Based on the ESDN Proposition on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the ESDN has been organizing Peer Learning Platforms since 2016. These Platforms facilitate the exchange of experiences and good practices between policymakers in national ministries who are responsible for the 2030 Agenda implementation process in their respective country. A unique aspect of the ESDN Peer Learning Platforms is that they take place under the Chatham House Rule, which ensures the identity of participants is not revealed, allowing for deeper exchanges of experiences, the success and challenges, to take place in an informal setting.
The 8th ESDN Peer Learning Platform and Visit was held in Bern, Switzerland on 09 – 10 November 2023! The topic of the Peer Learning Platform and Visit was “Spillover Effects in the Context of SDG Implementation” and was organized together with the Swiss Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE), the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and with foraus – Swiss participatory Think Tank on Foreign Policy.
The Peer Learning Platform kicked off on 09 November with an opening event organized by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and foraus – Swiss participatory Think Tank on Foreign Policy in the morning. This Opening Event discussed challenges and objectives in addressing spillover effects in the context of sustainable development in Switzerland. The opening event offered a rare opportunity to receive in-depth knowledge about the Swiss experience in handling spillover effects, exchange best practices, and participate in the ongoing debate.
Day 1 of the Peer Learning Platform began in the afternoon on 09 November and focused on “Understanding Spillover Effects and their Relation to SDG Implementation”. There was a mixture of presentations and interactive group work, which focused on spillover effects in different policy areas. Day 1 culminated in a Peer Learning Visit with the Swiss 2030 Agenda Advisory Group, which shared experiences on how experts and stakeholders can support policymaking.
Day 2 of the Peer Learning Platform began in the morning on 10 November. The focus of the day was on “Strategic Governance Measures to Address Spillover Effects”, where we heard how countries are dealing with this issue. This was be followed by more interactive exchanges that sought to discuss and address spillover effects in public policymaking.
This event was open to European civil servants and took place under the Chatham House Rules.
A look at the history of the ESDN reveals that ESDN Peer Learning Platforms have played a prominent role in facilitating policy learning between European policymakers dealing with sustainable development. This section of the website provides a one-stop-shop documentation of all ESDN Peer Learning Platforms so far. Please click on one of the Platforms for more details: