Second workshop on the cross-cutting topic “SDGs – Hitting the targets”

During its workshop on 11 December in Osnabrück, the group continued to investigate the two topics identified at the first meeting: conflicting targets and synergies between different SDGs; and indicators, data and models. The participants also discussed how best to transfer knowledge from the GRoW projects to the political process.

The workshop began with two keynote presentations. One focused on identifying methodological approaches for assessing conflicting targets and synergies within the SDGs. The other assessed interlinkages between alternative policy options from the project TRUST. The workshop then moved on to the working group session.  

The working group for indicators, data and models focused on the importance of SDG implementation and decision-making on the ground, and on improvements in representing existing governance systems. It also looked at addressing cross-sectoral problems as a way of achieving the SDGs more efficiently. The group rapidly agreed to prepare a policy brief on how to complement and possibly improve the current SDG monitoring process. Besides the key messages, empirical examples from the GRoW projects will be a major component of the paper.     
Following a fruitful discussion, the working group on conflicting targets and synergies between different SDGs decided to develop a new assessment method for evaluating projects and different policy plans and their effects on SDG interactions, with a special focus on SDG 6. The method aims to improve the way the advantages and disadvantages of interventions are presented, and to develop concrete proposals for decision-making.

The next workshop on the cross-cutting topic is planned for spring 2019.

The presentations and workshop minutes are available here.