Since their inauguration in 2015, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been promoted and included on an unprecedented scale in almost all sectors imaginable. The global community has adopted the agenda in a manner fitting for its vital purpose. As we’re now approaching 2030, the deadline for reaching the 17 goals, the question is: why are we not further along in the 2030 Agenda? Globally, we are falling behind on reaching the SDGs and with climate change exacerbating, geopolitical risks increasing, and pandemics seeing the light of day, achieving the goals outlined in the SDGs is becoming increasingly difficult.  
 
Yet with another eight years to go, and with plenty of green and sustainable business solutions developed, new actors on board, moving significantly forward is still a possible scenario. So, what do we need to ensure acceleration of sustainable business innovation? How do we foster the right conditions for new solutions to reach markets and scale? And how do we ensure adequate legislation and access to risk finance while also removing the most obvious barriers to sustainable business innovation and development? 
 
In this event, UNDP and IDA Global Development are coming together to discuss exactly this and much more. The event will present some of the moonshot ideas that will – with the right help – turn into feasible solutions to sustainable development. Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Envoy to the UN SG for the Horn of Africa and Katherine Richardson, Professor and Leader of the Sustainability Science Centre, University of Copenhagen will address barriers, opportunities, and legislation and discuss how we progress in the final years before 2030. The event will also feature three presentations showcasing how the private sector can play a key role in achieving the SDGs, one by one.

Programme

Moderator: Erika Jørgensen, Former Regional Director, WFP. Board member of IDA Global Development

17:00 – 17:10 Opening remarks
by Hans Peter Dejgaard, Chair IDA Global Development and Henrik Fredborg Larsen, Director UNDP Nordic Representation

17:10 – 17:25 None of the SDGs can wait!
by Katherine Richardson, Professor and Leader of the sustainability Science Centre, University of Copenhagen

17:25 – 17:35 Scaling innovative SDG-aligned tech in emerging markets
by Emil Damholt, Head of Impact, Bluetown

17:35 – 17:50 SDGs: Barriers and Opportunities for 2030
by Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Envoy to the UN SG for the Horn of Africa

17:50 – 18:00 WFP Igniting Innovation in East Africa
by Magana Gikandi, Private Sector and Innovations Officer and Safia Verjee, WFP-CARE Innovation Advisor

18:00 – 18:10 Nordic investment into emerging market innovations – current challenges and impact opportunities
by Ella Rytsölä, Project Manager at TechVelopment and Co-Author of the Nordic Investment into Emerging Market Solutions Report

18:10 – 18:25 Q&A session

18:25 – 18:30 Final remarks
by Erika Jørgensen, Former Regional Director, WFP. Board member of IDA Global Development

Register for free here.

If you are not a member of IDA Global Development, we also encourage you to sign up here.