Partners

The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement.

It aims to accelerate joint learning and promote integrated approaches that address the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world. SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society.

The organization and governance of SDSN aims to enable a large number of leaders from all regions and diverse backgrounds to participate in the development of the network. The SDSN Leadership Council brings together global sustainable development leaders from all regions drawn from civil society, public, and private sectors. It acts as the board of SDSN. Much of SDSN’s work is led by National or Regional SDSNs, which mobilize knowledge institutions around the SDGs. Several Thematic Networks mobilize experts from around the world on the technical challenges of implementing the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement. SDSN has a small secretariat with offices in New York, New Delhi, and Paris.

SDSN Mediterranean is the Regional hub for the Mediterranean of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), directed by Professor Jeffrey Sachs (Columbia University). UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commissioned the SDSNto mobilize academia, research institutes, civil society, and the private sector in pursuit of practical solutions for sustainable development. Although SDSN is not a UN agency per se, thus ensuring a high degree of independence from Member States, we are working closely with the UN and its agencies on the broadest scope of topics in the area of sustainable development globally.

SDSN Mediterranean is hosted by the University of Siena (Italy). Its activities include: (a) cooperation and joint research activities among Mediterranean countries, universities and businesses; (b) development of practical solutions to sustainability issues relevant to the future of the region; (c) elaboration of SDG indicators for the Mediterranean area; (d) promotion of networking activities among research centers; and (e) diffusion of SDG-Academy education tools in the Mediterranean, and Euro-Mediterranean joint programming in the context of EU planning activities.

The Europe Direct Information Centre (EDIC Siena) is a European project hosted by the Public Relations Office of the University of Siena. It works to educate the public and disseminate knowledge about European Union issues, and it is a network of over 450 Europe Direct centres (ED) coordinated by the European Commission. In Tuscany, Europe Direct centres can be found in Siena, Florence and Livorno. Siena will be a Europe Direct centre until 2020.

The Europe Direct Information Centre of Siena seeks to disseminate information related to EU policies and programs, as well as EU funding opportunities. It interacts with local governments, practitioners, businesses, professional orders, civil society organizations, academia and individual citizens. It organises, in collaboration with other territorial institutions, a series of initiatives and events aimed at promoting public debate on EU issues.