Purpose: The pursuance of the sustainable development goals, introduced by the United Nations in2015, is of absolute necessity to build a sustainable future. Resilience-based crisis management helps tosustain an organisation and pursue its goal during crises. The aim of this research was to explore thestatus quo of resilience-based crisis management within public primary- and secondary schools in theNetherlands during school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the aim was todiscover which measures were in place to safeguard the provision of SDG 4. The exploration took placeto observe the adaptation capabilities within the educational sector, which could safeguard the provisionof SDG 4. Methodology: The aim was pursued by a qualitative approach. 17 semi-structured interviews with 18people were conducted during the time of the immediate Coronavirus crisis. All interviewees heldpositions within the crisis management of primary- and secondary schools in the Netherlands. Theinterviews were then analysed by the two researchers using thematic content analysis. Results: The results suggest that:(a) Crisis management structures in the schools foster resilience, yet, leave room for improvement;(b) Crisis management processes to foster resilience are present in the schools, however, the extentvaries and especially the pre-crisis actions were limited;(c) The sustainable development goals, especially the content of SDG 4, are little known in the schools;(d) Actions and measures to provide equitable and qualitative education during the temporary schoolclosures are in place. Implications: This research adds to the young field of crisis management within schools during schoolclosures as well as the provision of SDG 4 during crises through resilience-based crisis management.Since this research is of exploratory nature, many future research opportunities derive from this research.Furthermore, it discovered the strengths and challenges of the Dutch primary and secondary educationsector and gives room for development through education on SDG 4 and resilience-based crisismanagement.

Rapid urbanisation is a global phenomenon on the rise. If managed poorly by the cities affected, it may lead to, e.g. segregation, air pollution and civil unrest. In order to avoid these problems and to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, 10, reduce inequality within and among countries and 11, make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, urbanisation policies must be functional, robust and socially sustainable so that the organic growth or poorly executed policies does not lead to problems like segregation, tensions between the inhabitants and civil unrest. This study takes a closer look at a one mega city’s attempt to cope with their rapid urbanisation, the Socio-Economic Stratification (SES) system of Bogotá, Colombia to see if it is a sustainable and efficient urbanisation policy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in two areas of Bogotá where neighbourhoods are characterised by a significant difference in SES levels. Social Identity Theory and the Social Identity Model of System Attitudes were adopted to analyse the results, focusing on the formation of group identities in the neighbourhoods, intergroup conflictual behaviour, relationships and contact to see whether there exist peaceful coexistence or intergroup conflictual behaviours between the members of the SES systems different levels. The study shows a passively supported but not actively endorsed system, a tendency to place strong classification and stigmas on individuals based on their SES level, the lack of relationships and contact between neighbourhoods, and social identities with intergroup conflictual behaviour in three out of four areas investigated. A less conflictual behaviour is found in individuals that have lived in other SES levels or has had much contact with people from there. The results suggest that urbanisation policies, not only in Bogotá but worldwide, should be implemented where inhabitants are encouraged to interact and diminish segregation. As the segregation stemming from the SES system is causing tensions between the members of the different SES levels and may lead to civil unrest. This study contributes to the deficit in empirical data that exists on the SES system and will work to spark a debate on its implications and highlight people’s experiences from it. The results will also work as material for future research on the SES system and other urbanisation policies worldwide.

In the light of the urgence of cooperation in the world, for handling global issues, this study offers a discussion on bilateral cooperation, more specifically on municipal partnerships. While previous research has examined some specific cases on possibilities and challengeswith this kind of cooperation, the view of proven efficiency in relation to the symbolic value has fallen short. The organization Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy offers a Network for Human Rights and aims to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences between local authorities. This study, which is based on ten in-depth qualitative interviews, ought to explore what challenges and learnings can be found in ongoing municipal partnerships, in this Network. The study further aims to explore how those findings relate to a North and South perspective and the municipalities’ values and goals, by collecting experiences from South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Sweden. Through a thematic analysis process of the empirical data and the use of a theoretical framework in the field of organizational learning, developed by Chris Argyris and Donald A. Schön, this study has been able to identify several findings. Challenges involve implementation, cultural obstacles and lack of resources, which prove to be divergent between North and South. Values and goals of the partnerships are hence hard to perform in practice. The outcomes circle practical activities, however, the most evident outcome is to learn from one another, which puts the learning experiences in focus of the study.

