Rhodes University

Knowledge Portal of Sustainable Development Work

Welcome to our portal, dedicated to capturing the efforts towards sustainable development in community-university partnerships. Our portal is centred around a unique feature: a wheel that represents the intersection of themes, goals, and objectives that emerged from the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SGDs); Africa Agenda 2063 (AA); South African National Development Plan (NDP); Eastern Cape Provincial Development Plan (PDP) and Rhodes University Institutional Development Plan (IDP).

This wheel serves as a roadmap for our work towards sustainability, with three themes that unfold into nine goals and twenty-four objectives as the key markers.

At the core of our portal is the belief that higher education institutions play a crucial role in promoting sustainable development. We recognise that the three functions of higher education, namely teaching and learning, research, and community engagement, are all essential components of our work towards a sustainable future. Our aim is to document and showcase the sustainability work in community-university partnerships, with a particular focus on these three functions.

Through this portal, we hope to inspire and facilitate collaboration between communities and universities in their efforts towards sustainability. By sharing best practices, success stories, and challenges, we aim to create a space where individuals and institutions can learn from one another and work together towards a common goal- sustainable development.

We invite you to explore our portal and learn more about the sustainability work happening in community-university partnerships. Whether you are a student, researcher, community member, or simply interested in sustainability, we hope you will find our portal informative, inspiring, and useful.

Knowledge Wheel 28/03/23 BG

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Sustainability

Sustainability is a complex concept that encompasses economic, social, and environmental dimensions. In order to achieve sustainability goals, it is necessary to address each of these dimensions in a holistic and integrated manner. Social sustainability involves creating communities that are equitable, inclusive, and resilient, where everyone has access to the resources and opportunities needed to thrive. Environmental sustainability involves promoting the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, reducing waste and pollution, and protecting biodiversity. Achieving both social and environmental sustainability requires a focus on reducing inequalities, promoting inclusive and participatory decision-making, and integrating sustainability objectives into all aspects of planning, design, and management. By prioritising social and environmental sustainability, societies can work towards creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

Climate Change

Climate action requires cooperation from all sectors to reduce waste and pollution, conserve resources and combat poaching. Raising awareness and transforming values are vital to safeguard the planet's natural ecosystems. Building resilience requires effective disaster management, adaptation strategies, and harnessing human capabilities through education, resource management, and social support. Promoting the safety of domestic animals is crucial through sustainable farming, improving animal welfare standards, responsible pet ownership, and disaster preparedness plans. By implementing these practices, we can develop resilience and reduce the impact of climate change on communities.
Environment

Environmental sustainability is a complex goal requiring cooperation from all sectors. Reducing waste and pollution through resource conservation and recycling is vital. Sustainable use of ecosystem services, preserving marine and freshwater resources, and ending poaching are essential for biodiversity conservation. Promoting awareness and values related to biodiversity is crucial for sustainable development. Prioritizing sustainability and conservation efforts can secure the long-term viability of the planet.
Built Environment

Green spaces are an essential component of sustainable and livable cities. They contribute to promoting sustainability, enhancing public health and wellbeing, and conserving biodiversity. Providing universal access to public green spaces is crucial for achieving equitable and sustainable urban development. The built environment also plays a critical role in achieving sustainability goals through reducing the digital divide, promoting inclusive urban planning, and ensuring access to quality, sustainable infrastructure. Integrating these objectives into the planning and design of the built environment can help to achieve sustainability and promote equitable access to resources and services for all.

Collaboration

Collaboration ensures that all voices are heard, and solutions are generated through collective input, rather than individual interests. Responsive institutions play a critical role in facilitating collaboration, as they act as mediators between different groups, helping to build trust and consensus. Through effective collaboration, responsive institutions can bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds, creating shared goals and values.

Social cohesion also depends on collaboration, as it involves the building of a sense of belonging and shared identity. Collaboration is necessary to create inclusive communities where everyone feels valued and can participate in decision-making processes. This can lead to the creation of sustainable solutions that benefit everyone, rather than just a few privileged individuals or groups.

Justice also requires collaboration, as it involves creating fair and equitable systems that protect the rights of all individuals. By working together, stakeholders can address the root causes of inequality and discrimination, and ensure that everyone has access to justice. Collaboration between governments, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders can help to develop and implement policies and practices that promote justice and equality.

Responsive Institutions

Responsive public institutions are crucial for ensuring that governments and public organisations are accountable to their citizens and that policies are implemented effectively. When institutions are responsive, they are able to adapt to changing circumstances, address the needs and concerns of citizens, and ensure that public services are delivered efficiently and effectively. When institutions are responsive, citizens are more engaged and invested in the democratic process, governments are more effective in delivering public services, and societies are more stable, prosperous, and resilient and the justice system is accessible to all individuals and groups.
Social Cohesion

Social cohesion aims to create spaces where individuals feel connected, valued, and empowered to participate fully in society. Achieving this requires addressing inequality, discrimination, and exclusion, and promoting inclusivity, diversity, and respect for human rights. It involves creating conditions where everyone can participate fully regardless of their background, and fostering a sense of community and belonging to reduce isolation and alienation. Policies and programs that ensure equal access to opportunities and resources, while reducing discrimination are necessary to build a just and equitable society. Interactions between people from diverse backgrounds help promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures and perspectives.
Justice

Justice is vital for a fair, equitable and peaceful society. By strengthening the justice system, promoting restorative justice, and peace, we can create an inclusive society with equal access to the justice system. Advocating for justice means fair treatment, access to legal remedies, and equal participation. Justice must address procedural and substantive dimensions to create an inclusive society. Challenging injustices focuses on gender equality and children’s rights.

