Partnerships for sustainable development: measuring transformative potential through leverage points

PhD Candidate Montserrat Koloffon Rosas recently published a single-authored research article as part of the Transform2030 research project, in a special issue on the Sustainable Development Goals in the Earth System Governance Journal.

💡 The article explores the transformative ambitions of multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) working on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using a systems thinking approach and a novel operationalization of Donella Meadows’ leverage points framework, the study:
 💠 Assesses how deeply 35 MSPs intervene in systems related to popular SDG combinations (Goals 4, 13, 14, and 15) revealing the distribution of their transformative focus.
 💠 Finds that while few MSPs target the deepest leverage points, many engage with relatively deep system interventions—suggesting cautiously hopeful trends.
 💠 Offers insights into how MSPs can enhance their systemic impact by better understanding and engaging with transformative leverage points.

🔏 The article is open access and available to read here.