A new tool to promote sustainable development

In spring 2022, Finland’s six largest cities — Espoo, Helsinki, Oulu, Tampere, Turku and Vantaa — developed a tool to support the strategic management of sustainable development goals (SDGs). The tool, the SDG Analysis Process, takes the situations of cities and municipalities into consideration.

The SDG Analysis Process was developed as part of an SDG network project conducted by the six cities and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities. The project aims to change the thinking about sustainable development. It will also use co-development with the aim to create effective and universal practices.

The SDG Analysis Process is an interactive workshop method developed for the needs of cities, municipalities and other organisations. The goal is to increase organisational expertise in and ability to understand and willingness to work towards sustainable development goals. Cities, municipalities and other organisations can use the method as part of their work to promote and manage the SDGs.

The handbook is primarily intended for facilitators and developers and includes practical instructions and the necessary background materials for a successful implementation of the SDG Analysis Process.

The work to develop the process was based on the SDG Sensemaking Tool, a seven-step SDG analysis process developed in the City of Espoo and described in a peer-reviewed article. The network has presented the SDG Analysis Process at several international events over the course of summer 2022, including the World Urban Forum in Katowice and the UN High Level Political Forum in New York.

You can access the workbook and the materials provided on the website of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities

• SDG Analysis process, handbook (in English) 
• SDG-analyysiprosessi, työkirja (in Finnish) 
• SDG-analysprocessen, arbetsbok (in Swedish)