Overview
SDG 17 is about developing mutually respectful partnerships at local, national and international levels.
The proceeding SDGs are concerned with what needs doing. Whereas SDG 17 helps us understand how to do it. It suggests to address complex challenges, there must be a bringing together (cooperating and combining) skills and resources from many sectors and disciplines.
. Michael Porter observes that businesses should be part of the solution, not a cause of all problems. He also describes the act of creating shared value that addresses a social issue with a business model, i.e. social value + economic value = shared value.
The world's biggest problems need companies to help with misery in the world, and business will play an important role, together with governments, civil society, financial institutions, philanthropists and donors, and the education sector.
. Michael Porter observes that businesses should be part of the solution, not a cause of all problems. He also describes the act of creating shared value that addresses a social issue with a business model, i.e. social value + economic value = shared value.
The world's biggest problems need companies to help with misery in the world, and business will play an important role, together with governments, civil society, financial institutions, philanthropists and donors, and the education sector.
How can we pursue SDG17?
There are a few things that businesses and individuals can do.
- Encourage the sharing of good practices and information about doing good things.
- Develop partnerships with private companies, academic organisations and charities.
- Encourage your governments to partner with businesses for the implementation of the SDGs.
- Work or volunteer in NGOs that are working towards Global Goals.
- Support export by buying products from developing countries. Pay attention to the Fair Trade label on products which helps to indicate products from local producers in developing countries.
Case Study
Space Sustainability, a Strategic & Holistic Approach using the Good Dividends Model
Space has a negative image regarding sustainability because it focuses on the amount of carbon used and the increasing number of satellites and space junk. However, merely focusing on this one-dimensional negative perspective of space sustainability does not address sustainability issues.
A broader and more strategic approach to space sustainability would be to draw upon a Good Dividends model of sustainability:
1. People: Learning and Development in the growing space sector, for instance with apprenticeships and degree courses exploring emerging areas of the Space Economy.
2. Planet-Community: as developing through opportunities, events and open source resources such as the Satellite Applications Catapult’s Space Capabilities, showcasing the UK’s capabilities and creating relationships to international capabilities and demands Lancashire AEM Watchtower.
3. Reputation-Brand: the North of England’s reputation in building satellites; the established civil aerospace and defence sector; the substantial advanced manufacturing capabilities, supply chains and the rapidly expanding cyber security portfolio.
4. Profit: Going beyond sustainability to regeneration – for instance, in building reusable rockets as with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 - reinvesting back into making the space sector profitable and regenerative.
5. Operations: Space Supply Chain networks – the UK Space Enterprise Community platform, for instance, brings together regions across the UK to build resilient supply chains and stronger communities.
6. Innovation: The enhanced support that organisations such as AstroSat can provide fusion processing Terrestrial and Space data, which has uses such as helping farmers improve crop planting efficiency.
The Good Dividends model seeks to develop a regenerative economy that depends on regenerative businesses throughout the supply chain, restoring, renewing and revitalising the planet and the communities so that everyone is growing well and in a balanced and sustainable way. Such a framework is an important consideration for the UK Space sector, which has ambitions to grow significantly over the next 5-10 years.
Source: Northwest Aerospace Alliance, February 2023
1. People: Learning and Development in the growing space sector, for instance with apprenticeships and degree courses exploring emerging areas of the Space Economy.
2. Planet-Community: as developing through opportunities, events and open source resources such as the Satellite Applications Catapult’s Space Capabilities, showcasing the UK’s capabilities and creating relationships to international capabilities and demands Lancashire AEM Watchtower.
3. Reputation-Brand: the North of England’s reputation in building satellites; the established civil aerospace and defence sector; the substantial advanced manufacturing capabilities, supply chains and the rapidly expanding cyber security portfolio.
4. Profit: Going beyond sustainability to regeneration – for instance, in building reusable rockets as with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 - reinvesting back into making the space sector profitable and regenerative.
5. Operations: Space Supply Chain networks – the UK Space Enterprise Community platform, for instance, brings together regions across the UK to build resilient supply chains and stronger communities.
6. Innovation: The enhanced support that organisations such as AstroSat can provide fusion processing Terrestrial and Space data, which has uses such as helping farmers improve crop planting efficiency.
