The influence of the Sustainable Development Goals on the strategies of Non-Governmental Organisations. A case study on the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and Health
Summary
A growing body of literature addresses the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within organisations. Yet, the influence of the SDGs on the strategies of NGOs remains less researched. In this study the organisational, partnership and communication strategy of an NGO are examined on the influence of the SDG, and the interaction between these strategies is addressed. An analytical framework has been created, building upon existing literature, in order to assess this issue. The direct and indirect naming of the SDGs operationalize this framework. A multi method approach was used, where the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and Health (GAIN) was the case study. Coding of documents and in depth interviews led to interesting conclusions. The communication strategy is the most influenced by the SDGs, and seems to overlap with the partnership strategy. Since GAIN focusses primarily on nutrition, the second SDG came forward most often, both directly and indirectly. The main reason for engagement with the SDGs in the strategies of this NGO, is the influence of financial donors. These donors demand certain qualifications, that align partially with the SDGs, such as gender and climate issues. Due to the single case study conducted, the results might not apply to other NGOs and/or organisations. Therefore, more research is needed in order to draw more generalized and valid outcomes. Yet, the internal validity of this study remains high, and the methodology making use of the framework can be repeated and used in future studies.