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SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

By actively fostering partnerships and collaborations at the local, national and global levels, ³Ô¹ÏÍø demonstrates its commitment to SDG 17. These partnerships are instrumental in addressing complex global challenges and working toward a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Highlights of Progress

The work that ³Ô¹ÏÍø completed in 2024 to advance SDG 17.

³Ô¹ÏÍø honoured for sustainability education at QS Reimagine Education Awards

³Ô¹ÏÍø won gold at the 2024 QS Reimagine Education Awards, chosen as the top submission from Canada and the U.S. across all 18 categories. ³Ô¹ÏÍø was recognized for providing impactful experiential learning opportunities as part of its long-time research partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), which sees students work alongside community partners to tackle the effects of climate change on northern ecosystems and well-being.

³Ô¹ÏÍø professor Alison Blay-Palmer leading UN panel of experts creating resilient food systems report

Alison Blay-Palmer, the UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, has been selected to lead the drafting committee for the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN) of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). The panel will present a report on building resilient food systems at the 53rd plenary session of the CFS in October 2025.

³Ô¹ÏÍø researchers collaborate with partners to develop AI chatbot to help principals support students with complex needs

Together with educators, regional innovation laboratories and principals’ associations, a team of researchers from ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Faculty of Education is using generative AI to develop a chatbot that supports principals in their decision-making. PrincipalBot provides quick access to important information, such as school board policies, human rights legislation and community resources, that principals can call upon when needed.

Inspired by ³Ô¹ÏÍø research, City of Brantford adopts new strategies to address homelessness and youth engagement

While attending ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Brantford Community Safety Search Conference in November 2023, Dave Wiedrick was struck by a statistic shared by ³Ô¹ÏÍø researcher Tarah Hodgkinson. In her assessment of Brantford police activity, Hodgkinson found that 85 per cent of police calls were not related to crime. Most calls were reporting social disorder, such as mental health crises, largely made visible and exacerbated by homelessness.

Before joining the City of Brantford as director of bylaw compliance and security, Wiedrick spent many years working as a police officer. Hodgkinson’s data confirmed what he had long suspected: there must be a better way to address social disorder than by using valuable police resources, and perhaps helping people off the street was the first step. Wiedrick brainstormed ideas with community stakeholders at the conference, including social workers and downtown business owners, and left inspired to make a change.

³Ô¹ÏÍø faculty member Ciann Wilson awarded Canada Research Chair and Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity

Ciann Wilson, an associate professor of Psychology at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, has been named the Canada Research Chair in Community-Based Research, Ethics and Well-being in recognition of her impactful research with and alongside equity-deserving communities. The Canada Research Chair Program is also honouring Wilson with its prestigious Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity.

Research Centres

³Ô¹ÏÍø research centres advancing SDG 17.

Tshepo Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa

The is a university-wide research centre with active members across multiple faculties involved in Afrocentric research projects. TISCA’s vision is to provide scholars specializing in Africa with a platform and voice to produce and share timely interdisciplinary knowledge and discourse about issues affecting contemporary Continental Africa and its diaspora. TISCA’s mission is to promote global awareness and excellence in knowledge development on issues in contemporary Africa and the African diaspora in Canada and beyond.

International Migration Research Centre

The  (IMRC) serves as a node of excellence in scholarship and research, social and cultural debate, and policy formulation pertaining to international migration. The IMRC's mission is to create platforms for debate, research, policy analysis, community engagement and proposal development related to international migration and mobility at global, national, regional and local scales.

Centre for Research on Security Practices

The United Nations Development Program provides a framework for defining “human security” as a freedom from fear, want, poverty and despair, and the work of the (CRSP) both engages and extends this definition. The centre does so by thinking through global and state-level practices of security and securitization that uphold structural forms of power and which, somewhat paradoxically, leave particular populations vulnerable. CRSP takes this tension as the heart of its work and the place through which a more fulsome and productive notion of security may be generated.

³Ô¹ÏÍø Institute for Water Science

The  is a multidisciplinary, collaborative undertaking among research faculty in the Faculty of Arts, the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Science. The focus of the institute is on research in three interconnected water-related disciplines:

  • Hydrological sciences: This includes physical, chemical and biogeochemical aspects of hydrology, climatology and hydrogeology.
  • Ecology and biogeochemical sciences: This includes toxicology, geochemistry, terrestrial and aquatic ecology.
  • Public policy and management: Related issues include policy, economic, governance and legal aspects of water across Canada and internationally.

