By Angela Souza
In the past years, we’ve heard a lot about the SDGs. Some companies, NGOs and public institutions are using this acronym in their projects and communications, but what are the SDGs?
The Sustainable Development Goals, developed by the United Nations, are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. There are 17 Goals, all interconnected, and the intention is to achieve them all by 2030. The goals address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.
At SenseTribe we believe the SDGs are a useful framework to guide companies, governments and civil organizations towards the creation of a more sustainable, inclusive and healthy society.
The SDGs will only be achieved if we work together, and at SenseTribe, we have experience to share. That is why our communications team invites anyone who is willing to embark on this journey with us in each and every work area.
There are many different ways to engage people in a conversation about the SDGs. That will depend on which segment each institution works on. Here are some tips about how to run a powerful communication campaign on the SDGs and some reflections on the impact that making this UN commitment more visible can have at both a local and a global scale.
Why is it important to communicate about SDG-related actions?
Nowadays, the sensible choice is to create or adapt products and services that will minimize negative environmental and social impact. Instead of this, the goal should be to develop a process that can generate positive impact.
A strategic communication approach on the SDGs is key to strengthening the reputation of an organisation because it connects your audience with your will to transform the way products and services have been designed for decades. It creates engagement in international discussions and will increase the reach of the information you’re sending out.
Several great initiatives have been changing their strategies regarding the achievement of the sustainable development goals and communicating about this has many benefits:
- An open-minded approach can lead your communications planning to address issues on a political level, increasing dialogue with stakeholders and a wider audience;
- Having communications partners focused on the SDGs can help your team during the implementation of changes in your company, and can help involve the main stakeholders in the transformation process;
- Communicating openly about internal changes will help your audience identify with your brand. It makes easier for your customers to understand some of the impacts of the services or products generated during the transformation process;
- Co-creating a strategic communications plan with an external communications team will allow your initiative to explore different points that can help your team to reorient not only their communications but their actions more strategically toward achieving the SDGs;
- It is the role of institutions to help the wider audience to understand what the SDGs are and why it is important to act on them. If your initiative communicates about SDG-related actions, your brand is engaging with people at the same time as they are supporting the business community in raising awareness of the topic, which will lead consumers/clients to make better choices in the near future.
At SenseTribe we believe communication has a key role to play in improving the way we do business: it can help drive, guide or simply inspire new perspectives. Our collaborative approach allows our team, together with our clients and partners, to create strategies that add value to their initiatives, stakeholders and customers.
If you want to know more, please contact info@sensetribe.com with the subject ‘Meaningful Communications’. Our team will be glad to talk to you and help with your communication strategy.