BSR | ADVANCING THE SDGs THROUGH COLLABORATION Examples of Collaborations Contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Multidimensional Poverty Gender Equality Despite signi昀椀cant progress, poverty remains Sida stipulates that gender equality is not only widespread. According to the UN, in 2015, a matter of human rights, but also a prerequisite more than 736 million people lived below the for eradicating poverty in the world. However, 4 international poverty line of US$1.90 per day. in 2022, a report by UN Women estimated that In addition, it is estimated that the Covid-19 it would take close to 300 years to achieve full pandemic reversed much of the progress made gender equality at current rates of progress.5 on global poverty reduction. These 昀椀gures clearly demonstrate that there is a While poverty reduction was not expressed as long way to go to end discrimination and violence an explicit objective, many of the collaborations against women and ensure their full and effective incubated as part of the CoLab SDGs program participation in economic opportunities. indirectly contributed to poverty reduction Several of the collaborations incubated or resulting from job insecurity and actual or supported under the program have placed potential job losses; poor working conditions gender equality at the core of their vision and and labor exploitation; or a lack of access to mission. For example, the Watch & Jewellery physical assets, 昀椀nancial services, or economic Initiative 2030 (WJI2030), a collaboration that opportunities. aims to create a fully sustainable watch and The Sustainable Coconut Platform (SCP)—a jewelry industry that is resilient to climate change, global membership organization working toward preserves resources and fosters inclusiveness, a responsible and resilient coconut sector that supports the UN Women’s Empowerment drives positive impact for farmers’ livelihoods, Principles (WEPs), and requires its members to the climate and the environment—recognizes sign the WEPs and develop a workplan to pursue the interconnectedness between production gender equality in their operations and value challenges in the coconut sector as a result of chain.6 RISE (formerly Empower@Work) is another environmental challenges and poor farming example of a collaboration that aims to remove practices and farmers’ livelihoods. systemic barriers for women workers in global By bringing together more than 80 actors garment supply chains. across the coconut supply chain, SCP identi昀椀es Through workplace training programs on solutions and makes shared investments to reproductive health and 昀椀nancial literacy, RISE ensure the sustainability of coconut for current tackles underlying challenges such as gender and future generations of farmers. discrimination, violence in the workplace, sexual harassment, and traditional gender roles, ensuring that women can thrive in the workplace and in their communities. 4 Ending Poverty | United Nations 5 Press release: Achieving full gender equality is still centuries away, warns the United Nations in a new report | UN Women—Headquarters 7 6 Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030