What Are the Inner Development Goals?
The Inner Development Goals, or IDGs, are all about empowering inner growth to create sustainable impact. This initiative connects people and organizations from all sorts of sectors, sparking awareness and collaboration around the IDG framework. It’s a space where individuals and groups learn from each other, growing together in ways that go beyond the usual surface-level approaches. The focus? Shifting mindsets toward more conscious, relational ways of being, thinking, communicating, collaborating, and acting. It’s about fostering a deeper, systemic change that supports sustainable development on a whole new level.
The Main Benefit of the Inner Development Goals
At its core, the IDGs help leaders and organizations develop a fresh perspective—one that’s systemic, connected, and proactive. Here’s what makes it stand out:
- Supports leaders across sectors to connect with themselves and others from a place of emergence.
- Uses a research-based framework to integrate inner growth with sustainable action.
- Offers education programs tailored for change agents, practitioners, and academics.
- Creates community spaces for dialogue and transformative action.
- Coordinates research and advocacy projects to embed inner development into sustainable development education and practice.
Why Switzerland Needs the Inner Development Goals
Despite being wealthy and technologically advanced, Switzerland faces challenges in meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The problem? System conformities, outdated economic paradigms, and reactive response patterns hold things back. Plus, there’s a lack of eco-systemic consciousness and a tendency toward extrinsic, non-holistic perspectives. While individuals are starting to shift their mindsets toward more conscious and relational ways of living, organizations and systems are still playing catch-up. This gap slows down the reshaping of narratives and actions needed for real sustainable development.
How the Inner Development Goals Work
The IDGs empower leaders and organizations by helping them develop systemic perspectives and encouraging collaboration from a place of emergence. This means moving away from knee-jerk reactions and toward conscious, connected action. The project provides research-based education and publications, equipping change agents with the tools they need to integrate inner growth with sustainable action. Community spaces foster collaboration, allowing leaders to explore new ways of thinking and acting that are better suited to today’s complex challenges.
What the Inner Development Goals Offer
The project’s offerings are designed to support transformation at multiple levels:
- Education programs: Public and bespoke courses focused on IDG-related learning, aimed at change agents, practitioners, and academics.
- Community events: Regular gatherings that encourage dialogue and transformative action among leaders from private, public, and civic sectors.
- Research & publications: Coordination and engagement in research and advocacy projects to weave inner development into sustainable development education and practice.
Impact on Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 4: Quality Education – through research-based education and learning programs.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – by fostering systemic perspectives and collaboration.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – encouraging conscious and connected action.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – supporting mindset shifts that drive sustainable behaviors.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – building cross-sector communities and networks.
Looking Ahead with the Inner Development Goals
The IDGs are more than just a framework—they’re a movement toward a more sustainable and holistic future. By empowering individuals and institutions with the right tools, knowledge, and networks, the project helps Switzerland take the lead in reshaping how sustainable development is approached. Upcoming books and ongoing research promise to deepen this impact, providing fresh insights and practical guidance for change agents everywhere. It’s about creating a ripple effect that starts within and spreads outward, transforming not just policies and systems, but the very way people relate to the world around them.
