A Methodological Framework for Advancing SDGs Implementation: From System Assessment to Interlinkage Identification and Indicator Prioritization

Abstract

In 2015, UN members (193 countries) agreed to the non-binding 2030 agenda and to use the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as guiding principles for policies and activities. This dissertation tries to address several critical challenges of SDG implementation through the development of systematic approaches for evaluation and prioritization, motivated by the global stagnation in SDG progress. Specifically, the development of novel frameworks for implementation analysis, network analysis applications, interaction identification, and prioritization strategies. The research first develops an innovative analytical framework for evaluating SDG implementation systems, coupling SWOT analysis with multi-attribute decision-making (MADM). Using the MENA region as a test bed, this framework revealed that high income and economic affluence alone neither guarantee nor preclude successful SDG implementation. Instead, it highlights the crucial role of internal governance structures and external factors, providing valuable insights and policy recommendations for improving SDG implementation systems in the studied region and globally. One of the key policy recommendations was the critical need for evidence-based policy planning in SDG prioritization, and upon exploring the prioritization methodologies, network analysis emerged as a promising tool. For this reason, a systematic review of network analysis applications in SDG interaction studies was conducted, and a framework integrating SDG interactions with evidence-based policymaking toward enhancing SDG achievement was proposed. The review identified significant methodological gaps, particularly the reliance on correlation and expert opinion in SDG interaction identification. Addressing these limitations, the research developed a novel hybrid approach combining causation and correlation analysis. This approach was applied to the UAE data as proof of concept, and the results revealed predominantly synergistic relationships while also identifying critical areas requiring policy attention. Finally, this dissertation develops a novel SDG prioritization framework that integrates performance levels with influence metrics based on the framework developed in the systematic literature review and the tested novel hybrid approach. This framework was tested in the MENA region at different scales (Regional, sub-regional, and country level).
The results revealed that only 50% of indicators achieve satisfactory performance, with significant variations across income levels and geographic-political groupings. The analysis identified high-urgency targets and central indicators that can accelerate progress across multiple SDGs, providing practical guidance for resource allocation and policy prioritization. This dissertation makes significant contributions to both theoretical understanding and practical implementation of SDGs by (1) developing universally applicable frameworks for implementation system assessment and SDG prioritization, (2) establishing innovative methodologies for analyzing SDG interactions through hybrid causation-correlation approaches, and (3) providing empirical evidence from the MENA region as a detailed case study. While the frameworks demonstrate significant potential for supporting evidence-based policymaking and regional cooperation, the research also acknowledges current limitations in analytical methods and data availability. Future research directions include scenario modeling and refinement of analytical techniques to enhance framework robustness.

Date of Award	7 May 2025
Original language	American English
Supervisor	MUTASEM El Fadel (Supervisor)