The UN Agenda 2030, as the global guideline for the sustainable development, stipulates radical shifts in development approaches with which all the economic communities are expected to comply. The hereby proposed international collaboration program between universities, stakeholders, companies, public bodies, and individuals from four different countries in three different continents aims at increasing the awareness and perception of this deep shift, validating the systemic interdependence of the SDG as a synergetic model for the urban sustainable development. A communication and management platform named At the gate of SDG will be designed for managing a forum, research and workshops.

We strongly hold the view that universities can contribute at interface among stakeholders, public bodies and people required for the goals of the 2030 Agenda. This shared platform aims to engage the promoting partners in innovative channels for interactive dissemination. The programme proposes a methodological interpretation of the SDG Number 11, as the main catalyst of our action and the gate we use to enter in the SDGs system. Considering that in one way or another, all of the goals relate to work that happens in cities, we aim to move from the SDG 11 in isolation to holistically highlight the correlation with all the other SDGs and suggest locally-based dissemination actions robustly linked with SDG indicators. “At the gate of SDG” platform is a multi-step program. It is envisioned that the implementation will have at least three correlated phases: (i) Establishing a committee; (ii) Implementing mid and long action plan; (iii) Monitoring activities run. A report on the accomplished activities will be produced annually.

Based on an extensive network of partners generated over time by the IMMdesignlab on the topic of sustainable urban development, the proposal aims to build on this partnership as an innovative platform for dissemination of the mission and programme of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. “At the gate of SDG” platform aims to engage university students in co-creation of learning environment that support dissemination of the SDGs, as well as to enhance opportunities for capacity building of young generation to address challenges relating to SDGs. Training for community stakeholders, including community partners, leaders, will been organised to increase the perception of this deep shift, validating the systemic interdependence of the SDG, as a synergetic model for the urban sustainable development. The platform will play a lead role in advocacy for sustainable development demonstrating the importance of the university in SDG dissemination and implementation.

The platform considers the entire SDG network but assumes the SDG 11 as the entrance/gate to the network and the main catalyst of possible actions systematically correlated to the other SDGs. The lessons learnt will be disseminated, with the aim of encouraging governments and stakeholders to adopt a new systemic approach to assessing strengths and gaps in their current practices and deliver and manage transformations of urban environment. The “At the gate of SDG” platform will be co-ordinated and evaluated by a committee composed off staff and representatives of the students from the universities participating in the platform and the representative of the partners involved. The committee will meet regularly to design action plans and establish targets in mid and long term. The “At the gate of SDG” platform will be operationally monitored by prof. Angela Colucci (ResilienceLab), who will produce an annual report with input and final approval from a panel composed of external experts.

IMMdesignlab, ABC Department, Politecnico di Milano, (Italy); The University of Auckland, School of Architecture and Planning, (New Zealand); Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo (Mozambique); QGBC Qatar Green Building Council, Doha (Qatar); Brianzacque, Public Utility company, (Italy); API, Medium sized companies Association, (Italy); ResilienceLab, Association working on sustainability issues, (Italy).