THE SDGS: OF – FOR – BY EVERYONE
The SDG-Forum brings the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from, for and by everyone. As the biggest multi-stakeholder forum on the SDGs in the Benelux, the SDG-Forum is able to reach out to a wide range of sectors and deals with a variety of themes.
Organised by more than 20 partner organizations from every corner of the sustainable development sector, the SDG-Forum strives to connect unusual suspects. It gives policy makers, business, NGOs, academia a chance to meet and exchange SDG ideas and SDG solutions.
AFTERMOVIE
PROGRAMME
→ Plenary sessions with inspiring SDG-related talks.
→ 26 workshops on various themes such as SDGs and Education, SDGs and Finance, SDGs & Business, SDGs and local government, SDG and policy guidelines, etc.
The workshops are given in Dutch, French, English or a combination of languages. The workshop descriptions indicate the languages that will be used. Click on the workshop series to discover all the workshops.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?
Registration
Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. We look forward to welcoming you and spending an inspiring day together focused on sustainable development.
Plenary session
Keynote
THE SDG PROMISE: INCLUDING REFUGEES - JEAN-NICOLAS BEUZE
Jean-Nicolas Beuze is the UNHCR country representative to the EU, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Portugal, having previously served as country representative in Iraq, Yemen and Canada.
He has over 28 years of experience working for the UN in the field and at the headquarters in the areas of human rights, peacekeeping and child protection.
PRESENTATION & PANEL DEBATE
SDG BAROMETER
Lars Moratis (Antwerp Management School) will present the new edition of the SDG Barometer, followed by a panel discussion featuring Luc van Liedekerke (University of Antwerp), Vanessa Biebel (VBO-FEB), and TBD
First workshop series
Climate and information integrity
Organizer: UNRIC & FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment
Languages: EN / NL / FR
3 experts (UN, FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment and NGO/Media representative) discuss the Global contect on Information Integrity and Climate Change, the Belgian climate barometer and practical solutions to fighting mis/disinformation about climate.
Social Dialogue as leverage for sustainable development, poverty eradication, living wages and social justice
Organizer: SYNOVA & ACV & ABVV
Languages: EN / NL / FR
The world of work is being reshaped. Impact workers, enterprises and societies, creating opportunities and challenges. They can enhance productivity, job creation and economic growth but can also widen decent work deficits, undermine rights, increase inequality, causing or letting persist working poverty, vulnerabilities, including in the platform and/or informal economy. Both in the Global South and North. An enabling environment for Social Dialogue, at all level including sectoral, can achieve income security through living wages and improved labour rights. Looking at the role of Trade Unions and the ILO as UN Agency to advance Social Dialogue and Decent Work.
Perspective 2050: what has the 2030 Agenda taught us?
Organizer: Associations 21
Languages: EN / FR
The workshop aims to present the analyses and findings of an exploratory study on the implementation of the SDGs, as well as the driving forces and barriers to progress identified by key stakeholders. It will then use these findings as a basis for considering the future of the SDGs.
Het water en de mariene en riviermilieus beschermen: concrete en duurzame oplossingen
Organizer: Stichting voor Toekomstige Generaties
Languages: NL / FR
Aan de hand van inspirerende initiatieven en onderzoekswerk rond watergerelateerde uitdagingen, zowel in België als in het buitenland, biedt dit panel een veelzijdige blik op oplossingen die op verschillende niveaus zijn ontwikkeld. De discussies zullen het belang van een systemische aanpak benadrukken, binnen het kader van de 4P’s (People, Planet, Prosperity en Participation).
Lokale klimaatveerkracht: welke hefbomen zijn er om van plannen naar actie over te gaan?
Organizer: CERAC
Languages: NL / FR
In juli 2026 publiceerde het CERAC een rapport over de mate waarin Belgische gemeenten voorbereid zijn op klimaatrisico’s. Hoewel gemeenten in de frontlinie staan bij overstromingen, hittegolven, droogtes en andere rampen, wordt de omzetting van plannen in daden nog steeds belemmerd door personele, financiële, technische en institutionele beperkingen. Aan de hand van een presentatie van het rapport, gevolgd door een paneldiscussie met gemeentelijke actoren, zal deze workshop de hefbomen verkennen die nodig zijn om de lokale klimaatveerkracht te versterken, met inbegrip van de uitdagingen op het vlak van sociale veerkracht. Er zal worden gesproken over de concrete voorwaarden om de aanpassing in de praktijk te versnellen, met het oog op veiligere, duurzamere en veerkrachtigere gebieden.
