Integrated Policy Design for Achieving the SDGs

Executive Summary

This course is designed to strengthen participants’ capabilities in formulating integrated public policies that align with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

It introduces practical tools for linking national development strategies with the SDGs, ensuring coherence across economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

The training features real-world applications, planning models, and monitoring mechanisms to help transform global commitments into actionable, measurable policies.

Introduction

The SDGs present a transformative vision for sustainable and inclusive development, but achieving them requires coherent policies that address interlinked challenges.

This course equips policymakers and planners with a structured approach to design integrated public policies that reflect national priorities while adhering to global standards.

The training focuses on intersectoral coordination, data-driven planning, and inclusive governance frameworks.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the intersection between public policy and the SDG framework
  • Apply key principles of integrated policy design
  • Align national priorities with SDG targets and indicators
  • Use tools to analyze interlinkages across sectors and goals
  • Develop policy matrices that balance economic, social, and environmental impacts
  • Create results-based monitoring and evaluation systems
  • Promote institutional coordination and multi-level governance for SDG implementation

Target Audience

  • Officials from ministries of planning, economy, environment, and local development
  • National SDG implementation and monitoring teams
  • Policy advisors and development consultants
  • Researchers in public policy and sustainable development
  • Representatives from civil society and international organizations

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Public Policy and the SDGs

• Key concepts of public policy formulation

• Overview of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs

• Linkages between sustainable development and policy planning

• Characteristics of integrated, inclusive policymaking

• Global case studies and good practices

Day 2: Policy Alignment with the SDGs

• Mapping national strategies against SDG targets

• Linking government programs with global indicators

• Tools for gap analysis and sectoral diagnostics

• Prioritizing policy interventions by sector and region

• Localizing the SDGs: the role of municipalities and communities

Day 3: Designing Integrated Public Policies

• Analyzing interlinkages across economic, social, and environmental goals

• Building policy matrices and coherence models

• Designing cross-cutting policy interventions

• Integrating equity, inclusion, and vulnerable groups

• International approaches to integrated policy design

Day 4: Institutional Coordination and Implementation

• Multi-level governance models for policy execution

• Strengthening inter-agency collaboration and coherence

• SDG-sensitive budgeting and resource planning

• Institutional capacity building for sustainable delivery

• Overcoming common implementation challenges

Day 5: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Policy Review

• SDG indicators: national and international frameworks

• Results-based monitoring and evaluation tools

• Tracking progress and reporting policy impact

• Using data modeling to inform future decisions

• Group case study: design and review of an integrated SDG-aligned policy

Conclusion

This course provides a comprehensive approach to designing integrated public policies that accelerate national progress toward the SDGs.

Participants will gain the skills to promote coherent governance, data-driven planning, and measurable results that contribute to inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development.

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