22.09.05 + News

The Inner Development Goals: Making The Global Personal

The New York Times recently wrote about how our visual system for the Sustainable Development Goals (also known as the Global Goals) is positively impacting Japan. While the framework for sustainability we created with the United Nations continues to gain recognition and usage around the world from organizations of all sizes, this week we want to turn your attention to another important initiative that takes it even further: The Inner Development Goals.

Since 2015, The New Division, our sister agency led by founder Jakob Trollbäck, has been working to make progress on the shared Global Goals. Realizing that personal growth parallels societal progression, The New Division partnered with 29K and Ekskäret Foundation to make the political personal. They asked: “What can we as individuals and organizations do to be more effective in the work towards greater sustainability and well-being?”

This led to the founding of the Inner Development Goals (IDG), a non-profit and open-source initiative. IDG aims to develop inner skills and fuel a purposeful life, personal steps needed to take the larger leaps in achieving the Global Goals for all of humanity.

What are the Inner Development Goals?

The IDGs framework consists of five categories organizing 23 skills and qualities of human inner growth and development. The framework has been developed by a team of international researchers after an extensive outreach consultation involving more than a thousand persons.

Each category raises questions that drive self-awareness and an open mindset. Ultimately, these questions examine how individuals can develop themselves so that they are ready to contribute to the greater global goals of sustainability.

As we celebrate Global Goals Week (September 16-25), we continue the journey of accelerating human growth and collective learning. Learn how you can get involved and bring the IDGs to your organization at innerdevelopmentgoals.org.