Introduction

The SDG Action Manager Technical Guide offers businesses a data-driven impact management solution to leverage the United Nations’ 17 SDGs and take appropriate action. The report details the technical overview of the solution’s structure, principles, content, and development process using internationally recognised ISIC codes and market analysis.

Overall structure

The guide provides a sequenced structure comprising a Baseline Module and SDG-specific modules for each of the 17 SDGs, structured into subsections that feature a series of benchmarked questions. These questions offer users concrete actions to improve their impact on the SDGs. The modules are structured by Business Model, Internal Operations, Supply Chain, Collective Action, and Risk Level, covering all aspects of businesses that contribute positively to Global Goals.

Baseline module

The Baseline Module details ten UN Global Compact’s principles to enhance social and environmental performance, reusable practices, governance, tax and government affairs practices, and sustainable development goals. The module is mapped to specific SDGs and targets to help users understand the interconnections between questions, practices and performance on the SDGs.

SDG specific modules

Modules for each of the 17 SDGs specify what practical action businesses can take to contribute to the goals, going deeper into the many different ways businesses can achieve them. These SDG-specific modules structure questions by Business Model, Internal Operations, Supply Chain, Collective Action, and Risk Level, providing actionable recommendations to each user.

Scoring methodology

Modules evaluate a company’s performance on the SDG from zero to 100% with a flagged-based risk assessment system that details the ‘Green, Yellow, Orange, or Red Flag’ depending on the practices, industries, or lack of information. Risk Level is evaluated differently through a ‘flag rating’ indicating potential risk areas, not assumption of negative or hindering practices. For SDG Action Manager, enough positive practices cannot outweigh negative practices.

Recommendations

The SDG Action Manager Technical Guide provides a comprehensive overview of performance on the SDGs. A survey found that 60% of corporations integrate the SDGS into their business strategies. The guide offers a specialist solution for businesses to determine high-impact action based on thought-provoking yet actionable assessment questions, benchmarks, and improvement guides. Companies are encouraged to focus on the areas of action of most relevance to their particular context and make concrete contributions towards individual SDGs.