Efforts towards sustainable urban areas are fundamental for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs], embodied in goal 11 of sustainable cities and communities. Sustainable urban development requires the goals to be localized and operationalized to the applied areas needs and prerequisites. Localization and operationalization of the goals has, however, proved to be difficult in a local setting. In relation, Neighbourhood Sustainability Assessment [NSA] tools are found to provide directives, metrics and indicators of community sustainability assessments, possibly appliable to provide guidance for local governance to operationalize the SDGs. This degree project aims to evaluate the possibility of SDG.11 attainment and policy operationalization at a local level through the use of an established NSA-tool, BREEAM-C. To do so, this degree project use deductive thematic analysis, with SDG.11 targets as analytical framework, to evaluate connectivity to SDG.11 of local policy documents stated to direct efforts of SDG.11 implementation and the selected NSA-tool manual. Further, a composite index of NSA-tool indicators, ranked and adapted to local intentions, is developed through an analytical hierarchy process. Overall strong connections, though variable, to SDG.11 are found for both municipal and NSA-tool intentions of urban development as well as between municipal and NSA-tool intentions. The proposed composite index for SDG.11 implementation is deemed to adequately answer to municipal intentions of SDG.11 implementation.

Nachhaltigkeitsprozesse der Vereinten Nationen haben für Kommunen spätestens seit Verabschiedung der Agenda 21 eine hohe Relevanz. Mit dem SDG 11 und anderen (Unter-)Zielen, die zur nachhaltigen Stadt- und Gemeindeentwicklung beitragen sollen, wurde ihnen explizit eine entscheidende Rolle zugesprochen. Gleichwohl beziehen sich die 17 SDGs, die 169 Unterziele und die zugehörigen Indikatoren zur Erfolgskontrolle der globalen Ziele auf die nationale Ebene und benötigen somit Übertragungs- und Anpassungsleistungen für die kommunale Ebene. Im Rahmen der Arbeitsgruppe „SDG-Indikatoren für Kommunen“ hat das Deutsche Institut für Urbanistik im Auftrag und gemeinsam mit der Bertelsmann Stiftung und den kommunalen Spitzenverbänden (Deutscher Städtetag, Deutscher Städte-und Gemeindebund, Deutscher Landkreistag), dem Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR), der Servicestelle Kommunen in der Einen Welt (SKEW) und weiteren begleitenden Gremien ein umfassendes Monitoring zum Status quo der SDGs auf kommunaler Ebene erarbeitet. Die inhaltliche Weiterentwicklung des ersten Indikatorenkatalogs von 2018 erfolgte nun auf Basis von Praxis-Erprobungen und umfassenden Evaluationen. Die Bewertung der gesammelten und entwickelten 120 Indikatoren stellte dabei in einigen Themenbereichen wie der Flächennutzung eine Herausforderung dar, die Diskrepanzen der Relevanz von SDGs je nach Perspektive und Ebene offenbaren.