The Cold Regions Research Centre

The was established in 1987. Initially focused on arctic and mountain glaciology and hydrology, the scope has broadened to cold regions (mountain and northern) research consulting on topics such as hydrology, climatology, glaciology, resource management, parks planning and biogeochemistry.

The ³Ô¹ÏÍø Centre for Sustainable Food Systems

The (LCSFS) connects researchers and community partners engaged in sustainable food systems change. It creates opportunities for citizens, practitioners, policy-makers, private enterprise and academics to work together to imagine and foster food systems that are fair, healthy, ecologically regenerative, culturally appropriate, prosperous and inclusive. Using food as a lever for positive change, the LCSFS enables meaningful collaboration among people across institutions, sectors and disciplines to support community-driven research, innovative knowledge sharing, and the development of community resources and sustainable food system policy.

Co-operators Centre for Business and Sustainability

The facilitates and coordinates research related to business and environmental sustainability. The centre ensures regular communication between researchers and practitioners, including strategic decision-makers in the local sustainability community. Located in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, the centre hosts seminars, conferences and roundtables to discuss relevant topics aligned with practitioner needs and assists in disseminating research findings in a timely fashion to those who can use them.

Viessmann Centre for Engagement and Research in Sustainability

The (VERiS) is an interdisciplinary and community-engaged research centre striving to be a catalyst and nexus for the transition toward strong cultures of sustainability. The centre understands cultures of sustainability “as characterized by shared values, symbols, rituals and practices grounded in sustainability principles leading to individual and societal choices that promote environmental protection, social justice and well-being, and a supportive economy." A culture of sustainability may exist within an organization, a building with multiple organizations or a community.

³Ô¹ÏÍø Centre for the Study of Canada

The (LCSC) focuses on the interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and comparative study of the Canadian experience. LCSC has three objectives:

  • Facilitate and support original research on Canada;
  • Mobilize and disseminate knowledge to both scholarly and general audiences through community engaged outreach programs; and
  • Provide high-quality experiential learning and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.

In pursuit of this mission, LCSC recognizes there are expansive, evolving, and contested interpretations of Canada.

The Centre for Leading Research in Education

The  brings together ³Ô¹ÏÍø faculty, staff and students, as well as researchers and partners from external community organizations with backgrounds in education, psychology, kinesiology, music, health studies, biology, languages and literatures, history, social work, youth and children’s studies, global studies and more. The centre aspires to support research and research-related activities in education. A salient feature of CLRiE is its focus on interdisciplinarity, encouraging the development of thoughtful, balanced and creative approaches to educational research in a changing world.

Manulife Centre for Community Health Research

The is an interdisciplinary community development and research centre guided by multiple social determinants of health. The centre acts as an incubator for students committed to community-based scholarship and development in the field of health and well-being. The centre welcomes master’s and PhD students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, from a variety of academic disciplines to work within any of its communities of practice. Research priorities include women and gender, global health and development, Francophone issues, Indigenous health and wellness, environmental issues, community economic development and social innovation.

³Ô¹ÏÍø Centre for Community Research, Learning and Action

The is an interdisciplinary research centre located in ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Faculty of Science. The centre's work is focused on developing community partnerships and producing research, learning and action that advances community well-being and social justice. CCRLA facilitates community-based research by brokering linkages between community partners and ³Ô¹ÏÍø student and faculty researchers. CCRLA provides an activity centre for social policy development and community action. The defining feature of the centre is its commitment to collaborative processes between university, community, industry and policy partners that honour the unique wisdom and skills of the non-academic community.

³Ô¹ÏÍø Centre for Women in Science

Launched in 2012, the (WinS) is proud to champion women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The centre is building an inclusive scientific community through research, action and communication. Its ultimate goal is to make the centre redundant.

³Ô¹ÏÍø Centre for Music in the Community

The (LCMC) was formed with a mission of connecting ³Ô¹ÏÍø to the wider Waterloo Region community through musical activities, community research and collaboration. The LCMC lives out this mission through research, symposia, publishing, projects, partnerships and concerts. Using music as a conduit, it works to connect community, collaborate with music-makers, and contribute to the vitality of music and people.

Initiatives

³Ô¹ÏÍø initiatives in 2023 that advanced SDG 17.

