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Development of SDG Strategy Tool for ABDE

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We developed an SDG Strategy Tool for ABDE

The Associaçāo Brasileira de Desenvolvimento (ABDE) is Brazil’s national development finance association, representing 31 public and private Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). As part of its 2020–2023 Strategic Planning Cycle, ABDE aimed to promote the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across its member institutions. However, the degree of SDG integration varied widely among members, and many lacked practical tools to guide strategy and communicate impact. ABDE needed a tailored, scalable methodology to help its members take the first steps toward meaningful SDG alignment.

Steward Redqueen developed a fit-for-all methodology called The SDG Exercise, designed to be implemented in a one-day workshop format. The methodology guides institutions through a four-step process to prioritize SDGs based on their mandate, portfolio, and local context:

  1. SDG Parameter Setting
    Institutions reflect on their strategic mandate and identify SDGs most aligned with their core activities.
  2. SDG Capital Allocation
    Institutions assess how their portfolios contribute to the SDG agenda, mapping positive and negative interactions across sectors.
  3. SDG Contextualization
    Institutions evaluate the relevance of SDGs in their local operating environments to ensure contextual fit.
  4. SDG Prioritisation
    Institutions define a shortlist of priority SDGs, laying the foundation for targeted impact measurement and strategic communication.

The methodology was developed in collaboration with local consultancy SITAWI and supported by GIZ and CAF. It was designed to be practical, non-prescriptive, and adaptable to the diverse needs of ABDE’s member institutions

The SDG Exercise enabled ABDE members to confidently prioritize SDGs and communicate a focused strategy. It helped create a level playing field for institutions at different stages of SDG integration and provided a shared framework for strategic alignment. In October 2023, ABDE launched the SDG Methodology Guide, a publication that presents the methodology and offers guidance on its use to support Brazil’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development