Fostering Cross-Sectoral Dialogue for the SDGs

An-Najah National University (ANNU) believes in the power of collaboration and dialogue as essential tools for advancing sustainable development. Through conferences, seminars, workshops, and public forums, ANNU convenes government bodies and municipalities, UN/NGO partners, professional unions and utilities, civil defense/Red Crescent, media, private-sector actors, and academia to discuss, co-design, and advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These platforms translate research into policy options, implementation pathways, and follow-up actions for SDG 11, SDG 13, and SDG 17 (with co-benefits for SDG 6, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 12, and SDG 15).

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How we initiate and participate

• University-led initiation: ANNU designs agendas, hosts on campus, moderates’ sessions, and synthesizes technical inputs (maps, data, and policy briefs) to inform decision-making. Najah University

• Cross-sector participation: Dialogues bring together ministries and municipalities, unions and utilities, UN/NGOs, civil defence/Red Crescent, media and community leaders, alongside academics and students. Tomorrow Cities

• Policy & practice orientation: Outputs include risk-informed urban-expansion and hazard-exposure maps, spatial/regulatory policy options, and agreed follow-ups such as shared data platforms, public awareness plans, and integration into local bylaws. Tomorrow Cities

2024 highlights 

1) Stakeholder & Decision-Maker Engagement Workshop — Tomorrow’s Cities–Nablus

Dates: 28–29 January 2024 • Host/initiator: ANNU (Urban Planning & Disaster Risk Reduction Center)
ANNU convened decision-makers and policy influencers to review risk-sensitive urban development outputs (maps, data, policies) and agree next steps. Coupled with a three-day exhibition, the forum produced actionable recommendations and follow-up actions to embed evidence into local planning. (SDG 11, SDG 13, SDG 17). Najah University

2) Government–university collaboration on environmental action (EQA & ANNU)

Date: 13 May 2024 • Organizer/venue: Environmental Quality Authority workshop hosted at ANNU
A cross-sector environmental awareness workshop advancing joint sustainability actions and community engagement on campus. (SDG 13, SDG 17; with links to SDG 12 & SDG 15). Najah University

3) Ongoing multi-stakeholder engagement within Tomorrow’s Cities

ANNU’s 2024 activities in the international programme strengthened policy co-design and implementation pathways with public authorities and partners; news hub features Nablus updates and peer learning across cities. (SDG 11, SDG 13, SDG 17). 

4) Spring School in Agricultural & Environmental Economics — a collaborative effort

Dates: 19–29 February 2024 (news posted 11 March 2024) • Partners: DAAD, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Göttingen, and ANNU
A nine-day programme mixing academic perspectives with external partners at the agriculture–environment interface. (SDG 2, SDG 12, SDG 17). Najah University

5) Strategic partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture

Date: 21 July 2024
A formal, policy-relevant collaboration to support evidence-based agricultural innovation and resilient food systems. (SDG 2, SDG 9, SDG 17). Najah University

6) ANNU × Environmental Quality Authority — cooperation agreement

Date: 13 August 2024
A joint cooperation agreement to deepen national environmental governance and applied collaboration. (SDG 13, SDG 17). Najah University

7) ANNU in Tomorrow’s Cities peer-learning (Nairobi)

Date: 22 February 2024
Participation in multi-stakeholder planning sessions with city actors and community representatives, contributing Palestinian experience to South–South learning. (SDG 11, SDG 17). Najah University

What these dialogues deliver

• Risk-informed planning tools: Urban-expansion and hazard-exposure maps, scenario analyses, and decision-support briefs used by municipalities and ministries. 

• Policy options & recommendations: Spatial and regulatory measures for risk-sensitive urban development, including climate and disaster-risk integration within local bylaws. 

• Agreed follow-up actions: Shared data platforms for decision-makers, public awareness plans (municipality–media–university), and pathways to scale methods to other cities. 

Sectors we engage

Government ministries • Municipalities • Professional unions • Utilities and service providers • UN and international agencies • NGOs and civil society • Civil defence/Red Crescent • Media and community leaders • Academia and students. 

Additional examples

• Industrial development sector plan (consultative workshop): ANNU contributed to prioritising the industrial sector and developing a strategic plan—supporting SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure) and SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) through innovation-driven capacity building.

• National Spatial Plan 2025 (consultative meeting): Engagement with the Ministry of Local Government and local institutions on the national spatial framework—advancing SDG 11 and SDG 17 via sustainable urban planning coordination.

• Environmental protection using smart solutions (regional workshop): Dialogue on technology-enabled environmental protection and responsible practices—supporting SDG 13, SDG 12, SDG 15, and SDG 17.

• ANNU & MA’AN Development Center join forces to advance environmental and climate justice in Palestine (5 Oct 2024).

• ANNU &– Agricultural Development Association (PARC)-NGO partnership to expand community-based agricultural development, livelihoods, and sustainability initiatives—demonstrating cross-sector collaboration. SDGs: 2, 8, 17.