The Good Dividends model seeks to develop a regenerative economy that depends on regenerative businesses throughout the supply chain, restoring, renewing and revitalising the planet and the communities so that everyone is growing well and in a balanced and sustainable way. Such a framework is an important consideration for the UK Space sector, which has ambitions to grow significantly over the next 5-10 years.
Source: Northwest Aerospace Alliance, February 2023
Case Study
Seeking beneficial partnerships
QuoLux™ is a privately owned company specialising in leadership and strategic development, working closely with small-medium-sized companies (SMEs), improving their productivity and profitability, and supporting them to be more purpose-led.
QuoLux™ has worked with hundreds of leaders to acquire the skills and confidence they need to become the best they can be.
In addition, to providing leadership and management training, QuoLux™ facilitates and encourages opportunities for their current clients and alumni companies to explore how they may work together for mutual financial and social benefits.
For example, QuoLux™ has connected a food manufacturing company generating occasional surplus products with a charity that can distribute these food products to groups in need (working towards SDG 1, 2 & 3). Another example sees a charity trying to gain employment for homeless people with a company struggling to recruit employees.
The SDGs can be realised with strong partnerships within engaged communities that have, at their centre, purpose-led leadership enhancing people and the planet. QuoLux™ is committed to being a proactive partner, stakeholder and business in shaping UN SDG 17 as leverage for all other Sustainable Development Goals. For example, the company has worked with the UK’s most sustainable university, the University of Gloucestershire, to create a Work Based Learning MBA. QuoLux™ has supported the development of Good Dividends and is working in partnership with Regenerative Alliance to help deliver purpose and enhance people, the planet and a regenerative economy.
Receiving a quality education is the foundation for improving people’s lives and sustainable development. QuoLux™ aims to substantially increase the number of adults with relevant leadership and management skills to create employment, better jobs and sustainable economic growth. The company encourages leaders to apply their learning and develop themselves, their employees and their workplace, and to positively impact stakeholders, the wider community and the planet.
QuoLux™ takes action for UN SDG 4 (target 4.4) and UN SDG 8 (target 8.3) and supports leaders to #InspireBelief, to realise their purpose and to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
QuoLux™ has worked with hundreds of leaders to acquire the skills and confidence they need to become the best they can be.
In addition, to providing leadership and management training, QuoLux™ facilitates and encourages opportunities for their current clients and alumni companies to explore how they may work together for mutual financial and social benefits.
For example, QuoLux™ has connected a food manufacturing company generating occasional surplus products with a charity that can distribute these food products to groups in need (working towards SDG 1, 2 & 3). Another example sees a charity trying to gain employment for homeless people with a company struggling to recruit employees.
The SDGs can be realised with strong partnerships within engaged communities that have, at their centre, purpose-led leadership enhancing people and the planet. QuoLux™ is committed to being a proactive partner, stakeholder and business in shaping UN SDG 17 as leverage for all other Sustainable Development Goals. For example, the company has worked with the UK’s most sustainable university, the University of Gloucestershire, to create a Work Based Learning MBA. QuoLux™ has supported the development of Good Dividends and is working in partnership with Regenerative Alliance to help deliver purpose and enhance people, the planet and a regenerative economy.
Receiving a quality education is the foundation for improving people’s lives and sustainable development. QuoLux™ aims to substantially increase the number of adults with relevant leadership and management skills to create employment, better jobs and sustainable economic growth. The company encourages leaders to apply their learning and develop themselves, their employees and their workplace, and to positively impact stakeholders, the wider community and the planet.
QuoLux™ takes action for UN SDG 4 (target 4.4) and UN SDG 8 (target 8.3) and supports leaders to #InspireBelief, to realise their purpose and to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
SDG17 aims to "Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development".
It has associated aims that include:
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Look to form partnerships with local, national and interntional suppliers and customers to address social issues.
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Encourage the adoption of business plans that value social and economic benefits, i.e. Good Dividends
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Support business employees becoming better educated,
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Knowledge sharing and cooperation for access to science, technology and innovation.
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Promote sustainable technologies to developing countries.
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Strengthen the science, technology and innovation capacity for least-developed countries.