Rooted in a focus on the needs of people being left behind, the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) harnesses a unique blend of outlooks to inform decisionmakers across international institutions, North American policy arenas, and platforms that connect leaders across global geographies, sectors, and scales. We engage with leaders in venues ranging from the United Nations, World Bank, and G20, to national governments, mayoral offices, and local community organizations. CSD scholars draw from experience in government, nonprofits, multilateral organizations, philanthropy, and academia to rally the attention of key actors toward issues and perspectives that too often remain overlooked in policy debates. By fostering insights and alliances across countries and constituencies, CSD amplifies its expertise on issues such as addressing climate change, eradicating human deprivation, advancing gender equality, and mobilizing public finance.
The CSD approach
The heart of CSD’s work hinges on a distinctive three-pronged approach: shaping debates, empowering stakeholders, and catalyzing long-term change.
- Research leadership. We produce a blend of cutting-edge scholarly analysis, actionable insights, and pragmatic policy recommendations to inform decisionmaking and help stimulate systemic gains. This ranges from influential academic journal articles to highly practical policy briefs.
- Knowledge hub. Embracing a collaborative ethos in knowledge creation, we harness, distill, and elevate cross-disciplinary insights and expertise from a broad constellation of academics, policymakers, and practitioners. This is done through an array of mediums, from edited book volumes tapping into leading experts around the world to podcasts introducing fresh voices into national policy debates.
- Network catalyst. Our teams actively convene diverse groups of leaders and innovators from around the world to discuss evidence, to exchange perspectives, and to bridge gaps and advance practical problem-solving at every level, ranging from local and national efforts to global-scale endeavors.
Experts and Staff
Nonresident Experts