The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the 17th of which is “Partnerships for the goals,” namely: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
Under this major goal, there are 19 targets, the 17.16 of which is “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries.”
Public-private cooperation in the climate sector strengthensThe challenges of sustainable development are too complex, interconnected, and urgent for any single entity to address alone. By fostering collaboration among governments, business, civil society, and academia, a collective approach can produce more comprehensive, inclusive, and lasting solutions that promote a more sustainable and equitable future for all.Partnership models can take several forms. Public-private partnerships combine the strengths of government entities such as regulatory capacity, policy-making, and public mandate with the private sector’s expertise, efficiency, and financial resources. Multilateral initiatives bring together multiple countries and international organizations to address issues that go beyond national boundaries. Partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) concentrate on humanitarian aid, environmental conservation, and other challenges that need specialized, local knowledge or community-driven solutions.
Countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks in support of the SDGs, 2018. Graph: Our World in DataIn field of climate change, the First Movers Coalition (FMC) was launched at COP26 in 2021, as a partnership between the World Economic Forum and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry to help decarbonize the world’s heavy-emitting sectors via private sector demand for decarbonization technology. The coalition focuses on heavy industry and long-distance transport – those that are difficult to decarbonize – to create market signals that encourage innovation and investment in sustainable solutions. The heart of this coalition is public-private partnership in which governments provide the policy support and incentives while private companies commit to buying and scaling up the use of these technologies.From 35 members at its inception, this coalition has grown to 96 members, who have collectively made 120 commitments. By 2030, these commitments will represent an annual demand of US$16 billion for emerging climate technologies, and 31 million tons (Mt) CO2e in annual emissions reductions.Source: World Economic ForumStrengthen central-local cooperation to cultivate new quality productive forces
Photo: CNEO. com.cn
From December 14 to 15, 2024, the 2024 (2nd) Central-Local Cooperation Forum was grandly held in Beijing. Centered on the theme of “Building a New Development Paradigm and Cultivating New Quality Productive Forces,” the forum brought together experts, scholars, and enterprise representatives from various sectors to discuss deepening central-local cooperation, exploring new models, and creating innovative mechanisms for collaboration.
Recent practices in central-local cooperation demonstrate that such partnerships have become a new growth driver for advancing high-quality economic development in China. In 2023, central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) strengthened the foundation for high-quality development through increased investment nationwide, with total annual investments reaching 6.2 trillion yuan, up 6.9% year-on-year. Of this, fixed asset investment amounted to 5.09 trillion yuan, representing an 11.4% growth, while investment in strategic emerging industries surged by an impressive 32.1%.
In recent years, central SOEs have made intensified efforts in tackling critical core technologies, launching 11 specialized action plans and establishing an overall framework for the development of original technology hubs across eight categories, 60 fields, and 201 directions. The characteristics of these collaborations now include a stronger alignment with national strategies, a heightened focus on technological innovation, closer integration with industrial chain ecosystems, and greater emphasis on market-driven resource consolidation.
Source: Xinhua.com, The Enterprise Observer
Kenya ratifies the Nutrition Joint Programme 2023-2026
Photo: Ministry of Health of Republic of Kenya
On November 26, 2024, Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to ending malnutrition by ratifying the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) Nutrition Joint Programme 2023-2026. The initiative, co-led by the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WFP, FAO, UNHCR, and WHO, aims to address malnutrition through a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach, with a strong emphasis on strengthening community health systems.Mary Muthoni, principal secretary for the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, who ratified the document on behalf of the Ministry of Health, highlighted the significant strides Kenya has made in improving nutrition outcomes, including a reduction in stunting rates from 40% in 1993 to 18% in 2022 and an increase in exclusive breastfeeding rates to 60%. However, she acknowledged that challenges such as regional disparities and dietary deficiencies persist. The program seeks to expand nutrition interventions, promote sustainable food systems, and integrate nutrition-sensitive approaches across various sectors to foster long-term solutions for food and nutrition security.
