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Who we are

 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.

Partners

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

The University of Pretoria is a leading South African institution known for academic excellence and impactful research. The SDGi Secretariat is hosted here. Additionally, the South African SDG Hub is hosted by the Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute which is located within the university’s Economic and Management Sciences Faculty.
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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.

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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.

Donor

German Cooperation

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.