Definition of Partnership in SDG 17 as Defined by the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goal 17 (SDG 17), "Partnerships for the Goals," is defined by the United Nations as a call for revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development through strengthened cooperation among governments, civil society, the private sector, the UN system, and other stakeholders. This partnership model emphasizes inclusivity, equality, and fairness in cross-sector and cross-country collaborations, with the goal of mobilizing and sharing knowledge, technology, expertise, and financial resources to support the achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Partnerships under SDG 17 are not limited to any one sector or region but are multidimensional, aiming for universal progress in sustainable development so that "no one is left behind". The partnerships must be nonhegemonic, collaborative, and based on mutual accountability and respect, connecting efforts at the local, national, regional, and global levels.
Countries with the Most Significant Lack of Partnerships
The countries experiencing the most significant lack of effective partnerships for the goals are primarily the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states. Many of these are located in Sub-Saharan Africa and include regions that face compounded structural challenges such as limited institutional capacity, high debt burdens, and economic instability. These countries often struggle to attract or sustain international cooperation, resources, and knowledge-sharing networks that are crucial to address complex development challenges.
Effects of Lack of Partnerships on the Environment and Lives of People
A lack of effective partnerships impedes countries from mobilizing critical financial, technological, and human resources needed to advance sustainable development, resulting in significant negative consequences for both the environment and people’s livelihoods. Environmentally, these gaps manifest as reduced access to clean technologies, poor infrastructure for sustainable resource management, and limited resilience to the impacts of climate change. For example, without the transfer and implementation of environmentally sound technologies, communities may exacerbate land degradation, air and water pollution, and deforestation, which in turn undermines food security, biodiversity, and disaster resilience.
For communities, the consequences are stark—limited partnerships lead to greater poverty, reduced access to healthcare and education, and persistent inequality. Many people are unable to obtain adequate nutrition, clean water, or reliable energy supplies, making them highly vulnerable to environmental shocks and economic downturns. The absence of collaborative problem-solving mechanisms also means that local innovations and knowledge are often disconnected from global best practices, further entrenching cycles of deprivation and exclusion.
Suffering and Survival Strategies Amidst Negative Impacts
Communities in countries lacking robust partnerships suffer from a range of hardships, including food insecurity, poor health outcomes, limited educational opportunities, and diminished economic prospects. Many survive by relying on community resilience, informal support networks, and limited humanitarian assistance from NGOs and international agencies. However, these mechanisms are often insufficient to redress the large-scale systemic challenges that arise in the absence of global support and investment.
People may migrate internally or internationally in search of better opportunities, engage in informal economic activities, or resort to environmentally unsustainable practices out of necessity, such as overexploiting local natural resources for survival. This cycle not only perpetuates inequality but can also create new environmental pressures and social tensions.
Other Pressing Matters Facing These Countries
In addition to partnership deficits, these countries confront a host of intersecting challenges:
Economic Disparities and Poverty: High rates of poverty and income inequality, exacerbated by the absence of financing for development and investment in job creation.
Health and Education Constraints: Limited access to basic healthcare, clean water, and education, which undermines human capital development and hinders long-term progress.
Infrastructure and Technological Gaps: Poor infrastructure, limited digital connectivity, and low levels of technological adoption stymie economic entrepreneurship and public service delivery.
Climate Change and Environmental Degradation: Enhanced vulnerability to natural disasters, droughts, flooding, and loss of arable land due to climate-related changes.
Political Instability and Weak Governance: Fragile institutions, recurrent conflict or unrest, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and corruption further hamper the effective formation and execution of partnerships and development programs.
United Nations Institutions Active in Countries with the Most Significant Lack of Partnerships
The UN system maintains a diverse presence in countries most vulnerable to partnership shortfalls. Key institutions include:
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Focuses on poverty reduction, governance, and resilience-building
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Supports environmental protection, technology transfer, and capacity-building
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Provides protection, relief, and advocacy for displaced persons
World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Promotes economic stability, funding, and policy coherence
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Provides capacity-building and policy support for SDGs
UN Office for Partnerships Facilitates multi-stakeholder coalitions and partnership platforms
These institutions often operate collectively, bringing their mandates together in response to complex development challenges. They implement joint programs, offer technical expertise, facilitate resource mobilization, support capacity-building, and foster local-to-global connections between diverse actors.
How UN Institutions Support SDG 17 Targets in Vulnerable Countries
UN institutions assist countries in meeting SDG 17 targets through a range of strategies:
Resource Mobilization: Assisting countries in accessing international financing, official development assistance, and investment for major development priorities.
Technology Transfer and Innovation: Facilitating the development, transfer, and dissemination of sustainable technologies, especially for environmental protection and climate resilience.
Capacity Building: Developing public sector skills, creating supportive legal frameworks, and improving statistical systems for monitoring progress.
Policy Coherence and Governance: Supporting national strategies that align with global goals, enhancing multilateral policy coordination, and advancing institutional reform.
Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Building coalitions among governments, businesses, civil society, and academia to jointly execute sustainable development programs.
Data and Monitoring: Enhancing countries' abilities to gather, analyze, and use reliable data for evidence-based policymaking and accountability.
Targets of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
SDG 17 comprises nineteen specific targets that collectively address the diverse elements necessary for a revitalized partnership system. Selected key targets include:
17.1 Strengthen domestic resource mobilization and improve capacity for tax/revenue collection
17.2 Developed countries to fully implement ODA commitments (0.7%/GNI to developing, 0.15–0.2% to LDCs)
17.3 Mobilize additional financial resources from multiple sources for developing countries
17.4 Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability
17.5 Adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries
17.6 Enhance international cooperation on science, technology, and innovation
17.7 Promote development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies
17.8 Fully operationalize the technology bank and capacity-building for least developed countries
17.9 Enhance international support for effective capacity-building in developing countries
17.10 Promote a universal, rules-based, and equitable multilateral trading system
17.16 Enhance global partnerships for sustainable development, sharing knowledge and resources
17.17 Encourage public, private, and civil society partnerships
17.18 Increase high-quality, timely, and reliable data for sustainable development
17.19 Develop measures of sustainable development that go beyond GDP and grow statistical capacity
Together, these targets form the foundation for the UN’s approach to enabling collaboration, fostering mutual learning, mobilizing resources, and enhancing policy coherence—factors essential for the achievement of sustainable development worldwide.
Through multi-stakeholder engagement, financial and technological assistance, and institutional capacity-building, global partnerships under SDG 17 aspire to bridge divides, promote inclusivity, and ensure that sustainable development is a shared and universally achievable goal.
