Our Platform (SustainConnections) connects communities and other public entities in developing countries with counterparts in other developing countries, as well as in developed countries to share their challenges, experiences, best practices, and policy solutions in sustainable development. There will be a particular focus on OINS main thematic area, although other topics in the realm of sustainable societies and nature are possible. The primary objectives are to foster learning and growth within communities and public entities, to present new perspectives and potential solutions to familiar problems, and to provide a platform and toolset for self-empowerment and autonomous learning/project execution.
Objectives:
- Foster global, regional and cross-border cooperation
- Contribute to sustainable development in OINS key thematic areas
- Knowledge exchange and best practice sharing
- Provide a tool (platform) for (virtual) collaboration and project discovery/initiation
- Ideally, help initiate concrete projects and policies for sustainable development (bridge the gap between conversations and practical implementation), novel approaches, shape the debates around climate action and water governance, and influence local policy decision-making
Key Actions for the development of the Platform:
- Needs assessment through surveys, interviews with target communities to understand challenges, technical capabilities and preferred design (tool box)
- Stakeholder involvement by involving other NGOs, local community leaders, local policymakers, and tech experts (web-designer, LLM + AI experts, developers)
- Identify cultural sensitivity topics such as technological barriers, language issues and cultural differences for inclusivity.
Connection Platform:
- Concrete policy outcomes and organised workshops for implementation
- Advisory connections, short and impact-oriented
- Democratic participatory decision making for the platforms needs
Matchmaking:
- Needs connect with Best Practices
- Database of detailed needs
- Survey for members on ideal outcomes
- Two or more communities connect with each other on specific “work areas/projects”
- Goal: For every need there is a community with a solution and openness to exchange ideas
- SDG themes as topic areas
- Interactive collaboration via video & social media corporations