• Palestinian Journalism in Times of War — dialogue with media sector - 27 Nov 2024.

• Consultative Workshop on the National Sectoral Development Plan , ANNU participation (27 Nov 2024).

• ANNU delivered a keynote address to a regional, multi-sector audience of policymakers, professional societies, engineers, and researchers at JICEC9 (Toward Resilience & Sustainability in Civil Engineering). The talk advanced risk-informed urban resilience and evidence-based practice, reinforcing cross-border dialogue. SDGs: 11, 13, 17 (with links to 9).

• WUF12 Cairo — Dr. Ali Abdelhamid represents ANNU & speaks at key symposiums (18 Nov 2024): Participation in the 12th World Urban Forum (Cairo) and related symposiums, advancing urban sustainability, risk-informed planning, and multi-stakeholder dialogue with city actors, practitioners, and international organizations. SDGs: 11, 13, 17 (with links to 9).

• International Day for Universal Access to Information — Conference (Faculty of Business & Communication) — 29 Oct 2024: University–media forum on the right of access to information, transparency, and public-interest communication, with participation from academics and journalists—an example of cross-sector dialogue with the media sector. SDGs: 16 (Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions), 17 (Partnerships), with links to 4 (Quality Education).

• The Faculty of Business & Communication organized a World Investor Week awareness event to strengthen students’ financial literacy and investment awareness in collaboration with external finance-sector partners, an example of university–industry dialogue that supports SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (Partnerships).

• Cross-sector dialogue with the Ministry of Culture on safeguarding, documenting, and promoting Palestinian cultural heritage; discussion of joint programmes and cooperation mechanisms. SDGs: 11 (incl. 11.4 on cultural heritage), 16, 17 (links to 4 via education/awareness).

• ANNU hosted a sustainability webinar led by Dr. Ciarán O’Carroll (Technological University Dublin), opening a dialogue on how Palestinian HEIs embed the SDGs into policies, operations, and curricula, and outlining practical mechanisms and next steps. SDGs: 4 (Quality Education), 17 (Partnerships), with links to 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production) and 13 (Climate Action).

• ANNU & Ministry of Women’s Affairs — Collaborative efforts to empower women (19 May 2024): Cross-sector meeting with the Palestinian Ministry of Women’s Affairs to explore joint programmes and coordination mechanisms for women’s empowerment, spanning policy, education/awareness, and community initiatives. SDGs: 5 (Gender Equality), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 16 (Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions), 17 (Partnerships).

• ANNU Represents Palestine at EURIE 2025 in Istanbul, expanding academic cooperation and cross-sector dialogue, and forging SDG-aligned partnerships across Eurasia (SDG 17).
• An-Najah National University signed a cooperation agreement with RAYA DENT LTD (medical supplies) to strengthen academia–industry collaboration in dentistry, advance training and innovation, and support SDG-aligned health services (SDGs 3, 9 & 17).
• An-Najah National University signed an MoU with Jerusalem Pharmaceuticals Company to strengthen academia–industry collaboration and joint research—advancing SDG-aligned health innovation (SDGs 3, 9 & 17).
• ANNU faculty participated in the Kuwait Conference on Health Surveillance, Air Quality, and Sustainable Treatment of Medical & Hazardous Waste—advancing cross-sector dialogue and SDG-aligned solutions (SDGs 3, 11, 12, 13).
• ANNU launches the International Conference on Child Rights in Times of War and Crises—advancing cross-sector dialogue and SDG-aligned action on justice and protection (SDGs 16 & 17).
• ANNU representative Dr. Eyad Maqbool joined the “Step Up & Help” Conference on Gaza’s Reconstruction and Development on behalf of the Palestinian Union of Private Hospitals and Medical Centers—advancing cross-sector dialogue and SDG-aligned recovery (SDGs 3, 11, 16 & 17).
• ANNU and the University of Naples Federico II co-host “The Role of Women in Scientific Research,” advancing gender equity in research, mentorship and policy dialogue, and strengthening SDG-aligned international partnerships (SDGs 5 & 17).
• ANNU hosts the Nablus Medical Laboratory Syndicate to strengthen university–profession dialogue, training pathways, and quality practices in laboratory medicine—advancing SDG-aligned health and partnerships (SDGs 3 & 17).
• ANNU’s Vice President for Innovation & AI, Dr. Mohammad Sharaf, joined the Arab–Global Academic Cooperation Meeting on Green Jobs in Tunis—advancing cross-sector dialogue, SDG-aligned skills, and partnerships for the green economy (SDGs 8, 13 & 17).
• Dr. Ghassan Daas, Director of ANNU’s Center for Economic & Social Development Research, joined the Nablus Governorate Employment & Training Council’s regular meeting to align skills, training pathways, and labor market needs—advancing cross-sector dialogue and SDG-aligned employability (SDGs 8, 4.4 & 17).

ANNU is part of the SGF process uses focus-group interviews with up to 10 institutions and broad consultations to surface priorities, gaps, and shared needs for SDG action.