De SDG’s, een universeel project
Organizer: UNA Belgium
Languages: NL / FR
De workshop heeft tot doel de aandacht te vestigen op het geïntegreerde, ondeelbare en onderling verweven karakter van de SDG’s op mondiaal niveau. De nadruk zal liggen op de gevolgen van bepaalde nationale beleidsmaatregelen voor derde landen, met inbegrip van negatieve en positieve grensoverschrijdende effecten, alsmede op praktische voorbeelden en geleerde lessen.
Is het SDG-Forum 2026 een duurzaam evenement?
Organizer Federaal Instituut voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling
Languages: NL / FR
Het team van het FIDO zal de nieuwe versie van de tool voor de beoordeling van de duurzaamheid van evenementen presenteren en live de duurzaamheid van de organisatie van het SDG-Forum 2026 beoordelen.
What is Enough? A Bilingual Discussion on ‘Sufficiency’
Organizer: The Shift
Languages: NL / FR
De kwestie van toereikendheid staat centraal in de economie van de toekomst. Het houdt verband met de grenzen van onze planeet, het terugdringen van ongelijkheid en ook met geluk. Wat bedoelen we met ‘genoeg’? En hoe kunnen we dit concept integreren in ons leven en onze organisaties? Kom naar onze veilige ruimte om hier diepgaand over te discussiëren aan de hand van de Jefferson-methode.
Le numérique sous les 17 loupes du développement durable
Organiser: Lire et Ecrire Bruxelles
Languages: FR
Les participants répartis en 17 groupes / ODD analysent le numérique au regard de son ODD et crée un tableau Avantages-Inconvénients, au départ de son analyse. Il attribue une cote sur 10 sur le résultat final. Chaque groupe fait des liens systémiques entre son ODD et d’autres ODD. Fusion et mise en débat des résultats. S’il devait se mettre en œuvre un « observatoire du numérique » au regard des 17 ODD, quels devraient être les points d’attention ? Toute technologie devrait-elle être passée au filtre des SDG avant son déploiement ?
Lunch
Second workshop series
Planetary Boundaries & Planetary Guardians: Giving the planet a seat at the table
Organizer: Federal Council for Sustainable Development
Languages: EN
During this workshop, you will gain an overview of the planetary boundaries framework and explore how it can guide policy decisions with a view to long-term sustainability. Through a presentation and a panel discussion with experts from the fields of science, policy and civil society, the session will examine how the planet can be given a stronger voice in decision-making processes. The concept of ‘planetary guardians’ will be explored as a way of aligning governance with ecological boundaries and the SDGs.
Stakeholder dialogue with impact: practical experience with AA1000SES and a look ahead
Organizer: Federal Institute for Sustainable Development
Languages: EN
How do you organise a stakeholder dialogue that makes an impact? During this workshop, you will discover how SMEs and organisations applied the AA1000SES standard as part of a call for projects launched by FIDO. They will share their approach, challenges and key lessons learnt. In addition, the AccountAbility team will provide a first glimpse of the key changes to the updated standard, ahead of its official publication.
Agri-food systems and the SDGs: accelerating the transition
Organizer: FAO
Languages: EN
How can agri-food systems help to catalyse progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Drawing on the FAO publication “FAO and the SDGs – Accelerating transformation through the four betters”, this session will examine the role of agri-food systems as a lever for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Using concrete examples relating to SDGs 6, 7, 9 and 11, speakers from the FAO, the Belgian government and other non-governmental organisations will analyse integrated solutions, persistent challenges and opportunities to accelerate action towards 2030, whilst exploring the prospects for the sustainable development agenda beyond 2030.
Duurzame ontwikkeling integreren in een project: een concrete en systemische aanpak
Organizer: Stichting voor Toekomstige Generaties
Languages: NL / FR
Tijdens deze workshop ontdek je hoe jij duurzame ontwikkeling in jouw projecten kunt integreren aan de hand van systeemdenken en het 4P-raamwerk (People, Planet, Prosperity en Participation). Na een inleiding over de Duurzame Ontwikkelingsdoelstellingen (SDG’s) maak je kennis met het 4P-raamwerk (People, Planet, Prosperity en Participation) en ontdek je aan de hand van concrete casussen hoe je dit kunt toepassen op een project.
Co-creation with young people: from an SDG idea to inclusive and sustainable impact
Organizer: Enabel
Languages: NL / FR / EN
This workshop builds on the Youth Incubator, an initiative by the Colruyt Group Foundation and Enabel, which supports young people in bringing their ideas on international solidarity and the SDGs to life. We will demonstrate how co-creation and ownership contribute to the participation of a broader and more diverse group of young people, including those who are currently under-represented. Together, we will explore how initiatives of this kind can be made more accessible and relevant to young people who are currently less likely to engage. We will seek out concrete levers to achieve a truly inclusive impact.
Navigating Uncertain Times: Let’s Stick Together!
