SDGia
UN Sustainable Development Goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
The SDG Impact Accelerator (SDGia) is a novel initiative that leverages the SDGs to serve complex challenges faced by forcibly displaced populations and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) by funneling highly innovative solutions and convening private and public stakeholders around specific development challenges.
More importantly, the SDGia is a reminder to all parties – such as institutions, governments and private sector – that the world of entrepreneurs is prepared to strengthen its engagement in addressing complex development issues. In doing so, the SDGiaframework shifts the paradigm of problem solving by initially identifying a challenge through a top-down approach for challenge mapping, and by subsequently scoping specific entrepreneurs developing bottom-up solution propositions.
Background
With the establishment of the UNDP’s Istanbul International Centre for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) in 2011, the Government of Turkey had signaled its strong support to facilitate the public-private dialogue and multi-stakeholder partnership structures in its SDG and development agenda. For the last 5 years, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has intensively collaborated with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to design a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) implementation plan in Turkey.
The vision of the SDGia was conceived following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015. Between 2018 and early 2019, the Government of Turkey initiated a feasibility study, jointly funded by the BMGF and UNDP’s Regional Service Centre for Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which aimed to develop the assumptions of the SDG Impact Accelerator model.The feasibility report brought together a team of international experts and advisers deeply involved in innovation, social impact, and social entrepreneurship. In its perspective, the feasibility study delineated the unique intention to make Turkey a testbed for innovative solutions focused on addressing development challenges through the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Shortly after, SDGia 2019 program was announced to the entrepreneurs for market-creating innovations offering solutions that strengthen the resilience of refugees and of its communities and relevant institutions. The Pilot Phase Report of the SDGia is conducted independently and published in July 2020. Please click here for more information.
In the meantime, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNDP Turkey, and United Nations Technology Bank started 2020 initiative with the support of the Bangladesh and Uganda government institutions. The new challenge areas will be digital agriculture for Uganda and financial inclusion for Bangladesh. Please click here for more information.