1. ROLE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND SDGs Prof. Dr. Zulkarnain A. Hatta
Professor of Social Work
 Lincoln University College
President
Asian and Pacific Association for Social Work Education (APASWE)  

2. The social sciences offer equal promise for improving human welfare; our lives can be greatly improved through a deeper understanding of individual and collective behavior. But to realize this promise, the social sciences, like the natural sciences, need to match their institutional structures to today's intellectual challenges.
Nicholas A. Christakis

3. Social science is a major category of academic disciplines, concerned with society and the relationships among individuals within a society. Social sciences include, but are not limited to:
Economics
Political Science
Human Geography
Demography
Management
Psychology
Sociology
Anthropology
Archaeology
Jurisprudence
History
Linguistics
Social Work

4. 17 169 Sustainable Development Goals
Countries adopted a set of goals to stimulate action for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership as part of a new sustainable development plan
September 25th 2015 17
169
SDGs
Associated targets

5. Sustainable Development Goals

6. Sustainable Development Goals
For the goals to be reached, everyone needs to do their part
Governments
Private sector
Civil society
People like us
What is the role of Social Sciences?
(Intellectual Puzzle of this talk)

7. What is Missing? Social Science and the Sustainable Development
Social scientists have responded to these changes in various ways, intervening in public disputes over the meaning of sustainability.
Parts of the scientific community joined decision-makers and NGOs in their attempts to find new instruments for environmental and sustainability policies.
In the context of development studies within Soc.Sc., political ecology and the feminist debate on women, environment and development, the concern with sustainability has stimulated a rich literature.
Fundamental knowledge base necessary for decision-making
The discourse on sustainable development can be envisaged as a rallying point of public debate, knowledge-building practices and political strategies to cope with a series of unprecedented ‘world problems’ caused by major transformation processes.
These new type of problems result, most importantly, from economic and technical globalization and their social, political and cultural impacts.
Practical implementation of the goals
Integrated, cross- sectoral and engaging scientific agenda with solution-oriented research
What is Missing?

8. Exploring Uncommon Ground: Sustainability and the Social
Sciences
Although social scientists have been involved in the public debate on
sustainability right from the start, social sciences until now have not developed their full potential within the new field of research.
For example: Environmental research biased towards natural sciences
Within the social sciences themselves major factors can be identified that have resulted in sustainability being largely disregarded by the disciplines up to now.
There is a deep gap, cutting across social
sciences themselves. Innovative sites of research have emerged mainly outside
academe.
Much has been written on the social implications of sustainability, only few attention has been paid to investigating and delineating the role of the social sciences more comprehensively
Within the established social sciences community a concern with sustainability and the environment has largely remained at the margins of existing disciplines.

9. Challenge of SDGs and Social Sciences
First: The work of epistemic communities
The end of extreme poverty and hunger; de-carbonisation of the world’s energy systems; universal access to primary health care; universal access to secondary education; food security; and the protection of key biomes and ecosystems.
The SDGs are not a global treaty and carry no means of enforcement. They are normative, exhortatory and aspirational.
SDGs, which presumably will help steer global policies during the period, has set the social science agenda in sustainable development. Four broad categories of social science work on the SDGs stand out.
Second: Launch new research, development and demonstration programs
To promote specific innovations needed for sustainable development and the fulfilment of the SDGs

10. Third: Improved understanding and design of intentional global social, economic and technological change
Actions against human-induced climate change, public awareness, political response and actions SDGs best be designed and implemented to have the maximum desired impact
Fourth: Organization of the social sciences themselves so that they can best contribute to global problem solving
Humanity now threatens the planet, yet seems mostly unaware of the dire risks caused by humanity itself. We need urgent, large-scale and directed change to protect humanity, other species and the Earth’s ecosystems. Soc Sc. as a discipline, should aim to achieve economic development that is also environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.

11. Functional classification of SDGs in Social Sciences Jargon
Goal Categories
Corresponding SDGs
Social Objectives
Poverty Reduction (Goal 1), Health (Goal 3), Education (Goal 4), Gender (Goal 5), Inequality (Goal 10)
Resources
Food (Goal 2), Water (Goal 6), Energy (Goal 7)
Economy
Growth and Jobs (Goal 8), Infrastructure (Goal 9), Cities (Goal 11), Sustainable Consumption & Production (Goal 12)
Environment
Climate (Goal 13), Oceans (Goal 14), Land (Goal 15)
Education
Education (Goal 4)
Governance
Peaceful and Inclusive Societies (Goal 16)

