The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a monumental global endeavour that has one major goal- to leave no one behind. In their initiative to build a better world for all, these goals have provided a vision of a unified effort towards progress across a spectrum of issues. While the goals have sparked engagement across a spectrum of stakeholders, it is becoming increasingly important to develop partnerships towards achieving these goals. While mainstream development actors such as governments, international organizations, and global aid agencies have largely been the focus for the SDGs initiatives, it is important not to overlook smaller and local actors in the process of implementation and tracking of the goals and their targets.
Often among the overlooked are community foundations, organizations that are rooted in the communities and focus on locally-led institutions. Community foundations act as critical leaders and drivers of change in their communities and provide a unique opportunity to provide governments and donors with insights into the contexts in which they operate. A recent report, entitled “Local Leadership: Global Impact” from the Council of Foundations argues for the inclusion and recognition of community foundations as a necessary component for achieving the SDGs.
Community foundations are growing in their impact and financial strength but they have largely been untapped as a source of potential according to the report. Most importantly the report makes an engaging case for educating community foundations on the SDGs, for creating an inclusive environment for community foundations to which to participate, and for making them key collaborators in pursuit of the goals. They compellingly argue that without grassroots initiatives, the SDGs and other endeavours to solve global issues would be impossible to achieve.
This report provides an introductory outline to the 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals, the context for the inclusion of community foundations, and provides case studies on the effects of community foundations as partners towards these goals. Additionally, the report provides a brief set of measurable and actionable steps that can act as an introductory guide for community foundations and place-based grassroots groups to engage with the SDGs.
The report advocates strongly for innovation and collaboration towards achieving the SDGs through engagement with community foundations. Mainstream development participants can find advantages towards achieving the goals through relationship development with community foundations and foundations themselves can utilize the goals as a standard and guide for local engagement within the global movement. Increased partnership has the opportunity to unlock new streams for funding, and improved quality of life for people worldwide, ensuring that nobody is left behind.
The report was originally published here.