[pt] As Civic Tech como ferramentas tecnológicas para o exercício da cidadania e formação da cidadania global são capazes de fomentar e restaurar valores como cooperação e solidariedade na busca do consenso, conforme os pilares apresentados na Agenda 2030 da ONU – englobando pessoas, planeta, prosperidade, paz e parcerias. Torna-se possível o uso da tecnologia da informação para garantir informações de interesse socioeconômico para os cidadãos, permitindo, portanto, o acesso a informações para o exercício pleno da cidadania. Através do empoderamento do cidadão de um determinado território é possível a formação da cidadania global, rompendo-se a exclusividade imposta pelo mercado, no sentido de as pessoas agirem afirmativamente em prol do bem estar social, individual e coletivo, ou seja, além das ações associadas ao consumo típico de bens e serviços, características da sociedade de consumo e de massa. Neste sentido, o objetivo geral do trabalho é a criação de uma Civic Tech que se disponha à formação da cidadania global através de ações afirmativas com foco no Brasil, por meio do exercício efetivo da cidadania. / [en] Civic Tech as technological tools for the exercise of citizenship and the formation of global citizenship are capable of promoting and restoring values such as cooperation and solidarity in the search for consensus, according to the pillars presented in the UN 2030 Agenda - encompassing people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships. It becomes possible to use information technology to guarantee information of socioeconomic interest to citizens, thus allowing access to information for the full exercise of citizenship. Through the empowerment of citizens in a given territory, it is possible to form global citizenship, breaking with the exclusivity imposed by the market, in the sense that people act affirmatively in favor of social, individual and collective well-being, that is, in addition to actions associated with the typical consumption of goods and services, characteristics of consumer and mass society. In this sense, the general objective of the work is the creation of a Civic Tech that is willing to form global citizenship through affirmative actions focused on Brazil, through the effective exercise of citizenship.

Rapid urbanization is taking place in Low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Often there is not sufficient data monitoring the quick urban change. This study explores the use of machine learning classification within remote sensing to foster sustainable urban practices in a secondary city in an LMIC. The aim is to extract spatially detailed land cover data and investigate its temporal evolution from 2018 to 2021. Furthermore, targeted interviews with residents were conducted to gain an in-situ understanding of the land cover changes. The research reveals a trend of increased impervious surface in Sekondi-Takoradi, especially around the urban outskirts. Some patterns of densification can also be identified, predominantly in urban areas with a mix of impervious surfaces and vegetation. These findings reveal similar land cover change patterns as previous remote sensing studies, a decrease in vegetation, and an increase in impervious surfaces.  The used method can be applied at a larger scale to monitor the urbanization of secondary cities in LMICs, a field that often is neglected. These insights can contribute to achieving the UN's 11th Sustainable Development Sustainable Cities and Communities.

[pt] A dissertação trata do desenvolvimento do aplicativo para celular chamado Sustenta.me, inserido nos Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável 12, Consumo e Produção Responsáveis. O objetivo principal desse aplicativo é mapear produtos e serviços sustentáveis na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, facilitando seu acesso de forma prática e segura, fornecendo uma ferramenta para promover a economia circular no dia-a-dia do público-alvo. A dissertação apresenta também uma pequena retrospectiva do impacto da criação dos aplicativos na sociedade contemporânea e uma revisão dos serviços sustentáveis sob uma perspectiva histórica no Rio de Janeiro, se debruçando então sobre o processo de criação do aplicativo Sustenta.me e um protótipo em tamanho real para testes, avaliação da interface interativa e proposta de promoção do aplicativo. / [en] The dissertation focuses on the development of a mobile applicationcalled Sustenta.me, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 12: ResponsibleConsumption and Production. The primary objective of this application is to mapsustainable products and services in the city of Rio de Janeiro, making theiraccess practical and secure. It serves as a tool to promote circular economy inthe everyday lives of the target audience. The dissertation also provides a briefretrospective on the impact of application creation in contemporary society and ahistorical review of sustainable services in Rio de Janeiro. It then delves into theprocess of creating the Sustenta.me application, including a full-scale prototypefor testing, evaluation of the interactive interface, and a proposal for promotingthe application.

