GDRC The Global Development Research Center is an independent policy think-tank that carries out initiatives in the spheres of environment, urban, community, economy and information, and at scales that are effective.

With the objective of continuing the developmental momentum created by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) beyond the end of its implementation period in 2015, the world community came together to decide on a new set of goals for all countries to adopt and implement.

The consultative process that involved all levels of stakeholders from spheres came to be called the "Post-2015" development agenda - a series of conferences, seminars workshops held all over the world under different aegis of different stakeholders, to eventually be brought together as the now-well-know 17 sustainable development goals (and its attendant targets and indicators to achieve them) in September 2015.

The SDGs does not in any way diminish the challenges of "other problems" that the world faces, and in fact brings together these concerns and priorities to comprehensively focus attention on changing and improving the world we live in ...

For GDRC, the SDGs provide an excellent opportunity to bring its 15 programmes and the myriad of themes under them into a coherent continuum that facilitates interlinkages between them and to global processes that are being undertaken under the aegis of the United Nations and other international, regional and national organizations.

GDRC ENDORSES THE SDGs Since 2015, GDRC has adopted and integrated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its targets and indicators, as guiding principles to develop its 15 programmes. This approach entails incorporation of the SDGs in all of GDRC's activities and programmes, including theme-specific goals and targets/indicators, to specific programmes.

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. It will be updated regularly as new activities are initiated by GDRC's programmes

Goal	About the Goal	Relevant GDRC Programme / sub-activity
Goal 1: No Poverty	Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality.	GDRC Programmes on Sustainable Development / Poverty, and Microfinance ... focussing on understanding the various dimensions of poverty and the role of microfinance in poverty alleviation
Goal 2: Zero Hunger	The food and agriculture sector offers key solutions for development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication.	GDRC Programme on Sustainable Development / Food Security ... focussing on ensuring zero hunger from the perspective of food security - both production and consumption.
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being	Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development.	GDRC Programme on Sustainable Development / Healthy Cities ... focussing on health and well-being from the perspective of broad sustainable development, particularly living environments and qualities of life.
Goal 4: Quality Education	Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development.	GDRC Programmes on Sustainable Development  , Urban Environmental Development, and the Learning Lab ... focussing on understanding the importance of education for sustainable development, particularly the appropriate learning systems that will enable them.
Goal 5: Gender Equality	Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.	GDRC Programme on Gender and Development ... focussing on the criticality of incorporating gender perspectives in local management and community development programmes.
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation	Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in.	GDRC Programmes on Urban Environmental Management / Water Resources Management + Sustainable Sanitation ... focussing on the twin dilemma of ensuring clean and safe drinking water that goes along with adequate and sustainable sanitation.
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	dilemma is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity.	GDRC Programme on Urban Environmental Management / Sustainable Urban Energy Management ... focussing on energy efficiency and the move towards increased use of renewable energy sources.
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs.	GDRC Programme on Informal Sector ... focussing on decent work and economic growth, particularly in developing countries, by looking at strengthening the role of the informal economic sector.
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure	Investments in infrastructure are crucial to achieving sustainable development.	GDRC Programme on Sustainable Business ... focussing on businesses adopting sustainability principles,and the enabling environment that needs to be put in place for this to happen.
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities	To reduce inequalities, policies should be universal in principle, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.	GDRC Programmes on Microfinance, Informal Sector and Sustainable Development ... focussing on reducing inequalities, particularly in developing countries by enhancing the role of microfinance and the informal sector, to achieve sustainable development.
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	There needs to be a future in which cities provide opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing, transportation and more.	GDRC Programme on Urban Environmental Management ... focussing on urban areas as the intersection of natural, built, and socio-economic environments, that has to be managed to create sustainable urban ecosystems.
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	Responsible Production and Consumption	GDRC Programmes on Urban Environmental Management and Sustainable Business ... focussing on responsible production and consumption from the perspectives of resource efficiency and 3Rs as well as the adoption of sustainability principles by businesses.
Goal 13: Climate Action	Climate change is a global challenge that affects everyone, everywhere.	GDRC Programmes on Urban Environmental Management and NGOs ... focussing on mitigation and adoption to climate change, and on disaster risk reduction, by enabling multistakeholder partnerships to enhance governance, education and technology systems.
Goal 14: Life Below Water	Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future.	GDRC Programme on Oceans, Coasts and Small Islands ... focussing on the fragility of oceans, coasts and small island environments that will put them at the forefront in understanding the impacts of climate change and other global problems, particularly in understanding their role as "indicators" of how we are changing our environments.
Goal 15: Life on Land	Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss	GDRC Programmes on Urban Environmental Management and NGOs ... focussing on broader issues of resource and energy efficiencies in moving towards broader sustainable consumption and production - and in reducing the risks from deforestation and degradation of our environment.
Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	Access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels.	GDRC Programme on Sustainable Development / Peace ... focussing on the importance of peace, justice and strong institutions for sustainable development.
Goal 17: Partnerships	Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.	GDRC Programme: All 15 programmes ... focussing on the multistakeholder partnerships from the government, business and civil sectors to develop appropriate and strong governance, education and technology systems for sustainability.

See GDRC's Sustainability Dashboard