SDG 17 ‘Strengthen the Means of Implementation and Revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development’

SDG 17 underscores the need for enhanced partnerships—globally, regionally, and nationally—on trade, investment, environment, public health, shared governance, and other issues in order to advance collective action on all of the SDGs. To some degree, SDG 17 reflects recent and novel theories and concepts of governance of global public goods and commons under twenty-first-century conditions and tries to make a difference in establishing a new and more just and effective basis for multilateral action. Despite this clear objective however, political and practical challenges to multi-stakeholder partnerships must be carefully understood and addressed at all levels in order to establish a new and effective equilibrium and momentum for global sustainable development action. This chapter discusses the scope and content of SDG 17. It highlights the preparatory works and context for its establishment and inclusion; the opportunities, risks, and barriers related to its implementation; and how such challenges may be overcome through innovative governance approaches.