Cross-sectoral dialogue about SDGs

The university hosts a variety of conferences, panels and events that bring together individuals from a range of sectors to discuss the SDGs. Examples include:

Programming during 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

³Ô¹ÏÍø is committed to fostering a university culture where gender-based and sexual violence is not tolerated and survivors are believed and supported with compassion, dignity and respect. Between Nov. 25 and Dec. 10, ³Ô¹ÏÍø hosted programming in support of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign that calls for action against harmful acts directed at individuals based on their gender and challenges gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. Gender-based violence disproportionately impacts women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender and non-binary people, but men can also be impacted. Events included:

  • Bystander Intervention to Stop Hate-Based Harassment: Hate-based violence is on the rise and individuals may experience aggression in many forms. In this workshop, participants explored the “5Ds” of bystander intervention methodology — direct, distract, delay, delegate, document — and the “Spectrum of Disrespect.” The positive impacts of bystander intervention were covered, in addition to ways to prioritize personal safety while responding to hate-based harassment online or in person. The workshop was facilitated by the non-profit organization Right to Be and co-hosted by Consent is Golden, members of ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s sexual violence response staff and the Centre for Student Equity Diversity and Inclusion.
  • Supporting 2SLGBTQQIA+ Survivors: Forms of homophobia, transphobia and cissexism are often connected to gendered and sexual violence, yet 2SLGBTQQIA+ voices are often silenced in these conversations. This workshop helped participants learn to support individuals who have experienced marginalization due to their sexual or gender identity. The workshop was a part of ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Sexual Violence Response Certificate. Students who attend five of 10 workshops offered will obtain the Sexual Violence Response Certificate for their ³Ô¹ÏÍø Experience Record.
  • Pieces for Peace: To recognize the end of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and Human Rights Day 2024 ³Ô¹ÏÍø's Hub for Community Solutions and the City of  co-hosted Pieces for Peace.   The Pieces for Peace event featured local storytellers from diverse perspective and communities. These stories are intended to help create a deeper understanding of individual and cultural experiences. Two Brantfordtwo panel speaking events were hosted.   
    • Event 1 Speakers:       
      • Carrie Sinkowski, Community Developer, Community Legal Clinic- Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk       
      • Tariq Ismati, Senior Director Newcomer and Employment Services, Wesley     
      • Dr. Stacey Hannem, Professor, ³Ô¹ÏÍø in the Department of Criminology  
    • Event 2 Speakers:
      • Prof. Christina Han, Director, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Hub for Community Solutions       
      • Elizabeth “Betts” Doxtater, Cornhusk artist and author
      • Maichina Veri, Writer and community organizer
  • Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil: November 20th marks the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. The vigil honoured trans lives lost of violence and discrimination and was co-hosted by ³Ô¹ÏÍø's Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Queer Sphere.

International Women’s Day luncheon tackled housing solutions for a better future

Properly  addressing Canada’s housing crisis requires holistic, community-centered solutions and engagement from all levels of government. That was the message a cross-sector panel of ³Ô¹ÏÍø women shared with over 100 attendees during the seventh annual International Women’s Day luncheon, hosted by the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni Association and International Women’s Forum Waterloo Chapter.

People Make History, a Lecture Series

Each year the history program hosts a speaker series, People Make History, that invites individuals who participated in or witnessed historic events to meet with students. As storytellers they bring history alive by sharing their knowledge of the past and their role in shaping history. The main event will be a public lecture, followed by opportunities for ³Ô¹ÏÍø students to network with the speaker.  The 2024 lecture features  award-winning journalist and CBC's Washing D.C. Correspondent, Richard Madan.

Growing a Just Food System: Migrant Labour in Canada

Joined by activist, writer, and former migrant farm worker Gabriel Allahdua, as well as Drs. Janet McLaughlin and Jenna Hennebry, the took a close look at the role of migrant labour program reform in building just and sustainable food systems within Canada. Speakers shared their diverse experiences with the current food system and the people who grow our food, and importantly, how the existing agricultural system impacts their health and wellbeing.

MarketFest: In Peace & Friendship

In fall 2024, ³Ô¹ÏÍø hosted MarketFest, a two-day event that celebrates contemporary Indigenous artists, artisans, performers, thinkers and makers. MarketFest shared and celebrated the longstanding connection of Indigenous peoples to our community. Featuring an Indigenous marketplace curated by ³Ô¹ÏÍø alumna Alanah Jewell of Morningstar Designs, the event was open to ³Ô¹ÏÍø students, staff, faculty and alumni, as well as the broader community, and aligned with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The event included a number of cross-sectoral discussions.

