Addressing global challenges by joint knowledge production is at the core of the dialogue, research and training programme Managing Global Governance (MGG). The programme is implemented by the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) with partners from the emerging economies Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa. Researchers and experts from the public sector, civil society and the private sector work on joint projects  to shed new light on current global challenges particularly in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to explore innovative problem-solving approaches at the national, regional and international level.

Although not a sustainable development goal in itself, digitalisation has great potential to accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs, by creating new opportunities and solutions through technological innovation. At the same time, technological advances bear risks or cause effects contrary to the goals of the 2030 agenda.

Recently, Brazil has launched its four-year digital transformation strategy, which contains a set of broad, long-term guidelines and goals for the digitalisation of the Brazilian economy. While this government programme could be a step towards a digital agenda for sustainable development, further efforts are required to fully embrace the opportunities for sustainable development provided by digitalisation. Against this background, the MGG alumni meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, explored Brazilian perspectives on digitalisation and sustainable development as well as ideas for MGG activities in the future.

The event was jointly organised with Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV). It aimed to shed new light on the implications of the digital transformation in the context of sustainable development, connecting MGG Alumni from various countries and batches as well as fostering cooperation in the field of digitalisation.

MGG is implemented on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).