This study aims to create a sustainable tourism stakeholder framework for hotels in Vlora, a popular tourist destination in southeast European country Albania. As tourism is one of the major driving forces towards better social and economical conditions in Albania but simultaneously poses threats towards nearby ecosystems and protected areas, local traditions and cultures and small suppliers, the importance of sustainability in the industry has risen as a top priority. Conducted on behalf of UNDP Albania, the stakeholder framework aims to function as an outline for a sustainable management plan, leading to future eco-certi cation for hotels. The stakeholder framework, which includes  five-key stakeholder categories; operational, employees, clients, suppliers and local community, each with well tested CSR-practices linked to them, aims to promote sustainable development for the entire destination. The hotel, placed in the center, isused as a driving force towards closer collaborations with other stakeholder categories. The framework was tested on Vlora's largest hotel actor, Regina Hotel Group, through a questionnaire and interviews with four top management executives. The key findings show that Regina Hotel Group has come far in their social sustainability, in particular regarding employees and local suppliers, but lack in sustainability training, leading to lower awareness and sustainability mainly being implemented for financial reasons. Lastly, a recommendation with examples of short- and long-term implementations is presented for the hotel, connected to each stakeholder category. / Denna studie kommer att undersoka hållbar turism i den populära turistdestinationen Vlora, i södra Albanien. Turism är en av två näringar som bidrar mest till socioekonomisk utveckling i regionen. Samtidigt kan alltför stor och oreglerad turistindustri hota bevarandet av omkringliggande natur, kultur, traditioner och små, lokala företag. Med detta i åtanke är hållbarhet en viktig aspekt för Vloras framtida turiststrategi. Genomförd på uppdrag av FN:s utvecklingsprogram, UNDP Albania, tar studien fram ett intressentramverk, som ska ligga till grund för ett eko-certiferingssystem för FN:sutvecklingsprogram. Fem kategorier av nyckelintressenter, teknik, anställda, kunder, leverantörer och lokalsamhälle, har intressentramverkets kopplat CSR-praktiker (Corporate Social Responsability), väl testade för hotells hållbarhet, till. Ramverket använder sedan hotellet, placerat i mitten, som drivkraft för att främja hållbar utveckling i hela destinationen. Genom ett frågeformulär och uppföljande intervjuer med fyra chefer från Vloras största hotellaktör, Regina Hotel Group, kristalliserades fem huvudslutsatser. Först, Regina Hotel Group har kommit låangt i sitt sociala hållbarhetsarbete, speciellt vad gäller anställda och lokala leverantörer, men de saknar utbildning i hållbarhet, vilket leder till låg medvetenhet och därför implementeras hållbara lösningar genom finansiella argument. Avslutningsvis, presenteras en rekommendation med exempel på kort- och långsiktiga lösningar som är kopplade till varje intressentkategori.

Venture Capitals and early stage companies are of fundamental importance for how the market operates and develops. In the last decade more focus has been put on the ESG strategies and governance of organizations. However, ESG is a relatively new and complex research area in which ignorance and measurement problems have led to inconsistency in applications of ESG concepts and strategies. Based on empirical data consisting of qualitative document analysis and interviews with Swedish Venture Capitals this thesis aims, from theoretical perspectives within decision-making and ESG strategies, to investigate which ESG strategies are used among Swedish Venture Capitals investing in tech, and how these are applied in, are weighted and impact the decision-making process. The result shows that the decision making process can be assumed to be based on bounded rationality tinged by fragmented application of ESG concepts and strategies in which diversity and CO2 impact are prioritized focus areas. The common perception was also that investing in tech created a natural aligning to ESG. Active Ownership, Positive- and Negative screening are the central strategies that were applied with the aim to develop and manage the lack of information and the risks that follows with early stage investing. / Venture Capitals och early stage bolag är av fundamental betydelse för hur marknaden fungerar och utvecklas och under det senaste årtiondet har större fokus riktats mot organisationers ESG strategier och styrning. ESG är dock ett relativt nytt och komplext forskningsområde där okunskap och mätningsproblematik har lett till att begrepp och strategier tillämpas inkonsekvent. Utifrån empiri baserad på kvalitativ dokumentanalys och intervjuer från svenska Venture Capitals avser denna studie, utifrån teoretiska perspektiv inom beslutsfattande och ESG strategi, att undersöka vilka ESG strategier som används bland svenska Venture Capitals och hur de tillämpas, viktas och påverkar beslutsfattandet vid investeringar i tech. Resultatet visade att beslutsprocessen kan antas baseras på begränsad rationalitet präglad av fragmenterad tillämpning av ESG begrepp och strategier där jämställdhet och CO2 påverkan var prioriterade fokusområden. Den gemensamma bilden var även att investering i tech skapade en naturlig förankring till ESG. Active ownership, Positive- och Negative screening var de centrala strategierna som tillämpades i syfte att utveckla och hantera den informationsbrist och de risker som medföljde early stage investering.