International collaboration on gathering or measuring data to advance the SDGs

³Ô¹ÏÍø maintains strategic alliances with global institutions to advance the SDGs. By engaging in international partnerships, ³Ô¹ÏÍø not only enhances its academic and research capabilities but also contributes significantly to global efforts to build a more sustainable and equitable world. Examples of our international collaborations focused on gathering data to advance the SDGs include:

  • ³Ô¹ÏÍø is are a member of the , a global movement to build a network of universities, colleges and knowledge institutions to promote practical solutions for sustainable development. SDSN members work together to support action-oriented research to address some of the world’s most pressing problems, including the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement.
  • ³Ô¹ÏÍø is one of four Canadian university partners leading (GWF), the largest and most-cited freshwater research program in the world. The program aims to manage water futures in Canada and other cold regions where global warming is changing landscapes, ecosystems and the water environment. GWF is closely linked to a number of institutions, organizations and programs around the world including the International Network for Alpine Research Catchment Hydrology, World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, United Nations International Water Action Decade: Water for Sustainable Development, 2018–2028, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Third Pole Environment Program and the Future Earth Sustainable Water Futures Programme. Together these organization are collecting data to advance sustainable water futures globally.
  • One of the critical challenges facing Africa is how to harness the potential of internal and international migration in the interests of development. Led by ³Ô¹ÏÍø Professor , the (SAMP) is an international network of organizations founded in 1996 to promote awareness of migration-development linkages in the Southern African Development Community. SAMP collects data on migration and development issues, provides policy advice and expertise, offers training in migration policy and management, and conducts public education campaigns on migration-related issues.
  • The (HCP) is an which focuses on the relationships between rapid urbanization, urban food systems and migration in the Global South. The HCP conducts collaborative research, training and advocacy with the objective of providing innovative solutions to the challenge of building sustainable cities and policies, and programs that promote food security in migrant origin and destination communities and corridors.
  • The project uncovers how xenophobia and racism are challenged within local communities in Europe. With a , researchers are collecting data and seeking to understand how newcomers and locals come together and create new, shared living experiences.
  • ³Ô¹ÏÍø participates in the (ABoVE), a NASA Terrestrial Ecology Program field campaign in Alaska and Western Canada. ABoVE is a large-scale international study of environmental change and its implications for social-ecological systems. ABoVE’s science objectives are broadly focused on gaining a better understanding of the vulnerability and resilience of Arctic and boreal ecosystems to environmental change in western North America, and providing the scientific basis for informed decision-making to guide societal responses.
  • ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s  is a university-wide research centre with a global network of researchers conducting Afrocentric research projects. The institute's studies include collecting data on social work practises in Morocco, the experience of African youth entrepreneurs, education access and experiences of African refugees in Canada, and experiences of Saharan Africa migrants in Morocco and Mexico.

International collaboration and research to develop best practices for tackling the SDGs

³Ô¹ÏÍø is engaging in international collaborations to help develop and implement best practises for advancing the SDGs.

  • ³Ô¹ÏÍø is a committed member of , a global movement to build a network of universities, colleges and knowledge institutions to promote practical solutions for sustainable development. SDSN members work together to support action-oriented research to address some of the world’s most pressing problems, including the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement.
  • ³Ô¹ÏÍø is a , an designation that recognizes colleges and universities with a proven track record of campus-wide excellence for social innovation and changemaking. Through the network of Ashoka-designated campuses, ³Ô¹ÏÍø collaborates to advance and establish best practises for social innovation and changemaking across higher education.
  • ³Ô¹ÏÍø is a member of , a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. The network brings together students, volunteers, schools, governments and businesses to support youth-centered solutions for improved education, economic and empowerment opportunities to overcome inequality and exclusion in over 15 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas.
  • Led in Canada by the , ³Ô¹ÏÍø is a member of the prestigious , which promotes international inter-university cooperation in key priority areas for the agency and involves more than 781 institutions in 116 countries. The work of ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s supports the development of best practises associated with several SDGs and includes close collaboration with other UNESCO Chairs on relevant programs and activities.

