2024 International Forum: Key Insights on Approaching the Second Half of the SDGs

Author Aly Muhammad Sayani

This year, what’s at stake? 

WUSC’s 13th Annual International Forum had at its centre the theme “Doing Different Things, and Doing Things Differently”. The axis of this theme lies at a point of reflection, as the halfway point to the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been passed. While there has been significant progress in some areas of the 2030 agenda, there has also been regress. The Covid-19 pandemic recovery, worsening climate crises, and a rise in forced migration and displacement from a growing number of conflicts were not in mind when the goals were first conceived in 2015. A global effort is thus required to assess what has worked, and where change is required, as we aspire to continue building a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable world.

During our opening session, Kate Higgins, CEO of Cooperation Canada delivers remarks on progress made by Canadian development organizations on the SDGs, and what needs to be changed going forward

From February 8 – 10, 2024, both online and in-person at the Shaw Centre in Downtown Ottawa, WUSC brought together nearly 300 Canadian and global youth leaders and changemakers, representatives from the academic, private and public sector, as well as other NGOs, to foster dialogue, share solutions and create new opportunities for collaboration towards addressing the challenges currently facing SDG advancement. Sessions led by experts in their fields focused on efforts to tackle the challenges we face through the lens of SDG 4 – Quality Education; SDG5 – Gender Equality; SDG 8 – Decent Work; and SDG 13 – Climate Action. A new initiative, ‘Through My Eyes: Art for Development’, was also launched, expressing the impact of SDGs around the world.

Advancing SDG 4: Quality Education

Although there has been some progress on advancing Quality Education globally, progress has been slow and mired by increasing global crises. It is predicted that by 2030, 84 million children and youth will be out of school, 300 million students will lack basic numeracy and literacy skills, and only 1 in 6 countries will achieve universal secondary education.

During our Quality Education Panel, Vongaishe Changamire from World Vision Canada, reflects on her own diverse experiences as an Educational Technical Specialist in the field

It is within this context that WUSC brought together leaders from across the sector to discuss successful approaches to tackling challenges to educational goals. Representatives from Right to Play, the Aga Khan Foundation’s Schools2030 team, and the Refugee Education Council discussed the importance of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions, the importance of youth engagement in driving refugee education policy and programming, and the key principles behind human-centered design (HCD) in education innovation in development projects.

Read more about work being done to advance Quality Education by our partner Knowledge Sharing Leader here

Advancing SDG 5: Gender Equality

Many global indicators point towards regress, as opposed to improvement, in advancing the goal of Gender Equality. On top of the many current crises already mentioned facing global development, which have already been documented to disproportionately impact women and girls, there has been a growth in backlash to women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Erika Gates Gasse, Director Grantmaking Operations at the Equality Fund, shares her experiences of incorporating a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) lens in international development work during a Gender Equality panel.

To discuss the role played by Canadians and international changemakers in turning the tide against challenges to Gender Equality, and develop action plans for future programming, WUSC brought together representatives from the Equality Fund, QuakeLab and the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) to discuss radical new approaches to building equity, inclusion and gender transformative approaches to international development. Representatives from the Criterion Institute also put forward an innovative Gender Lens approach towards financing social change and development initiatives.

In a virtual session on SDG 5 (now available to watch here), the role of positive masculinity in advancing Gender Equality was explored. Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) advisors from a variety of WUSC’s international projects convened online to promote dialogue on positive masculinity, sharing best practices and lessons learned, championing the role it can play towards dismantling harmful and deeply entrenched stereotypes, and helping cultivate a culture of respect and inclusion.

Read more about work being done to advance Gender Equality by our Forum partners here

Access the full recorded session on Gender Equality and Positive Masculinity here

Advancing SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Key to building a more sustainable, equitable and inclusive world is financial commitment. Developing countries received a total of $245 billion in overseas development assistance in 2022. However, current estimates suggest there is a $4.5 trillion annual funding gap between what has currently been committed, and what is required, to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

During our Advancing Decent Work and Economic Growth Workshop, Pranay Samson, Director Innovative Finance, Plan International Canada & Consultant at the Criterion Institute delivers strategies for the incorporation of Gender as a lens in social finance.

To discuss avenues for advancing Decent Work and Economic Growth, WUSC’s Director of Program Design and Social Finance met with representatives from the Criterion Institute and Plan International Canada to lead a session on the role for social finance in achieving SDG-8. The use of different lenses for finance as a strategy for social change were also discussed, particularly the potential for gender as a lens towards investment. Session participants were invited to identify strategies to bridge social and finance issues using a toolkit developed by the Criterion Institute, which can be accessed here. 

In another session online on SDG 8 (now available to watch here), WUSC facilitated a panel discussion on the role young people are playing in promoting sustainable economic growth through climate agriculture and entrepreneurship, bringing together young changemakers pursuing agribusiness and climate-related entrepreneurship in the Caribbean and West Africa. 

Read more about work being done to advance Decent Work and Economic Growth by our Forum partners here

Access the full recorded session on the Youth Voice in Climate, Agriculture and Entrepreneurship here

Advancing SDG 13: Climate Action

At the heart of the 2030 agenda is commitment to sustainable action towards reducing the impacts of climate change. Disruptions to global supply chains during the Covid-19 pandemic, and growing violence across the globe, have posed and will continue to pose challenges to cooperation on global climate action.

During a Climate Action Workshop, Mikaila Boyd, Business Partnerships Manager at Fairtrade Canada shares her perspective on the important role businesses and consumers play in advancing climate action

Despite this, some innovators in Canada have been at the forefront of building Climate Action initiatives. WUSC invited Canadian climate champions from Fairtrade Canada, Nets for Net Zero, and the academic sector to share innovative approaches to collective efforts towards achieving Climate Action. The role of climate entrepreneurship and eco-feminist climate justice were spotlighted, and lessons were shared on the role of business as a force for sustainable, equitable and inclusive Climate Action.

Read more about work being done to advance Climate Action by our Forum partners here

Through My Eyes: Art for Development

This year, WUSC launched a unique art exhibition titled ‘Through My Eyes: Art for Development’, exploring the impact of SDGs on communities around the world. A key impetus in driving the exhibition is the restrictions imposed by geography, language, and funding that often inhibit the ability to express perspectives in a universal manner, something art allows us to transcend. The exhibition brought together artwork from Canadian, Ghanaian and Malawian artists, bringing a more inclusive medium for expression to the Forum’s diverse audience. Two art pieces were exhibited for each SDG, and a special community piece was created for SDG 17 during the forum, inviting all attendees to contribute as an exercise of unity and potential for partnerships.

Pictured: ‘Through My Eyes: Art for Development’ Exhibition. (From Left), Piece by Nasheera Adam, SDG-8, Piece by Benjamin McTaggart, SDG-8

WUSC’s Continued Commitment 

WUSC remains steadfast in our commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Through innovative programs and collaborative initiatives that actively contribute to tackling global challenges such as quality education, gender equality, economic empowerment and climate change we strive to create lasting impact through systems change. Partnerships are at the heart of this work. Learn more about WUSC and our work in our Annual Report.

WUSC would like to thank our sponsors of the 2024 International Forum. This event would not have been made possible without the generous support of Global Affairs Canada, as well as Brandon University, Uniglobe, Algonquin College, TD, Carleton University, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Guelph.