17 Rooms offers a new way of channeling collaborative energy and ideas into practical steps for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Convened by the Brookings Institution and The Rockefeller Foundation since 2018, each SDG-focused working group meets as a “Room” to identify, in parallel and in concert, opportunities for cooperative action over the subsequent 12-18 months.
Guided by the pursuit of “a next step” rather than “a perfect step,” participants meet in their personal capacities to engage in candid and informal discussions. By identifying openings for progress within an SDG, rather than attempting to cover the waterfront of each entire SDG, Rooms generate a mix of expert-driven insights plus momentum for practical action.
In 2020, the 17 Rooms flagship process went entirely virtual, with more than 200 participants contributing. Most Rooms met a couple of times from June through mid-September. Then, on September 21, a culminating virtual summit brought all the Rooms together to offer feedback on one another’s proposals, to explore opportunities for collaboration, and to report out on priority opportunities in 2021. U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed joined as “keynote listener,” providing feedback on all the Rooms’ lead ideas.
The outcomes of each Room’s independent discussions and recommended action priorities for 2021 are available below.
Download the 17 Rooms 2020 insights report, “Great Transitions: Doubling down on the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Download the 17 Rooms 2020 participant list.
Agenda
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September 20
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Co-chairs
John W. McArthur Director - Center for Sustainable Development, Senior Fellow - Global Economy and Development @mcarthur -
Room 1: Poverty
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Gargee Ghosh President, Global Policy and Advocacy - Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation -
Room 2: Zero hunger
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Ruth Richardson Executive Director - Global Alliance for the Future of FoodRoy Steiner Senior Vice President for the Food Initiative - The Rockefeller Foundation -
Room 3: Good health and well-being
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Mark Smolinski President - Ending PandemicsWendy Taylor Vice President - Technical Leadership and Innovation, Jhpiego -
Room 4: Quality education
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Kwame Akyeampong Professor of International Education and Development - Open UniversityEmiliana Vegas Former Co-Director - Center for Universal Education, Former Senior Fellow - Global Economy and Development @EmiVegasV -
Room 5: Gender equality
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Blessing Omakwu Founder - The She Tank -
Room 6: Clean water and sanitation
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Catarina de Albuquerque CEO - Sanitation and Water for AllLetitia Obeng Chair - Water Integrity NetworkJennifer Sara Global Director - Water Global Practice, World Bank -
Room 7: Affordable and clean energy
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Ashvin Dayal Associate VP and Managing Director, Power Initiative - The Rockefeller FoundationMichael E. Webber Chief Science and Technology Officer - ENGIE, Josey Centennial Professor in Energy Resources - University of Texas at Austin -
Room 8: Decent work and economic growth
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Marcela Escobari Former Brookings Expert, Assistant Administrator, Latin America and the Caribbean - U.S Agency for International Development @MarcelaEscobariOtis Rolley Senior Vice President, U.S. Equity and Economic Opportunity Initiative - The Rockefeller Foundation -
Room 9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
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CV Madhukar Managing Director Beneficial Technology - Omidyar NetworkKevin O’Neil Director, Data and Technology - The Rockefeller Foundation -
Room 10: Reduced inequalities
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Martín Abregú Vice President for International Programs - Ford FoundationMargaret Biggs Nonresident Senior Fellow - Global Economy and Development, Center for Sustainable Development @margaretbiggs84 -
Room 11: Sustainable cities and communities
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James Anderson Director of Government Innovation - Bloomberg Philanthropies -
Room 12: Responsible consumption and production
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Matthew Bishop Nonresident Senior Fellow - Global Economy and Development, Center for Sustainable Development @mattbishJessica Long Former Managing Director, Strategy & Sustainability - Accenture -
Room 13: Climate action
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John Podesta Founder and Director - The Center for American Progress -
Room 14: Life below water
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Kristin Rechberger CEO - Dynamic PlanetEnric Sala Explorer-in-Residence - National Geographic Society, Executive Director - Pristine Seas @Enric_Sala -
Room 15: Life on land
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Rosina Bierbaum Roy F. Westin Chair in Natural Economics and Research Professor - University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, Professor and Dean Emerita - University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and EnvironmentTom Lovejoy Professor - George Mason University, Senior Fellow - United Nations FoundationJohn Robinson Joan L. Tweedy Chair in Conservation Strategy - Wildlife Conservation Society -
Room 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
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Nancy Lindborg President and CEO - The David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Former President - United States Institute of Peace @nancylindborgSarah E. Mendelson Nonresident Senior Fellow - Global Economy and Development, Center for Sustainable Development @SarahMendelson -
Room 17: Partnerships for the goals
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Angel Cabrera President - Georgia Institute of Technology, Chair - University Global CompactSuzanne Fortier Principal and Vice-chancellor - McGill University, Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global University Leaders Forum
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