The importance of belonging to an SDG Community
Organizer: CIFAL Brussels
Languages: EN
This session highlights the importance of a strong local network in accelerating progress towards the SDGs. Join this interactive Meet and Greet and discover how partners of CIFAL Brussels - companies, public authorities, social profit organisations, higher education institutions and other changemakers - are putting the SDGs into practice. Participants will learn from organisations that have already made significant progress on their sustainability journey, while having the opportunity to engage directly with them, exchange ideas, ask questions, and gain insights from their experiences, successes, and lessons learned.
The Future of the Global Workforce: Rethinking the Quality of
Education
Organizer: UNYA Brussels
Languages: NL / EN
Education is a cornerstone of social development and plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the global workforce. Through SDG 4, the UN highlights the importance of inclusive and quality education, but where do we stand today? By exploring different cases and perspectives (such as the growing participation of women in higher education in Belgium) this workshop examines the opportunities, inequalities and contradictions within education systems worldwide. Through interactive discussions and case based analysis, participants will critically explore what “quality education” means and how it can shape the workforce of tomorrow.
L’habitat durable en zone rurale ou comment inventer un autre modèle que celui de l’écologie urbaine ?
Organizer: Habitat et Participation asbl
Languages: FR
Constats : des modèles d’habitats plus durables ont surgi, avec des formes de rénovation, des formes de densification (douce), des gestions énergétiques et des modèles de mobilité douce propres aux zones urbaines.
Impact Finance explained
Organizer: Impact Finance Belgium
Languages: EN
The workshop aims to raise awareness of concepts such as impact investment, impact enterprises, … and Impact Finance Belgium, the Belgian network established to support this field. We will also examine the extent to which their businesses comprise (elements of) impact enterprises.
Coffee break
Third workshop series
Biedt de VN jongeren een duurzame toekomst?
Intergenerationeel debat, van Agenda 2030 tot 2050
Organizer: VVN
Languages: NL
De Vereniging voor de Verenigde Naties (VVN) viert dit jaar haar 50ste verjaardag, een ideaal moment om vanuit SDG 16 (goed bestuur) en SDG 17 (multilateralisme) de werking en aanpak van de VN onder de loep te nemen. Jongeren gaan in gesprek met VN-medewerkers, academici en ervaringsdeskundigen over de troeven en gebreken van mondiale actieplannen zoals Agenda 2030 en de Klimaatakkoorden. Hoe kan de VN en het multilaterale systeem zich het best (re-)organiseren om mondiale uitdagingen ook in de toekomst daadkrachtig aan te pakken? Dat onderzoeken we aan de hand van uitdagende stellingen en toekomstscenario’s.
“Climbing the Ladder”: How Can Circular Strategies Reduce Consumption of the Natural Resources?
Organizer: Federal Institute for Sustainable Development
Languages: NL / FR / EN
Discussion about the potential of high-order circular strategies with the aim of reducing the overconsumption of raw materials and natural resources. The focus of current policy and business initiatives lies primarily on recycling and recovery. International organisations such as UNEP are calling for a stronger focus on higher-order ‘R’ strategies: ‘refuse, rethink (e.g. PaaS models) and reduce’. The aim of the workshop is to bring together a number of experts to discuss the potential, challenges and future developments in this field.
Innovatieve samenwerkingsverbanden tussen ondernemingen, verenigingen en de media bij lokale projecten
Organizer: Be Planet & le Service public de Wallonie
Languages: NL / FR
Europees New Bauhaus: wat zou er in landelijke gebieden ontwikkeld kunnen worden dat tegemoetkomt aan de ecologische, economische en culturele ambities op het gebied van huisvesting?
Leaving no one behind: Migration as a powerful driver for sustainable development
Organizer: International Organization for Migration
Languages: EN
The 2030 Agenda and the SDGs will not be achieved without due consideration of human mobility. People on the move – one in eight people in the world – are part of the solution. Managed well, migration can be a cornerstone of sustainable development, prosperity, and progress. The workshop will explore the link between migration and the SDGs through concrete examples, tools and lessons learned illustrating the accelerator impact which effective integration of migrants and mobility can have on attainment of the SDGs.
An Introduction to the Cobalt Social Experience
Organizer: Collectif Cobalt
Languages: NL / FR / EN
A powerful tool for facilitation and raising awareness for organisations and businesses committed to exploring and implementing sustainability, the Social Experience addresses a range of social issues in an interactive way.
