Knowledge in Action Bridging Policy and Practice through Scientific Research for Sdg Localization

Currently, according to UNESCO, around 250 million students are enrolled in universities worldwide, marking a meaningful increase from 100 million in 2000. A significant number of these students come from Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. While the importance of higher education and scientific research is recognized worldwide, the knowledge generated by universities is not sufficiently valued in policy-making. As we strive to achieve the goals set for 2030, we still face challenges in engaging actively academic knowledge and the potential of the most qualified young researchers to make policies that lead to sustainable and resilient development.

To fill this gap, the Knowledge and Scientific Network (KSN) has been developed as a key initiative anchored to the Local2030 Coalition, the UN system-wide platform and network aimed at supporting and accelerating the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) The KSN objective is to close the gap between university knowledge and real-world policy-making by integrating insights from academia with the practical needs of decision makers. The KSN reaches across the world, involving various continents and fields of study, with a specific focus on interventions in two pilot countries, Jordan and Tunisia. This network doesn't just store information but actively works to bring research-based ideas from local contexts to the big picture of global policy dialogues.

At the core of the KSN's mission is to engage a wide array of researchers. These researchers, especially young people from Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, join forces in global and regional networks to bring new ideas and relevant solutions into policy-making. The KSN supports these efforts with many activities, such as setting up academic training CV on SDG Localization in Jordan and Tunisia and leading research labs that help turn academic discussions into actual policy ideas and concrete proposals to orient strategies.

The upcoming event will provide an opportunity for local and national policymakers, people from around the world, and a lively group of PhD students to discuss the requirements for research and policy to effectively make SDGs a reality locally. It will serve as a platform where academic ideas converge with real policies. By addressing these topics on an international level, the event aims to blend academic theories, policies, and real-world actions. This meeting is not just a conversation, but an attempt to push for local action based on global knowledge.

This event is meant to be a significant momentum for everyone involved; it marks the beginning of a new approach to policy-making that understands local issues while aiming for the SDGs, involving clusters of PhD students. It is about planning for a sustainable future, guided by global objectives but nurtured by local understanding.