Countdown 2030

The Global Goals Need Civil Society

With just four years left until 2030, time is running out to make progress towards the goals of the 2030 Agenda.

Civil society actors play a vital role in strengthening and shaping discussions on sustainable development at the multilateral level. Together with our partners in Brazil (ABONG), India (VANI) and Ethiopia (CCRDA), we strengthen civil society cooperation, develop common positions and bring civil society perspectives into multilateral processes. This work is particularly important considering current geopolitical tensions.

Key multilateral processes that VENRO and its partners engage with and help shape include:

1. The 2027 SDG Summit in New York

2. Negotiations on the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation

3. The UN Climate Change Conference (COP32) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2027

Our Key Topics

Our work focuses on issues that contribute to reducing global social inequality and implementing the 2030 Agenda:

• The 2030 Agenda and its future

• Equitable international financing for sustainable development

• Sustainable food systems

• Climate justice and a just transition

• Cooperation with the private sector and the role of civil society

• Civic space and gender equality

The 2030 Agenda and Its Future

Discussions about the future of the 2030 Agenda are becoming increasingly concrete. Geopolitical conflicts, growing tendencies towards national isolationism and attacks on climate and sustainability policies are making it more difficult to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

This makes civil society voices more important in advocating effective, fair and inclusive multilateral cooperation. Together with our partners, VENRO aims to bring experiences and perspectives from different countries into international processes and contribute to discussions on the future of the 2030 Agenda.

The 2027 SDG Summit will be an important milestone. VENRO and its partners plan to actively engage in the process, ensuring that civil society perspectives are heard and reflected in the international debate.

Development Financing

“From Billions to Trillions” – this was the vision for financing the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals in their early years. Today, that vision seems increasingly out of reach. Making meaningful progress towards achieving the goals will require political will, ambitious action and sufficient financial resources.

Fundamental reforms of the international financial system are therefore essential. These include addressing the global debt crisis, advancing global tax justice and ensuring stronger and more equitable participation of countries that have historically been underrepresented in the governance structures of multilateral development banks. Reforms of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank must also be taken forward.

Through the Countdown 2030 project, we advocate for equitable international financing for sustainable development. Our priorities include establishing an international and inclusive debt resolution mechanism under the auspices of the United Nations and a global UN framework convention on international tax cooperation. We also advocate for adequate public development financing and for international financial institutions to place greater emphasis on human rights, social and environmental standards.

Sustainable Food Systems

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide continue to experience hunger and food insecurity. In 2025, an estimated 645 million people were affected by hunger. Conflicts, climate change, precarious employment and inadequate social protection are making food insecurity worse. At the same time, the climate, environmental, food and health crises are closely interconnected and require a holistic policy approach.

Through the project, we advocate for a sustainable transformation of food systems that strengthens the resilience of people, the environment and the climate. Sustainable farming practices and holistic approaches such as One Health and Planetary Health play an important role in this work.

Structural changes are also needed, including sustainable agricultural supply chains, the protection of human rights, reforms of agricultural trade and better income opportunities and food security for smallholder farmers. Food systems must also become more resilient to the impacts of climate crisis, conflicts and economic crises.

Climate

The transition towards a climate-just global society is one of the most pressing challenges of the coming years. The impacts of the climate crisis disproportionately affect the most vulnerable countries and communities, further exacerbating existing inequalities and discrimination.

Together with our partners, we advocate for climate justice and a just transition. Our work focuses on the practical implementation of adaptation measures, strengthening local initiatives and developing concrete, context-specific approaches to a just and sustainable transformation.

Access to adaptation finance, as well as funding to address loss and damage, are also central priorities of our work.

Cooperation with the Private Sector and the Role of Civil Society

Cooperation with the private sector is becoming increasingly important in development cooperation. For investments to contribute to sustainable development, they must respect human rights and social standards, promote decent employment with living wages and adequate social protection, and ensure the inclusion of marginalized groups.

Civil society organizations play an important role in this process. They promote transparency, strengthen the participation of affected communities, act as watchdogs for corporate human rights due diligence and advise companies on human rights-based approaches.

Through the project, we aim to strengthen dialogue between the private sector and civil society to promote responsible business practices and support economic development policies aligned with the 2030 Agenda.

Civic Space and Gender Equality

Open civic space is essential for social justice and sustainable transformation. At the same time, greater efforts are needed to advance gender equality and strengthen the participation of marginalized and vulnerable groups.

“Leave No One Behind” is therefore a guiding principle of our work. People affected by hunger, poverty, discrimination and other forms of marginalization must have their voices heard and their concerns reflected in political processes. This requires open and protects civic space, particularly in structurally disadvantaged countries.