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76 DELIVERING RESULTStheir own research and informal peer-topeercommunications. At the same time,civil society focuses on social programmesbased on demand and news-driven issues,without the benefit of deeper knowledgeof existing players on the ground. Inaddition, traditional investment vehicles inthe current financial services industry andsimple business-building tools are ofteninaccessible to entrepreneurs who need themost support.To address this, the Global PartnershipsForum proposed, in 2011, the creation ofan open ‘marketplace’, which would enableThe collaboration pyramidWISDOMKNOWLEDGEINFORMATIONDATAthe sharing of various industry practicesand non-financial resources. Such acentralised platform could also provide amore transparent mechanism for donorsand investors to make capital available toprospective NGOs and entrepreneurs.The virtual marketplace will collaboratewith academic institutions, bilateral andmultilateral aid agencies, business andcivil society, and is currently exploringcooperation with GLG, the largest peerto-peerlearning platform.Although we are currently in the focusgroup consultation stage, our aim is tocreate a kind of ‘Google of Development’– an all-encompassing online platform,by issues, sectors, regions and countries,which would serve as an aggregator ofvarious efforts globally, and provide accessto information and lessons learned. Thismega-relational database platform wouldassemble experiences in a coherent andstructured format, providing guidance tothose who are thinking about cross-sectorcollaboration for the first time, and insightsfrom those who have worked on theseissues for years.Moreover, ideas for new and innovativecollaboration can be developed andexchanged online, drawing from thebenefits of different perspectives anddiversified knowledge. At the same time,the platform could serve as a convenientmeans to seek crowd-funding for socialprogrammes. This effort would moveIntensive collaborationAwareness of partnershipopportunitiesSearchable industry practicesand lessons learnedProject-level datathe needle from an aid to an investmentmodel for poverty alleviation and resultantsustainability.An SDG innovation programmeThe proposed SDGs are ambitious andnoble goals that cannot be achieved byMember States or individual sectors alone– they require the engagement of bothstate and non-state actors. Indeed, theproposed Goal 17 calls on the internationalcommunity to “strengthen the means ofimplementation and revitalise the globalpartnership for sustainable development”.The Goal encompasses targets focused onkey structural challenges, including Target17.3 on mobilising additional financialresources for developing countries frommultiple sources.Against this background, theinternational community should developa new deal with the private sector andsocial entrepreneurs to establish a sociallyresponsible investment vehicle to assist inimplementing the SDGs.Such a fund could be led by the privateequity and venture capital community.This SDG innovation programme couldfocus on key priorities of economicand social sectors, based on the SDGgoals and targets. Initially, it couldtarget programmes and projects thatcan dramatically impact least-developedcountries (LDCs).In order for such an initiative to besuccessful, it must truly be a multistakeholderpartnership, involving theinternational community, as well asplayers on the ground. Key partnersmust encompass UN and internationalorganisations and groups, includingthe Office of the High Representativefor the LDCs, Landlocked DevelopingCountries and Small Island DevelopingStates; Office of the Special Adviser onAfrica; African Union Commission; NewPartnership for Africa’s Development; andChair of the LDCs.The initiative would therefore engagegovernments, philanthropic institutionsand family offices in the creation of thisSDG innovation programme and couldbe comprised of several targeted funds,with each fund designed to address specifictangible goals, to achieve real sustainability.Ultimately each fund should generateenough profits to be self-sustaining andable to finance the next generation ofprojects. Each fund should be structuredin a manner to attract the best and thebrightest of managers, to mirror traditionalventure capital structures.Looking aheadWe have a rare opportunity to make theSDGs our collective effort, owned byeverybody. We must use the power of mediaaround the world to get this message out.Whatever we do, we should move from talkto action. Partnerships are increasingly seenas a most effective route for bringing aboutreal and sustainable change in the quality oflives of the underprivileged. Together wecan make them so.GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS 2014