Building Global Funding Alliances

Today, humanity is at a crossroads and the choice is stark. Either we continue our “business as usual” practices, with potentially severe consequences for all life on Earth or we collectively transition towards a more sustainable, resilient and just future. The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the urgency of accelerating societal transformations towards sustainability to prevent similar future threats and create a more resilient society in the long run.

The strategic agenda of this year's forum, organized by IIASA Research Partner International Science Council, is "Missions for Science to Enable a Prosperous Future for All", and the objectives of the Global Forum of Funders are threefold:

1. To present a framework for global action on mission-oriented research that will help accelerate SDG implementation in the next decade;
2. To discuss with science funders how to enhance science systems globally to support societal transformations towards sustainable development; and
3. To explore strategies and mechanisms for accelerating collaboration between science funders to support mission-oriented science.

IIASA Director General and CEO Albert van Jaarsveld will participate in numerous sessions at the forum:

26 April, Day 1 - Missions for science for sustainability:

16:15-17:15: Key Recommendations from the Missions for Science to Enable a Prosperous Future for All

17:30-18:30: Reaction Of Science Funders To The Recommendations

27 April, Day 2 - Strategies and mechanisms for accelerating collaboration between science funders to support mission-oriented science globally

17:30-18:00: High-level summary

About the Global Forum of Funders

The 2nd Global Forum of Funders builds on a successful first event held in Washington DC in 2019, where science funders and the research community initiated a “Decade of Global Sustainability Science Action”. The event called for the identification of critical priorities for science that will support and enable societies to accomplish the SDGs by 2030.

The Global Forum of Funders is organized by the International Science Council with a consortium of international scientific partners, including IIASA and the following organizations: 

• IIASA Research Partner Belmont Forum (represented by the US National Science Foundation)
• Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
• Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
• Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (represented by the National Research Foundation of South Africa) 
• UK Research and Innovation
• Future Earth