Building multi-stakeholder partnerships key in achieving the SDGs, (DOST forum says)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has set a goal to achieve the Sustainable
Development Goals by 2030, with the vision to “Leave No One Behind”.

Last July 18, 2019, during the National Science and Technology Week a forum titled “SDG 17:
Cracking the Code for Sustainable Development” was held to discuss the importance of
engaging in partnerships to achieve the SDGs.

According to DOST’s Usec. Brenda Manzano, inequalities present in different systems make it
hard for a Nation to achieve the SDGs alone. Which is why “The Philippines need to participate
more in collaborations with different stakeholders,'' she said.

But at the same time she also stressed the importance of indigenous knowledge and grassroots
innovations in the country. “We also need to invest more on indigenous knowledge through
supporting market-oriented SMEs and local innovations”, Usec. Manzano said.

Aside from building partnerships, one way of improving the science in the country is through
organizing a framework for S&T in the Philippines. “A National Comprehensive STI Roadmap
for SDGs will ensure that research and development undertakings will complement each other,
not be duplicated”, Usec. Manzano further shared.

DOST’s International Linkages

DOST continuously builds linkages mainly to improve the government’s capacity for innovation.
One is with the United States Agency for International Development - Science, Technology,
Research and Innovation for Development (USAID-STRIDE). The partnership aims to foster
innovation in the country to serve as tools for economic development.

Specifically, DOST and USAID-STRIDE’s main project, the Knowledge and Technology
Transfer Office (KTTO) is focused on speeding up the innovation process in educational
institutions, so that technologies are mobilized and applied.
“In our time now the process of translating ideas or inventions is vital”, Dr. Richard Abendan,
Chief of Party from USAID-STRIDE said during the forum. KTTO aims to assist public state
universities in their technology transfer process, making sure that innovations are used and
developed.

“Establishing KTTO in universities and R&D institutions is a first step in aligning government’s
innovations with the needs of the stakeholders”, Dr. Abendan explained.

In an effort to implement the agricultural innovations in the Philippines, the DOST Philippine
Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-
PCAARRD) has collaborated with the Australian Centre for International Agriculture (ACIAR).
ACIAR is an international agricultural agency that funds research partnerships between
Australian scientists and their partners in developing countries.

Dr. Peter Horne, General Manager for Country Programs of ACIAR, emphasized the vital role of
forging partnerships in improving policies in agriculture. Thus, the PCAARRD-ACIAR
partnerships aim to expand agricultural research in the Philippines and make it inclusive to all
sectors.

One program by PCAARRD-ACIAR discussed during the forum was the “Development of Mixed
Method Approach to Impact Assessment of Philippine Research Projects”. It was developed
from an observation that R&D projects are becoming complex, that is why there is a need to
devise a more holistic and standardized approach in assessing the projects impact. The project
is created to improve quantitative and qualitative approaches in data collection, analysis and
interpretation of R&D undertakings.

During the forum, Dr. Horne also pointed out that food systems are central to meeting the
SDGs. “Developing Economies need to accelerate their efforts in SDG implementation, and
investing in agriculture is the most effective way of addressing poverty,'' he said.

The PCAARRD-ACIAR partnership also aims to promote and recognize long-term multi-
disciplinary collaboration to address shared goals through encouraging other R&D institutions to
partner with local government units.
Meanwhile, DOST also established a partnership with the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) for disaster-risk reduction in the country. The JICA-DOST collaboration is geared
towards a disaster-Resilient Philippines.

According to Yoshio Wada, Chief Director of JICA Philippines, investing in human resources is
an overlooked approach in making a country resilient to calamities.

The Engineering and Science Education Project by DOST-JICA focuses on students, teachers,
and professionals across the country. The project, which now runs for almost 10 years, has
already created over 6,000 study abroad opportunities for students. It has also raised funds for
research and equipment for 19 major universities and 110 high schools across the country.

The public can learn more about SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals and DOST’s International
Linkages through the exhibits at the National Science and Technology Week. The NSTW runs
from July 17-21, 2019 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.