グローバルと国レベルの政策連関に関するポスト２０１５年開発アジェンダの研究

2015 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15F15759
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: 蟹江 憲史 慶應義塾大学, 政策・メディア研究科, 教授 (90326463)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KAPFUDZARUWA FARAI 慶應義塾大学, 政策・メディア研究科, 外国人特別研究員
• Project Period (FY): 2015-10-09 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: SDGS / Governance / Asia-Pacific / Africa / partnerships / business

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

The researcher spent the first 3 months of the fellowship further developing the proposal through extensive literature review on the role of different actors in governing the sustainable development goals. The proposal was presented on the 12th of February 2016 at the UNU offices. As part of the research development, the researcher was part of a team that organized and attended a symposium in Malaysia from 28 February to 1 March 2016. The symposium discussed global and national perspectives in implementing the SDGS. Through this symposium the researcher managed to identify collaborative partners in carrying out data collection in the city of Kuala Lumpur on issues related to sustainable consumption and production. In addition to that, the researcher also participated in the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development hosted by UNESCAP in Thailand. The thematic areas discussed at the forum include mainstreaming the SDGs through modelling; overcoming the hurdle of data to attain the SDGs; addressing inequalities and social inclusion; the role of science and technology and strategies to make cities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. These themes are important in responding to the questions in my “purpose of research” related to identifying ways of linking the post 2015 sustainable development agenda with implementation at the national and local levels. The researcher also attended sustainable development related events hosted by the UNU, for example, the S-11 Symposium on SDGs implementation in Japan on 15 January 2016.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

The research has achieved a certain level of progress in relation to the purpose of the study because the researcher has been able to clarify the direction of the study regarding the conceptual framework and the methodology. Firstly, on the conceptual framework, the extensive literature review carried out between September 2015 and early January 2016 enabled the researcher to identify a research gap related to governance of the sustainable development goals. As a result, the researcher was able to identify clear questions which are relevant in the field. Secondly, regarding the methodology, the researcher has been able to develop a clear research design linked to the research questions. Due to the clear conceptual framework, research design and strategy, the researcher was able to map a clear path for carrying out the research. In many instances, the inability to clarify the conceptual framework and methodology often results in a distorted data collection process which leaves gaps in the research. The progress of the research was further enhanced by the symposiums and workshops that the researcher attended which enabled him to test his conceptual framework and carry out preliminary data collection.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

Having finalized the conceptual framework and developed a clear research design and strategy the next phase of the research will focus on data collection. The first part of this process involves a fieldwork in South Africa from end of April 2016 to early May 2016 for 20 days. The researcher will carry out interviews with various actors involved in the food system in the country. The objective is to understand how different stakeholders acquire power and authority regarding governance of sustainable development goal 16 on sustainable consumption and production. The preliminary results of this field work will be presented at the “Earth Governance Systems” conference in Kenya in December 2016. The researcher has already submitted an abstract to this conference. The researcher also plans to carry out focus group discussions and interviews with stakeholders in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between June 2016 and October 2016. The main aim of these discussions and interviews is to understand the different responsibilities of different stakeholders in an urban city in governing SDG 16 on issues such as food waste, energy and transport. The researcher also plans to carry out a survey between June 2016 and February 2017 in Japan focused on consumers and Japanese companies regarding sustainable consumption and production. The main challenge in this process is the assumption that business and other stakeholders will fully cooperate in providing information. Therefore, some of the case studies and data collection tools might change.