Collaboration with NGOs to tackle the SDGs

³Ô¹ÏÍø collaborates with a number of NGOs to support the advancement of the SDGs. These include:

Student volunteering programs

  • is dedicated to fostering a community of compassion and action among students. Through partnerships with UNICEF Canada, the club organizes vibrant fundraising events designed to engage students in fun activities while supporting a charitable cause. These events not only raise funds for children in need but also serve as platforms to raise awareness about the pressing challenges faced by children worldwide. Additionally, the club emphasizes the importance of education in creating a better world for children and advocates for safe environments and human rights for all. By promoting special events centered on children's rights and encouraging active participation, the club aims to empower students to become advocates for positive change in their communities and beyond.
  • works together with Anatolia Canada to alleviate social issues by educating vulnerable teens in our communities the importance behind Financial Literacy, Mental Health, and Sustainability. With opportunities for students studying any major, the organization helps overcome community based issues by addressing the root causes. . 
  • ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s is a hands-on certificate program that provides students with the knowledge and practical skills to engage with community organizations dedicated to the betterment of society and to build skills to advance their careers. Students gain practical experience with a non-profit organization through 15 to 20 hours of volunteering during an academic term.
  • ³Ô¹ÏÍø is connected to many NGOs within our local community who are advancing the SDGs. Organizations in the Waterloo and Brantford communities welcome ³Ô¹ÏÍø students as volunteers and appreciate their contributions. Students have many opportunities to volunteer in the local community, both in person and virtually. These opportunities can be found in through ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s system.

Research programs

³Ô¹ÏÍø researchers collaborate with numerous NGOs. As one example, ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s (CCRLA) is an interdisciplinary research centre focused on developing community partnerships, including with NGOs, and producing research, learning and action that advances community well-being and social justice. CCRLA facilitates community-based research by brokering linkages between community partners and ³Ô¹ÏÍø students and faculty researchers. CCRLA provides an activity centre for community-focused and engaged research, social policy development and community action. The defining feature of the centre is its commitment to collaborative processes between university, community, industry and policy partners that honour the unique wisdom and skills of the non-academic community. CCRLA's community partners include Lutherwood, Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Sustainable Waterloo Region, Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada, and the David Suzuki Foundation.

Development of educational resources

As the regional health and wellness coordinator for Dehcho First Nations, located in the Northwest Territories, Kristen Tanche has sought to create culturally relevant resources to help inform local health care. She believes that wellness is inherently connected to language, culture, land, family and physical health, and that those values should be reflected in the health-care options available to the Dehcho Dene people.

To assist in her efforts, Tanche partnered with ³Ô¹ÏÍø Professor Melody Morton Ninomiya, the Canada Research Chair in Community-Driven Knowledge Mobilization and Pathways to Wellness. Her research team synthesized 20 years of reports, meeting summaries and other existing documents, and chronicled Dehcho Dene concepts and indicators of health and wellness. They highlighted six interconnected priorities for the Dehcho First Nations to achieve wellness and healing, including on-the-land activities, language revitalization, and a strong focus on Elders and youth.

Their overarching finding was that, historically, the Dehcho’s belief system is rooted in Dene Ahthít’e, which means the ongoing relationship between Dene and the land. Being “healthy” means returning the mind, body, spirit and emotion to balance in the natural environment. This has become increasingly difficult in the context of colonialism, as the Dene struggle to live in accordance with their values and principles while being able to participate in the mainstream economy.

Measuring sustainability literacy

As part of ³Ô¹ÏÍø's participation in the , ³Ô¹ÏÍø has developed a student Sustainability Literacy Assessment (SLA). Students are asked questions that pertain to campus involvement, sustainability expertise and understanding, and personal opinions. Example questions include:

  • What do the 4Rs of waste management stand for?
  • Over the past three decades, how has the level of income inequality changed between Canadians with the highest and lowest incomes?
  • Approximately how many people in developing countries still do not have access to improved sanitation services?

A representative sample for ³Ô¹ÏÍø's SLA is reached through distributing the survey to students registered in multiple courses at ³Ô¹ÏÍø with no relation to sustainability. The results are used to inform ³Ô¹ÏÍø's initiatives and programs in support of the SDGs.

Sustainability Courses

³Ô¹ÏÍø is committed to providing meaningful sustainability education to all its students. This is affirmed in Goal 9 of the Sustainability Action Plan. ³Ô¹ÏÍø offers 434 sustainability-focused and related courses spanning all departments and Faculties. This means that every student receiving a degree from the institution is required to receive sustainability education during their time at ³Ô¹ÏÍø.  Additionally, ³Ô¹ÏÍø offers a range of full degrees that advance one or more of the SDGS.  Examples include degrees in Applied Health Sciences, Politics, Archaeology, Environmental Sciences, Global Governance, Human Rights, Law and Society, Public Safety, Social Work, Women and Gender Studies, among many others. Sustainability courses can be taken as part of a degree requirement and/or as electives. Courses include: 

UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies
years ³Ô¹ÏÍø has maintained a research partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories
international universities collaborating on Hungry Cities Partnership

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