This document discusses mapping interactions between the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals using a seven-point scale to assess the relationships between targets. It describes analyzing first and second-order interactions to take a systems perspective and identify the most influential targets. The approach is meant to guide coherent policymaking and actions by understanding interlinkages, enabling integrated decision making, policy learning and alignment, and cross-sectoral coordination to find synergistic solutions. An example pilot study involving stakeholders in Sri Lanka is provided.

1. Annie Sturesson, research fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute
Mapping interactions between
Sustainable Development Goals

3. Seven-point scale for interactions
Context matters!
- Geography
- Governance
- Technology
- Current state of progress on
SDGs
Source: Nilsson et al 2016

5. First-order interactions

6. Source: SEI (2017)
Second-order interactions

7. Systems perspective (combining first- and
second- order interactions)
Source: Weitz et al. (forthcoming)

8. Source: Weitz et al (forthcoming)
Identifying the most influential targets

9. • Identify “accelerator interventions” and critical clashes
• Identify resource effective options
• Overcoming data constraints by combining qualitative and
quantitative data
• Inducing interagency policy dialogue and partnerships
• Guidance for coherent policies and actions
How is the approach useful for policy-makers?

10. UNDERSTANDING
INTERLINKAGES
Integrated decision making
– a policy-analytical perspective
Policy learning and
alignment
Cross-sectoral
coordination
Synergistic
solutions
INTEGRATED
POLICY MAKING
COHERENT POLICIES AND
ACTIONS
Implementation

11. Sri Lanka pilot study
- government-led multi-stakeholder process
Interagency working group, local researchers, SEI, UNDP
- three national workshops
1) selecting targets
2) scoring target interactions
3) discussing the results and policy implications
- a joint learning exercise
Regional workshop for interested governments
Guidelines for future expansion of the ‘tool’/approach