Workshop: Linking evidence with policy for SDGS
Linking evidence with policy to achieve the SDGs: The Social Systems Evidence platform
September 24, 2019, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
On the margins of the International Conference on Sustainable Development in New York, SDSN AusNZPac and SDSN Canada co-hosted a workshop to discuss a new initiative that aims to bring the best available research evidence on what works to address the SDGs to policy and decision makers.
Social Systems Evidence (SSE) aims to be the largest centralized database of research reviews, economic evaluations, and policy briefs pertaining to the SDGs. It is an initiative of SDSN members, the Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI) in Australia, and the McMaster Health Forum in Canada.
The workshop brought together knowledge creators and users from SDSN, the policymaking space, and other stakeholder groups to discuss how to best harness SSE to achieve the SDGs.
The workshop was opened by Professor Jean Andrey, Chair of SDSN Canada, and Professor John Thwaites, Chair of SDSN Australia, New Zealand & Pacific. The Chairs provided context for the workshop by explaining the relevance of Social Systems Evidence to the SDSN, as a network of knowledge creators that works closely with the policy community.
Introducing the Social Systems Evidence platform, Professor John Lavis, the Director of the McMaster Health Forum, explained its aims and functionality, its origins from the highly successful Health Systems Evidence platform, and how it is already being used to support policy processes in a range of countries.
Following this, Professor Lavis and Associate Professor Peter Bragge, Lead of the Monash-McMaster Social Systems Evidence Collaboration at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, facilitated an interactive discussion with the participants on the opportunities for using the platform to both fill gaps in research and to support policy makers.
The Social Systems Evidence team recorded the many useful suggestions made by the participants, and looks forward to connecting with them on next steps.
For inquiries, please contact info@ap-unsdsn.org.
In collaboration with:
