An ambitious project has been launched to explore how the private sector can actively contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and what the role of reporting and partnerships is to support this process.

GRI, the sustainability reporting standard setter, has joined forces with global power company Enel to research whether the SDGs have influenced business reporting and contributed to the adoption of new partnerships and business models. The project will look at how to strengthen the role of reporting, to enhance sustainable business practices and stimulate collaboration.

Through the first phase of the project, businesses, policy makers, NGOs and other stakeholders are asked to share their perspectives on the current state of affairs and help develop a vision on how companies and governments should work together.

An online collaboration forum, hosted by leading insights and strategy consultancy GlobeScan, is now live. On this platform public forums will be held on 8 October and 14 November, with an expert multi-stakeholder panel convened by GRI and Enel. Interested parties can sign up now to participate.

In the second phase, the outcomes of the online forums will be discussed in regional dialogues, to take place in 2020. Participants will explore how the lessons, especially those around effective business models and partnerships, can be translated into concrete action.

Tim Mohin, GRI Chief Executive, said: “From the inception of the SDGs, GRI has championed the participation of the private sector in measuring and achieving progress. And it’s clear that, by engaging in SDG reporting and embedding this within corporate disclosures, businesses can change their ways of working through embracing sustainable practices. This exciting partnership with Enel will help us understand how this is happening in practice – and what we can do to encourage more companies to get on board, as well as support national and global collaboration. I would encourage organizations that are already reporting on the SDGs and those with a key interest or expertise in this area to get involved, by participating in the engagement work we have planned.”

Ernesto Ciorra, Enel’s Head of Innovation and Sustainability (Innovability), said: “The integration of SDGs into Enel’s strategy is key to fostering our group’s growth while accelerating sustainable development where we operate and promoting the creation of value to be shared with all the stakeholders we work with, from local communities, to employees, suppliers and investors. The implementation of SDG 17, which includes new forms of partnerships, helps create long-term value, in line with our ‘open Innovability’ vision. We are looking forward to working with GRI in an open environment towards the achievement of the goals of the 2030 Agenda.”