According to the UN, a successful sustainable agenda requires partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society. At McMaster, our partnerships have been instrumental in achieving societal impact.

As the SDGs are designed to be implemented at a national level, our researchers have found it beneficial to engage and partner with the institutions, policymakers, and NGOs responsible for delivering on the goals. These are the stakeholders that have consultative status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the unifying platform for action on sustainable development.

Connecting with ECOSOC can benefit researchers by tapping into a network of policymakers, parliamentarians, academics, foundations, businesses, youth and 3,200+ registered non-governmental organizations.

Since complex challenges require a multi-faceted approach, our researchers are active in collaborative networks locally, nationally, and globally that bring innovators and policymakers together to forge solutions with real impact. Examples include the Dofasco Centre for Engineering and Public Policy, the Centre for Climate Change, the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, and the Global Water Futures Program.