Most countries in Europe and Central Asia region experience interconnected socio-economic and environmental challenges. An integrated development approach must also tackle these challenges in tandem, recognizing that accelerating economic growth must also address a range of social issues such as education, health, social protection, and decent jobs, while adapting its effects on nature and anthropogenic climate change. The challenge is to encourage inclusive economic growth while minimizing the economy's pressure on environmental resources and biodiversity.

Our work in national and local planning distinctly builds on two pillars. SDG alignment and localization enables us to leverage synergies and trade-offs and perceive development challenges as the outcome of complex dynamics that also require cross-cutting solutions. On the other hand, a portfolio approach complements this effort by providing the much-needed systems perspective and integrating innovative approaches to the planning and implementation processes. Prudent about complexity, we support countries to:

Make sense of interconnections: We support governments in complexity analysis that captures non-linear dynamics and identifies synergies that can accelerate the achievement of SDGs and yield actionable insights for policymaking.

Exploring policy opportunities and tradeoffs: We improve evidence-based policy making by applying a range of tools such as long-term modelling, scenario development, in-depth sectoral models, or foresighting.

Harness the power of data for development: We support collecting and utilizing data focusing on SDG progress at the national and local level, including data presentation to promote data use for policymaking and for the facilitation of policy dialogue with broad range of partners.