Source: Ministry of Health of Republic of Kenya
Vietnam strengthens international cooperation on circular economy in agricultureOn July 8, 2024, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien of the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Madam Ramla Khalidi, resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam, co-chaired the Policy Dialogue on “Enhancing International Cooperation and Multi-sectoral Coordination on Circular Economy in Agriculture.”At the dialogue, the deputy minister called upon the international community, ministries, and agencies from central to local levels and the private sector to collaborate in supporting the agricultural sector to achieve the 10 goals and six tasks outlined in the proposal on the “Development and application of science and technology transfer to accelerate circular economy in agriculture up to 2030.” This project was approved by Decision No. 540/QD-TTg on June 19, 2024 by the prime minister and is led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The project will emphasize research, technology application, market development, policy frameworks, international cooperation, and communication related to circular agriculture.
UNDP also presented initial results collected under the NDC-Circular Economy Toolbox which aims to support Viet Nam in identifying, prioritizing, implementing, and tracking circular interventions in agriculture that contribute to the NDC 2025. UNDP announced its upcoming research in the coffee and rice value chains collaborating with the Institute for Policy Strategy on Agriculture Research and Development (IPSARD), the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (ICD-MARD), and the Institute of Agricultural Economics (IEA) to frame new integrated measures for low carbon and circular agri-food value chains.
Luban Workshop helps cultivate talents in AfricaStudents listen as a teacher gives instructions at the Luban Workshop in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on June 14, 2024. Photo: Xinhua
At the opening ceremony of the 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, China announced the establishment of 10 Luban Workshops in Africa to provide vocational skills training for African youth. From the opening of Africa’s first Luban Workshop in Djibouti in March 2016 to now, this Chinese vocational education brand has spread across 29 countries, offering 57 majors in 14 categories, ranging from artificial intelligence, electric vehicle maintenance, civil engineering, and IoT management to traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese food cooking, and others. More than 10,000 students have participated in academic education, and more than 22,000 people have benefited from vocational training.Over the past three years, Mokaia has been studying the “Cloud Computing and Information Security” program at the Luban Workshop in Kenya. In addition to specialized courses, she actively participated in numerous practical activities and obtained certifications in data communication, security, and artificial intelligence from Huawei, a leading Chinese technology company. This Luban Workshop in Kenya is the only one in Africa offering digital skills training in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. It features dedicated zones such as the “Smart City Practice Area,” “Data Center Practice Area,” “Cloud-Network Integration Learning Zone,” and “Aerial Classroom Teaching Zone,” which effectively stimulates students’ creativity and enables them to apply what they have learned.The Luban Workshop is welcomed in many parts of the world, and there is a saying that these places choose to “produce for the world” together with China. In this sense, the Luban Workshop has created a “sustainable and mutually beneficial” model for China and the world.
Source: Xinhua, Xinhua Daily Telegraph, Global Times
Amerigroup and Sangfor collaborate to open up international digital economy market
Photo: Sangfor TechnologiesOn September 19, 2024, Amerigroup and Sangfor held a grand strategic cooperation signing ceremony at Sangfor’s headquarters. The partnership establishes a mid-to-long-term strategic collaboration based on complementary strengths, mutual benefit, long-term cooperation, and shared development goals. Together, the two parties aim to expand the international digital economy market, with a primary focus on the Mexican region, leveraging technological innovation to empower local governments, enterprises, and Chinese companies going overseas in their digital transformation efforts.The collaboration will harness the strengths of both parties by integrating diverse internal and external resources. Amerigroup will contribute its extensive client network, industry expertise, and operational strategies in the sustainable energy sector. Meanwhile, Sangfor will bring its in-depth experience and technological advancements in cybersecurity, cloud computing, and AI. Together, they will provide online, digitalized, localized, intelligent, and secure digital services for Mexican governments, businesses, and Chinese enterprises operating abroad, enabling simpler and safer digitalization for Mexico while fostering win-win outcomes for all stakeholders.
Source: Sangfor TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiated by the United NationsOn January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change while ensuring that no one is left behind.
