The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) South Africa was officially launched on 2 March 2022 at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Campus. Hosted by the Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute at UP, the SDSN South Africa Network is chaired by Professor Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria. He joined Dr Thandi Mgwebi who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University, Prof Peter Lennie who is the executive director of the Worldwide Universities Network, and Mr Lawrence Matemba who is the acting head of Policy and Research Services for the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa, in a panel discussion about SDSN South Africa.

The launch, which was opened by Ms Elma Akob, brought together academics, members of the private sector, and government to discuss the intentions of SDSN South Africa and its commitment to the SDSN mandate towards the realisation of the SDGs and the Agenda2030. The SDSN was set up in 2012 as a global network aimed at mobilizing global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development. Working with civil society, business and government, the SDSN brings together leaders from across the world to do research, provide impactful steps and solutions to policymakers, and monitor progress on the SDGs. SDSN South Africa will play an important role in helping to realise the SDGs through education, awareness, engagement, and solutions.

The keynote speaker of the launch, Professor Labode Popoola who chairs SDSN Nigeria, stated that Nigeria and South Africa, and the continent, share similar problems and similar development opportunities. Challenges such as poverty, hunger, and gender inequality continue to plague Africa and the rest of the world and have been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is therefore critical that the SDGs are placed at the forefront of research and policy development to overcome these challenges. Prof Popoola argues that the task that each country faces is an immense one, and collaboration is key in “developing the capacity of the various stakeholders in understanding what the SDGs are about and how they can be achieved”. The SDSN provides universities together with other sectors, the opportunity for collaboration and partnerships.

These sentiments were echoed by Prof Kupe and the panellists. SDSN South Africa has a mammoth task ahead, but the launch event showcased the value of networks, specifically university networks in providing solutions to these challenges. Dr Mgewbi argues that research can only make a positive impact when all stakeholders both advocate and work towards the changes needed to make an impact. Networks help create diversity, provide opportunities for sharing of resources and solutions, but networks can only be successful when partnerships work towards common goals. Stakeholders have the opportunity to engage with the problems more deeply and make a positive impact. Translating the research and work done by networks into policy and society is more complicated, however, Mr Matemba argues that President Cyril Ramaphosa and his administration is prioritising fact-based decision-making, and he has faith that the engagement and partnership between policymakers and research networks are growing and will lead to decisions based on quality research.

The launch of SDSN South Africa comes at a time when the world is facing some of the biggest challenges towards achieving the SDGs, but, as Dr Heide Hackmann, Interim Director of Future Africa, states, “the role of science, and science diplomacy, is more critical than ever before” and networks such as the SDSN South Africa has the potential to make a real, positive impact on society in an effort to achieve the SDGs.

Watch the full launch of SDSN South Africa here.