Wellbeing

Wellbeing is a multifaceted concept that encompasses several dimensions of human life, including quality of life, education, and healthy living. Achieving sustainable development and improving the quality of life requires promoting policies and practices that foster wellbeing in all its dimensions. This includes ensuring access to quality education for all, promoting healthy living through access to healthcare services and sanitation facilities, and addressing inequalities in household life. Policies and practices that promote wellbeing require an integrated and participatory approach that involves local communities, stakeholders, and policymakers. Such an approach ensures that policies and practices are context-specific, equitable, and sustainable. Overall, promoting wellbeing through policies and practices that address quality of life, education, and healthy living is essential for achieving sustainable development and improving the quality of life for all individuals, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.

Quality of Life

Achieving sustainable development and a high quality of life requires promoting safe and sustainable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, adopting participatory water management, and fostering food security through sustainable agriculture. Policies and practices should aim to promote equality in decision-making, access to resources, and opportunities for all members of the household, regardless of their gender, age, or socioeconomic status. Addressing gender inequalities is crucial in this regard, and it requires challenging social norms and stereotypes that perpetuate such inequalities.
Education

Education is crucial to sustainable development, and its quality and accessibility must be improved. Quality education leadership creates supportive learning environments through ongoing professional development and resource allocation. Innovative teaching practices that foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and industry-specific skills improve education quality. Inclusive education cultures and epistemic justice promote equal access and student success by addressing systemic barriers. Achieving these goals produces capable teachers and students, a capable workforce, and promotes diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility. Education can contribute to sustainable development by preparing a skilled workforce and promoting social equality.
Healthy Living

Promoting healthy living is essential to achieve sustainable and equitable societies. This requires improving access to healthcare services, establishing an inclusive healthcare system, and ensuring universal access to reproductive and sexual health and rights. Education and awareness campaigns can help in reducing the stigma associated with mental health issues, HIV/AIDS, and substance abuse, and equipping individuals with knowledge and skills to manage their health effectively. Prevention of diseases is critical to achieving the SDGs, and strategies may include public health campaigns, improved access to healthcare services, the development of new therapies or vaccines, and education initiatives aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles.

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Documents

Type	Name	Description
	Africa Agenda 2063	AGENDA 2063 is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance The genesis of Agenda 2063 was the realisation by African leaders that there was a need to refocus and reprioritise Africa’s agenda from the struggle against apartheid and the attainment of political independence for the continent which had been the focus of The Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union; and instead to prioritise inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security amongst other issues aimed at repositioning Africa to becoming a dominant player in the global arena.		National Development Plan: Our Future, Make it Work	South Africa belongs to all its people and the future of our country is our collective future. Making it work is our collective responsibility. All South Africans seek a better future for themselves and their children. The National Development Plan is a plan for the country to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030 through uniting South Africans, unleashing the energies of its citizens, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the capability of the state and leaders working together to solve complex problems.		Eastern Cape Vision 2030	When the National Development Plan (NDP) was presented to the nation in 2011, it set out a vision for South Africa – a prosperous country with no poverty or inequality. The NDP states that South Africa has the means, the goodwill, the people and the resources to achieve this goal. The NDP further states that at the core of the plan are capabilities – capabilities for people and country to thrive and flourish, and the creation of opportunities for such capabilities to manifest across citizens, the state, institutions and all sectors of society		Rhodes University Institutional Development Plan	This Institutional Development Plan collates, consolidates and expresses our choices and decisions and sets out our institutional goals and strategies that will be pursued for their achievement. It is not cast in stone but will remain a flexible and ‘living document’, everevolving and adapting as new strategies and approaches are implemented to advance our mission and vision as new imperatives and opportunities arise.

Type

Name

Description

Africa Agenda 2063

AGENDA 2063 is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance The genesis of Agenda 2063 was the realisation by African leaders that there was a need to refocus and reprioritise Africa’s agenda from the struggle against apartheid and the attainment of political independence for the continent which had been the focus of The Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union; and instead to prioritise inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security amongst other issues aimed at repositioning Africa to becoming a dominant player in the global arena.

National Development Plan: Our Future, Make it Work

South Africa belongs to all its people and the future of our country is our collective future. Making it work is our collective responsibility. All South Africans seek a better future for themselves and their children. The National Development Plan is a plan for the country to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030 through uniting South Africans, unleashing the energies of its citizens, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the capability of the state and leaders working together to solve complex problems.

Eastern Cape Vision 2030

When the National Development Plan (NDP) was presented to the nation in 2011, it set out a vision for South Africa – a prosperous country with no poverty or inequality. The NDP states that South Africa has the means, the goodwill, the people and the resources to achieve this goal. The NDP further states that at the core of the plan are capabilities – capabilities for people and country to thrive and flourish, and the creation of opportunities for such capabilities to manifest across citizens, the state, institutions and all sectors of society

Rhodes University Institutional Development Plan

This Institutional Development Plan collates, consolidates and expresses our choices and decisions and sets out our institutional goals and strategies that will be pursued for their achievement. It is not cast in stone but will remain a flexible and ‘living document’, everevolving and adapting as new strategies and approaches are implemented to advance our mission and vision as new imperatives and opportunities arise.