How to secure partnerships for action on the SDGs

GRI and Enel announce three regional engagement events

How is COVID-19 impacting on efforts by companies and stakeholders to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? And how can a sustainable and inclusive recovery phase to the pandemic mobilize the partnerships and transparency needed to achieve these Global Goals?

These key questions will be explored through phase two of a project commenced by GRI in partnership with integrated global power company Enel in 2019. The two organizations have today launched a survey, to gather feedback from different stakeholders on their SDGs actions and partnerships, in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

The findings of this survey will be shared and discussed through three public regional events, which will take place virtually and are open to businesses, policymakers, NGOs and other stakeholders:

1. Europe: 30 October, 15:30 CET

2. Latin America: 30 October, 09:00 COT 

3. Africa: 5 November, 11:00 CAT

Asthildur Hjaltadottir, GRI Chief Regional Officer, said:

“The pandemic has created a hugely challenging operating environments for companies around the world. Yet the need to work together and take a longer-term view perspective, particularly when it comes to maintaining corporate progress in support of the SDGs, is more crucial than ever.

As we begin to plan for a recovery phase, policymakers, businesses and other stakeholders need to ensure sustainable development is at the forefront of these efforts. The contribution of the private sector cannot be overlooked, with greater collaboration needed to scale up the progress towards achieving the SDGs.

This GRI and Enel project seeks to bring renewed clarity on the role of transparency and partnerships in accelerating implementation of the SDGs. We encourage people around the world to participate in these regional events, ahead of a high-level summit later this year when insights and recommendations will be delivered.”

Marina Migliorato, Head of Enel Sustainability Stakeholders Engagement, said:

“The COVID-19 crisis has changed our lives but was also a great opportunity to speed and readdress Enel / GRI collaboration on this ambitious project.

The world today is calling more and more for innovative partnerships, to tackle the challenges of the post-pandemic period and ensure the effective implementation of the SDGs, worldwide.

This project shows the crucial role played by the new ‘disruptive’ partnerships – at a global and regional level – to understand and overcome the social and economic needs in a time of crisis, when transparency, inclusion and innovation meet together.”

The regional events follow on from phase one of the Driving Corporate Action Towards Accomplishing the SDGs project, which (in late 2019) involved online collaboration forums, delivered by GRI and Enel and hosted by GlobeScan. These explored the role of reporting and partnerships in enabling the private sector to contribute to the SDGs.

Two reports were produced – Establishing the state of play and Scoping the vision. Phase two builds on this work, taking in to account the changed circumstances of the pandemic.