New book on SDGs calls for closer research-policy link

A government policy-maker needs to find a solution to a water sanitation problem. Simple, tap into the latest research. Problem solved. If only. A new book addresses the frequent disconnect between research producers and policy-makers – a disconnect in urgent need of a solution if the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are to be achieved.

In 2015, under what is now known as Agenda 2030, member countries of the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at ending poverty and promoting prosperity and well-being for all.

These SDGs cover social and economic development issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, environment and social justice. While the goals are broad – for example, Goal One is “End poverty in all its forms everywhere” – each comes with a separate list of achievable targets. Achieve all 169 and the goals will become reality.

Universities are key players in this global endeavour as they are the main producers of research with direct application to the successful implementation of SDGs. But success is dependent on that research being accessed and utilised by government policy-makers.

Informed policy-making

“Successful implementation means connecting policy-makers with evidence, leading to evidence-based and informed policy-making based on decent research,” said Willem Fourie, associate professor at the Albert Luthuli Centre for Responsible Leadership at the University of Pretoria and co-ordinator of the South African SDG Hub, which aims to unlock the potential of research and innovation for the implementation of the SDGs in Africa.

The SDG Hub is hosted by the University of Pretoria. “Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa and it’s where you find the policy-makers,” explained Fourie, so for the university to host the Hub was a logical choice.

“Linking policy-makers with research should be easy,” said Fourie, not without a hint of irony. “Both parties want to meet – both the researchers and the potential users of that research. Policy-makers are looking for research; there is no lack of will on either side.” But the connection doesn’t always happen. “It’s not a uniquely South African problem, we see this challenge all over the world.”

New publication

It is a challenge which provoked the recent publication by the SDG Hub of Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa – Challenges and opportunities, edited by Fourie.

While by no means total, the current disconnect between research providers and policy-makers has been thrown into dramatic relief by the advent of the SDGs. Hence the book.

“The aim of the book is to kick-start the conversation on the issue in South Africa,” said Fourie. This is an especially pertinent conversation given South Africa will be reporting to the United Nations for the first time next year on its progress towards realising the SDG targets.

Fourie is optimistic but he acknowledges that linking policy-makers with SDG-research evidence remains difficult. One factor affecting the uptake of research is the complexity of evidence.

“Researchers assume that peer-reviewed articles or book chapters are the only, or at least the most important, sources of evidence.” While rigorous research is one form of knowledge it’s not the only one: policy-makers also rely on practical experience and political knowledge. “Without combining these three forms of evidence, the successful formulation and implementation of a policy is unlikely, if not impossible.”

The human factor

Another factor is the human factor. It is the nature of government, certainly democratic government, that the policy-makers change. “They have personal relationships, networks and trust in particular people,” said Fourie. “That can all change overnight when they are replaced by a new person.”

The use of on-line and digital technologies has been predicted as a solution but so far their promise has proved elusive. According to Fourie, while they can be used to improve coordination between governments and SDG-relevant research they do not provide the total answer. “Our experience at the SDG Hub has shown that people want warm bodies; there is a need for face-to-face meeting, for the social dissemination of evidence. Technology cannot replace or replicate that.”

When coordinating research with the SDGs in mind it is necessary to avoid problems of duplication, of parallel structures operating in isolation, which is where a mediating platform like the SDG Hub comes in useful.

“South Africa already has existing research networks – you should utilise the capabilities of what you have,” said Fourie, pointing out that most of the work done at South African research entities is of direct relevance to the implementation of the SDGs; for example, that of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) and the National Research Foundation’s Centres of Excellence (DST-NRF CoEs).

While these entities were not created specifically for the SDGs, their work inevitably dovetails with their requirements. SARChI, established in 2006, has been successful in retaining and building research excellence and the nearly 200 SARChI chairs essentially cover all the SDGs, especially those dealing with good health and well-being, water and sanitation, education and economic growth.

The DST-NRF CoEs, launched in 2004, have created nodes of research excellence in which resources are pooled and they address SDGs such as zero hunger and affordable and clean energy.

Connecting the dots

Can the SDG Hub connect the dots? “We are seeing a positive reception of the Hub’s work, nationally and internationally,” said Fourie. “And the response from the UN Sustainable Indicator forum has been really positive.”

The real response is difficult to measure admits Fourie. “The number of site visits or document downloads doesn’t tell you that much. We need to sort out the metrics of measurement – not least for potential funders. At present we can cite current quality relationships, requests for information and downloads, but not much more.”

But the SDG Hub finds itself ideally situated in South Africa, a developing country on a developing continent but a country boasting first-class tertiary education and research institutions which place it at the cutting edge of sustainable development knowledge production. “Our best academics in South Africa are as good as the best in the world.”

Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa – Challenges and opportunities provides an overview of the work of the SDG Hub and a challenge of its own to the book’s target audience: government policy-makers, academia, those in the private sector and interested readers.

“The book is intended as a conversation catalyst,” said Fourie. “It doesn’t come up with answers; there are no recommendations.” The hope is these will be generated in the response to the book. “We are planning a follow-up publication.”

Fourie believes universities can play a huge role not only in knowledge production relevant to the Agenda 2030 SDGs but in presenting that research to policy-makers. “Universities provide neutral convening spaces with a lot of untapped expertise.”

Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa – Challenges and opportunities is available for free download at sasdghub.org.