13. Role of Social Sciences and the SDGs -
INDONESIAN & DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CONTEXT
Neglect of the social sciences is part of a larger challenge (Research ≠ Publication).
Problem of Dev. Countries (Western thinking and research prevail over local thinking and research)
Social sciences have much to offer in providing powerful insights for promoting SDGs. In fact, the division between the natural and social sciences only emerged in the mid-19th century.
Five (5) SDGs are discussed with relevance to Developing countries in context with Social Sciences

14. Role of Social Sciences and the SDGs
INDONESIAN & DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CONTEXT
SDG 4
SDG 5
SDG 10
SDG 11
 SDG 16
SDG 17
 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Reduce inequality within and among countries
Make cities and human settlement inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

15. Role of Social Sciences and the SDGs
INDONESIAN & DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CONTEXT
SDG 11
SDG 17
Make cities and human settlement inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

16. Why link SDGs to Social Sciences?
Emphasize impact
Channel impact as part of the world’s impact
Become more relevant to the world
New spoken language between civil society
Connect to more partners

17. Indonesia and SDG 4
UNESCO’s 2011 Education Development Index (EDI) ranked Indonesia 69th out of 127 countries
More than 1.8 million children each year cannot continue their education
Index of education services in Indonesia in 2016 ranks lower than the Philippines and Ethiopia (JPPI, 2017).
Social Science can help in quality assessment both “scientific quality” and “societal relevance”, Three assessment dimensions: “demonstrable output”, “demonstrable utilisation”, and “demonstrable recognition”.
Identification of key indicators, local policy making
Priority to Early Education, Improve Participation
Better System for the Allocation of Funds

18. Indonesia and SDG 5
HDI of Indonesia women is 0.660, lower than the index for Indonesian men, which is
50.9% of women participate in the labor force, compared to 83.9% of men
Social Sciences can help to improve social norms, differences of education levels, lack of access to general services and to financial services and cultural factors.

19. Indonesia and SDG 10
Four men are estimated to be worth the same amount as the poorest 100 million people, and the richest 1% now owns half the country’s wealth
The sixth country of greatest wealth inequality in the world 
Social Scientists can help in sustainability of economies, societies and communities
Help to understand inequality in economic, political, social, cultural, environmental, spatial and knowledge-based context
Can establish a research agenda that is interdisciplinary, multiscale and globally inclusive

20. Indonesia and SDG 11
More than half of the world’s population now live in urban areas. By 2050, that figure will have risen to 6.5 billion people – two-thirds of all humanity
The rapid growth of its cities in Indonesia sees projections of 75 percent of the population concentrated in urban areas by 2030.
Managing Social Transformation in Cities is a big challenge for Social Sciences.
The management of change in multicultural and multi-ethnic societies
Social Science for accelerated social transformation.
Social Science for economic, technological and environmental transformations

21. How to link Social Sciences with SDG 17
Partnership model including all the stakeholders
Governments, private sector, civil society organizations, social enterprises, donors, funders (Social Sciences Contemporary Agenda)??

22. Recommendations for Social Scientists
Formulate an overarching goal. The ‘ultimate end’ of the SDGs – in effect an overarching goal – and how the 17 goals and targets would contribute to achieving this end, needs to be more compelling
Formulate a compelling narrative of development
Specify targets
what societal actors are expected to contribute to the achievement
of the target – and through what incentive
Aggregate and package the goals and their interactions

23. Spirituality Integrates Three Facets which can help achieve SDGs
Spirituality and SDGs
Spirituality Integrates Three Facets which can help achieve SDGs
Healthy relationships, treating ourselves and others with respect, honesty, integrity, and love, are a sign of spiritual well-being (SDG 16 and 10).
Values are our principles—not only the things we say we care about, but also the things that cause us to behave the way we do (Linked with all SDGs: Specifically to SDG1,2,11).
People who are spiritually healthy are able to articulate their purpose in life, and make choices that manifest that purpose.

24. Recommendations for Action
Indicators and monitoring: Incorporate better
data and indicators to improve policy decision-making
Politically independent research
Assessment and evaluation: Regular SDG evaluations that provide continuous information to member states and other stakeholders
on-demand assessments that provide feedback to member states and other stakeholders

25. Synergies and tough choices: Social Science is a continuous learning process, it can play a pivotal role in terms of data, analysis and scenario building
Ownership: Social Scientists can boost (1) Participation of all national Stakeholders (2) international legal framework for SDGs (3) engage local communities and utilize local knowledge as much as possible

26. Main Challenges Fighting big business and corporations
Will social scientists in whatever disciplines and capacities (academics or activists) be able to fend off the influences of big business and corporations on governments?
How do we make sure our voices are heard and used by policy makers?

27. Six Research themes/Elements Social Scientist should consider to contribute for SDGs

28. Makasih