Research priorities for UN Global goals

3Keel partnered with Beechlight to facilitate a 4-day ‘Bellagio’ convening on Lake Como, on behalf of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and The Rockefeller Foundation. The purpose was to develop an agreed approach for the Towards a Sustainable Earth (TaSE) initiative, a new venture to identify global research and innovation priorities that will enable the satisfaction of the UN Global Goals.

A diverse group of high-level global public, private and third sector academic and funding agency participants were invited, with whom our team carefully built relationships before the convening. In this way we developed an understanding of each participant’s perspective and expectations, which we used to inform our approach to satisfy the convenors’ desired flexible and co-creative workshop facilitation requirement. To draw out insights from the group, and to build a shared vision within it, we employed horizon-scanning techniques and multiple, varied active and reflective sessions of individual and group working.

NERC’s Associate Director Innovation and Impact, Dr Sophie Laurie said: “3Keel and Beechlight put forward an innovative and attractive proposal for facilitating this week long convening, including a preparatory phase where participants were brought onto the same page and the agenda was set. It was a unique venue, and in the end the external circumstances surrounding the meeting were quite disruptive which resulted in the need to be flexible and responsive to the group. The 3Keel/Beechlight team handled this well and, as a convenor, I particularly valued the daily download where we could assess progress and consider next steps. Feedback from meeting participants was very positive and we have been given useful material to work with as a result. I was very impressed by the sensitivity of the facilitators throughout and could thoroughly recommend 3Keel and Beechlight – indeed we have used them before and would do so in the future.”