices, it works to empower communities, advocate for equitable policies, and foster transparency across the continent.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (German: Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, BMZ) is responsible for the planning and implementation of Germany’s development policy. BMZ is the commissioning party of SDGi.