The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unparalleled impact on the global economy, highlighting systemic shortcomings, particularly in developing countries. This crisis has exacerbated the existing $2.5 trillion funding gap for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), prompting organizations like CollatEd Lab, the UNDP, and the International Cooperative Alliance to play a crucial role in accelerating global progress toward a more inclusive and sustainable future. In particular, Sara Ketabi, Founder and CEO of CollatEd Lab and the youngest appointed policy consultant to the government of Rwanda, has been at the forefront of efforts to address the lack of private sector involvement in Rwanda’s progress toward the SDGs.
Ketabi strongly believes that public capital alone will not suffice, which is why she has focused on facilitating cross-sectoral collaborations and taking a more holistic approach to policymaking. She advocates for a financing paradigm that goes beyond reliance on the public sector, acknowledging the importance of other equally influential sectors. Through CollatEd Lab’s policy programs, Ketabi has tackled systemic and behavioral barriers in sustainable development, with a focus on governance and political capacity-building. Her evidence-driven approach has led to the co-creation of a national strategic development plan in collaboration with the Rwanda Cooperative Alliance, addressing sustainable priorities such as mitigating COVID-19’s impact and aligning private capital to the SDGs in Rwanda.
The pandemic’s far-reaching effects have also sparked a surge of youth-led initiatives for a more sustainable society. In response to the crisis, Ketabi took bold action in 2020 by organizing the first annual Global Governance Summit (GGS), aimed at mobilizing the African public sector to effectively respond to the health, political, and economic challenges posed by the pandemic. From June 26th to 28th, CollatEd Lab invited world leaders, governments, and United Nations agencies to discuss aligning sustainable finance, building resilient healthcare systems, and improving global government capacity. The summit became a vital platform for accelerating the SDGs, bringing stakeholders together to kick-start a decade of innovative action.
Reflecting on the success of the event years later, Ketabi remarked, “We hosted over 200 high-level delegates, including ministers, ambassadors, and UN officers, who engaged in discussions on creating common standards for environmental, social, and corporate governance, as well as the political economy of humanitarian crises, evidence-based policymaking in developing nations, and ESG partnerships.” She also thanked the African Union and ICA for helping coordinate speakers from across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Additionally, in her internationally-acclaimed book Leveraging the Global Political Economy to Achieve Sustainable Development, Ketabi analyzes sustainable finance, global government capacity-building, and health policy, with endorsements from the Rwanda Cooperative Agency. The book, which was shaped by insights from the 2020 GGS, provides actionable policy recommendations and highlights the risks and social impacts of international development strategies. Delivering these insights, Ketabi distributed the book to over 50 diplomats and academic delegates of the summit. Her approach has positioned CollatEd Lab as a pioneer in applying geopolitical innovation to advance the SDGs across over 100 countries. Recognized by the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, CollatEd Lab helps ministries and local governments apply technical knowledge to policy, strengthening research-based input into global policymaking.
On national television with the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, Ketabi discussed the alignment of cross-cutting issues—from the digital economy to the impact of COVID-19 on women, children, and youth—demonstrating real solutions that could enhance foreign policy in 22 nations. Reflecting on the progress made since the summit, Ketabi noted, “The data indicates that there have been significant improvements in pandemic management in developing nations and necessary adjustments to sustainable diplomacy.”
Ultimately, both the Global Governance Summit and Leveraging the Global Political Economy to Achieve Sustainable Development have united political and economic stakeholders, driving progress toward the UN SDGs and igniting a decade of impactful, innovative action.
Learn more about Sara Ketabi by visiting her official website