Duurzaam wonen, zich verwarmen en verkoelen
Organizer: Combat Poverty & Federal Council for Sustainable Development
Languages: NL / FR
In deze tijden van klimaatverandering is het bijzonder belangrijk om te kunnen investeren in een duurzame woning, met duurzame installaties voor verwarming en koeling. Voor mensen in situaties van armoede en bestaansonzekerheid is de toegang tot deze mogelijkheden echter niet evident, en vaak heel problematisch. In deze workshop bekijken we de drempels voor deze groepen, maar ook de mogelijkheden voor een beleid dat niemand achterlaat.
Inclusieve burgerparticipatie voor lokaal duurzaam beleid
Organisator: VVSG & Djapo
Talen: NL
In deze workshop verkennen VVSG en Djapo hoe lokale besturen hun burgers - en vooral de minder bereikbare of meer kwetsbare groepen - actief kunnen betrekken bij duurzaam beleid dat vertrekt van echte lokale noden. We tonen hoe samenwerking rond de SDG’s leidt tot sterker beleid - meer draagvlak, betere keuzes, gedeelde verantwoordelijkheid en oplossingen die rechtvaardiger zijn voor wie vandaag te weinig gehoord wordt – en delen bestaande praktijken, zoals burgerbudgetten, klimaatwijken, jongerenparticipatie en buurtgerichte SDG-trajecten.
Reality Vs Intention. Can we truly align Sustainability with Reality?
Organisator: GoodPlanet Belgium
Talen: FR / EN
Sustainability ambitions are growing, but actions often remain insufficient. This workshop invites participants to confront the contradictions between what we know, what we communicate, and what we do. Participants will challenge perceived ideas about corporate transformation, individual responsibility, technological solutions, and measurable impact. The workshop seeks to uncover the bottlenecks that keep us locked into inadequate responses and examine how they might be overcome.
Awards ceremony SDG Awards
As part of Belgium’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the Federal Institute for Sustainable Development (FIDO) is organizing the first-ever SDG Awards: an awards ceremony honoring organizations that serve as inspiring examples for others in the field of sustainable development.
The SDG Awards honor a business, a local government, an educational institution, or a civil society organization for their commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. For each category, an independent jury selects two nominees, who are then presented to the audience at the SDG-Forum, which ultimately determines which organization in each category will receive the award.
Networking reception
GETTING THERE
Place Sainte-Croix, 1050 Ixelles
ACCESSIBILITY
Flagey
Located on the edge of the Flagey square and next to the Ixelles ponds, this building – formerly the headquarters of the national radio and television institution – has now more than ever become a crossroad where artistic disciplines can meet and exchange ideas. Culture lovers of all ages are welcome in this beautiful Art Deco building, to take part in various events which range from events, concert and movies.
-
Public transport
We recommend coming by public transport or considering alternative means of transport to avoid traffic and parking problems.
-
Bicycle
-
Accessibility for people with reduced mobility
Flagey is accessible to people with reduced mobility. We ask that you contact us in advance at info@sdgs.be. We will then discuss how we can assist you on the day of the event.
PARTNERS
The SDG-Forum 2025 is made possible thanks to the commitment and collaboration of more than 20 partner organisations from across the sustainable development spectrum. Together, they represent government bodies, civil society, academia and the private sector, all working hand in hand to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Each partner contributes unique expertise, experience and networks, helping to shape the programme and ensure a diverse and inclusive exchange of ideas. Their shared ambition: to turn the Sustainable Development Goals into concrete actions and inspire others to do the same.
We sincerely thank all partners for their ongoing engagement, trust and enthusiasm in co-creating the SDG-Forum.
SUSTAINABILITY
-
Waste Management
To minimise waste, we apply the principle of reduce-reuse-recycle. We avoid using single-use disposable packaging and try to minimise the use of printed signage. If printed materials still need to be produced, they are made from recyclable materials, and we make sure they are reusable for future editions.
-
Transport
To avoid unnecessary transportation, we choose a location that already has a close infrastructure and strive for close cooperation with local suppliers to limit travel. We encourage the use of public transport, while cyclists have the option of placing their bikes conveniently at the event site.
-
Measuring our impact
To measure the concrete impact of the SDG-Forum, we conduct a carbon calculation. For this reason, we ask participants to provide information about their mode of transport and kilometers travelled. By mapping CO₂ emissions, we aim to compensate them and further reduce them annually.
-
No food waste
By having participants sign up for specific parts of the programme, we can accurately estimate demand, and any surplus food will be collected by Alpaca Solutions and donated to those in need.
-
Sustainable food
With the goal of reducing the ecological impact of the SDG-Forum, we serve exclusively vegetarian food and use seasonal, local produce from the organic sector, certified by Certisys.
-
Diversity & Inclusion
We aim to make the SDG-Forum accessible to all, with support from the Flemish centre of expertise for accessibility, Inter, and a trained host team for people with reduced mobility, and participants can specify specific needs in advance.