Advocates for International Development (A4ID) is writing a legal guide to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The intent is to develop a guide which will outline key linkages between the Goals and current legal frameworks and concepts in a broad global sense. This guide will be a foundation stone for efforts to align the law with achievement of the SDGs. The guide will highlight to policy makers within government and civil society as well as businesses and the legal community themselves the key role the law must play in achieving the SDGs.

The research, drafting, review and dissemination stages are outlined in a detailed Concept Note and a Programme Plan with clearly defined processes. Initial guided drafting will be conducted by 9 research teams from 9 international law firms who applied through a rigorous application to assist with this initiative. Following this initial research, the drafts will be reviewed internally by A4ID's policy team, fact checking and gap filling. The drafts will then pass through an academic review with subject matter experts and also through a thematic development organisation review followed by a second internal review. Advocates for International Development (A4ID) will operationalise and supervise this process and also contribute directly to the research and drafting.

The final deliverable document will be made freely available on the internet through A4ID, partner law firms and NGOs and other organisations identified in the dissemination plan.

This is a research and writing project that will be governed by Advocates for International Development (A4ID), a registered charity in the UK. The work will be undertaken by the Policy department. Please see the implementation section below for further information on process. The project aims to: Raise awareness of linkages between legal frameworks and the SDGs and highlight the role of the law and the legal community in implementation. Encourage and facilitate decision makers’ and stakeholders’ utilisation of legal mechanisms to advance sustainable development by illustrating key legal challenges and opportunities. Provide a reference point for lawyers and NGOs practicing or interested in one of the development areas to encourage consideration of the direct and indirect impacts of the law. Illustrate key steps to be taken by the legal community within their national context and within their daily business activities to ensure they are not obstructing the achievement of the SDGs and are instead contributing positively.

Nine Legal Partners: Allen & Overy; Ashurst; Baker & McKenzie; Clifford Chance; DLA Piper; Kirkland & Ellis; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe; Shearman & Sterling and White & Case. Other Partners: Oxfam; Lexis Nexis; Namati and the Commonwealth Secretariat as well as multiple international development organiations.