The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals is a Plan of Action to end poverty and create shared prosperity on a healthy and peaceful planet.

At this stage, the world is not on track to reach the goals. While progress has been made in some areas, particularly with regards to ending extreme poverty and reducing child mortality, huge challenges remain, with climate change as the biggest overarching threat facing humanity.

As the United Nations turn 75 in 2020, multiple challenges require global action, while multilateralism is questioned at many levels.

As if to make matters worse, Covid-19 has taken the world by surprise, exposing weaknesses and dangers inherent in our current way of life.

As the world begins planning for a post pandemic recovery, it is crucial to seize the opportunity to “build back better” by creating more sustainable, resilient and inclusive societies. In fact, the virus also exposed vulnerabilities, highlighting the plague of structural racism and discrimination in many countries, which is part of the challenges we need to address if we want to build a sustainable and just future for all.

The Master Class will revisit core notions of sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda and explore the role of the UN, as the world community addresses the challenges toward a sustainable future.

Simona Costanzo Sow is Learning Portfolio Manager at the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) Knowledge Center for Sustainable Development. Simona focuses on integrating social inclusion, environmental sustainability and economic development in policy discourse and development practice. Previously she served as Manager of two corporate priority initiatives of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, focusing on strengthening civic engagement in support of the 2030 Agenda. Simona has also served for eight years as Director of CCIVS, a global coordinating body for international voluntary service based at UNESCO Headquarters. Over the past years she has worked on issues related to policy advice and advocacy. Simona has extensive experience in partnership building and networking in the intergovernmental sphere, as well as with civil society, academia and the private sector and a track record in capacity-building, non-formal education, learning and training with different institutions including the British Council and the Council of Europe. Simona holds a PhD in Human Geography from the Technical University of Munich, focusing on international migration as well as a Master in International Cultural and Business Studies.