Systems Thinking for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

About This Course

The world’s most pressing sustainability challenges—from climate change and inequality to health and education—are deeply interconnected. Tackling these issues effectively requires more than just surface-level solutions—it demands systems thinking: a mindset that helps us understand how different parts of a system influence each other.

This 3-week course introduces participants to key tools for analyzing and designing systems in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through practical, hands-on exercises, you’ll learn to map out complex issues, uncover hidden feedback loops, and simulate interventions that address root causes and create long-term, sustainable impact. Real SDG case studies will show how to apply these tools in your own work, whether you’re a researcher, policymaker, or development professional.

Aim

To empower participants with the tools and frameworks of systems thinking, helping them address the interconnected nature of the 17 SDGs and develop more effective, inclusive, and sustainable solutions.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Visualize and analyze complex systems, identifying leverage points for effective interventions

• Use systems mapping and causal loop diagramming to reveal hidden dynamics and interdependencies

• Apply feedback analysis and policy modeling to test potential solutions

• Foster cross-sector collaboration to create innovative, data-driven SDG solutions

• Move beyond siloed thinking in policy, planning, and education

Course Structure

Module 1: Foundations of Systems Thinking

• What is systems thinking?

  • Key concepts: stocks, flows, reinforcing & balancing loops, mental-model traps

  • The complexity of SDGs: feedback loops, delays, and ripple effects between goals

• Understanding interconnectedness in sustainability

• Interactive Activity:

  • Personal challenge ice-breaker to demonstrate systems thinking in daily life

  • Loop Diary: Track your own actions through a systems lens

  • SDG Interdependency Map: Visualize how different SDGs affect each other

Module 2: Tools & Frameworks for Systems Practice

• Introduction to causal loop diagrams and stock-flow models

  • How to build, simulate, and iterate on models to uncover insights

• Tools of the trade:

  • Kumu, Insight Maker, iSDG, Loopy (choose one to work with)

• Hands-on Activity:

  • Build and publish a causal loop diagram

  • Conduct a Stock-Flow Lite simulation

  • Peer critique session to refine your approach

Module 3: Action Design & Application

• Exploring leverage points and system archetypes

  • Using Meadows’ 12-point checklist to assess system health and design interventions

• Intervention Design:

  • How to design a minimum-viable policy canvas for sustainability interventions

  • Scan for unintended consequences and long-term dynamics

• Hands-on Activity:

  • Leverage Hunt: Identify leverage points in your system

  • Intervention Canvas Sprint: Rapid design of policy interventions

  • Playback & Stress-Test: Test your interventions for robustness

  • Personal Commitment: How will you apply what you’ve learned in your work?

Who Should Enrol?

• Sustainability professionals and development practitioners

• UN, NGO, and public policy officers

• University faculty and research scholars in sustainability, environment, and governance

• Students in international development, systems science, or public health

• Social entrepreneurs and grassroots coordinators working on SDG solutions