Drawing on his research on multi‑stakeholder partnerships (MSPs), Philipp illustrated why partnerships are a powerful antidote to conflict‑driven mindsets. Using examples from nature, including symbiotic relationships like lichens, he showed how diverse actors can achieve far more together than alone. This biological metaphor set the stage for a broader reflection on what MSPs offer—and where they fall short—as instruments of global sustainability governance.
Philipp placed particular emphasis on the new generation of MSPs that emerged after the adoption of the SDGs in 2015. With SDG 17 elevating partnerships to a central delivery mechanism, expectations were high: these partnerships were meant to be more transformative, more integrated across goals, and more inclusive than the first generation that developed after the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.
However, Philipp explained that research reveals a more nuanced picture. While the new MSPs contribute to linking different SDGs, they do not necessarily connect the goals that would generate the greatest transformative impact. Many partnerships also lack rigorous monitoring, reporting and verification procedures, making accountability difficult. Moreover, the leverage points they employ often focus on information‑based or technical interventions rather than addressing deeper structural drivers of unsustainability, such as underlying worldviews, social norms or power imbalances.
These findings underline both the potential and the limitations of MSPs as tools for sustainable development. As the 2030 Agenda approaches its end, Philipp stressed that safeguarding lessons‑learned will be crucial for shaping the next generation of partnerships—ones capable of addressing systemic challenges rather than only symptoms.
Philipp’s keynote formed part of a wider VU Amsterdam contribution to Expo 2025 as part of the programme Building a Society Based on Wellbeing shaped by Prof. Meike Bartels, and supported by a VU delegation visiting Japan to explore new avenues for collaboration in wellbeing, sustainability and social innovation.
