MGG Blog

"After MGG I became an ambassador for sustainable mobility, climate change and commute cycling. During the MGG I acquired a deep sense of urgency to act and contribute with individual actions to tackle the climate change agenda".José Manuel Rivas Ochoa, Mexico, MGG 2007   José's change story:After MGG I became a mobility, climate and cycling ambassador. The acquired sense urgency to act in climate

"Executive and entrepreneur who believes that every day we can transform our reality, motivated to build businesses and mobilize teams for a more just and egalitarian society".Tâmara Andrade, Brazil, MGG 2021   Tamara's change story:The most important change that happened in my professional live after the MGG Academy is that I received the Humboldt Chancellor Fellowship in order to further work on

"In essence, MGG teaches you that you do not need a team to be the change maker. You can design a small change by yourself and make a small contribution - 100 small steps are needed to resolve bigger challenges".Honey Karun, India, Independent consultant on financing climate and sustainability issues, MGG 2016  Honey's change story:I came back and opted to join a multilateral organization to contr

„MGG helped me understand the nuances of sustainability and global discourses on sustainability“Sreerupa Sengupta, India, Associate Professor, Goa Institute of Management, MGG 2019  Sreerupa's change story:Through MGG, I gained a broader knowledge of the challenges faced by developed and developing countries in implementing the SDGs. Discussions that began during MGG sessions have culminated in a

„The MGG provided a platform to learn and conduct dialogues with colleagues from around the world on areas of both diverse and mutual interest, to build networks, and carry back both knowledge and network to my own institution (Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations), thereby broadening it.“Aliasger Bootwalla, India, Manager - Research, Media and Outreach at Gateway House: Indian Counci

„The MGG Academy provided the starting point for me to engage with feminist development policy. After having been equipped with the tools and processes to engage with the topic, I brought it to my home organisation.“Sabrina Dieter, Germany, Project Lead, Engagement Global, MGG 2022  Sabrina's change story:During my MGG journey, I worked on the change maker project: How to create a deeper understan

„Being part of the MGG Academy provided me more insights on how it is important to have different strategies, approaches, and tools to involve all the different stakeholders and audiences, taking into consideration diversity is the mainstreaming not the exception.“Carlos Eduardo Lustosa da Costa, Director of Environmental Audit Department, Brazilian Court of Audit, Supervisor of the global initiat

“The exposure at MGG has been phenomenal. It expanded my world view, which has been instrumental in linking the global with the local in the research activities I engage in.”Soumya Vinayan,  India, Assistant Professor, Council for Social Development, MGG 02, 2007 Soumya's change story:During the MGG Academy I had the chance to do an internship at UNIDO Vienna, which gave me the opportunity to look

„My transformative experience with MGG reshaped my understanding of global interconnectedness and underscored the imperativeness of cross-sectoral cooperation. In 2020, in the Ministry of Finance (Indonesia), I supported the implementation of a regulation that mandated the alignment of all government investments with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specific targets.“Radhitiono Wickasono,

„MGG, with its emphasis on connection, collaboration and communication, has been the driving force behind the transformative journey I've embarked upon.“Simran Dhingra, India, Head of International Cooperation at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), MGG 2022  Simran's change story:Inspired by the vibrant Glocal village at MGG 2022, I initiated a podcast named "Going Glocal". The name itself encapsulate

"The combination of academic interests with MGG's enriching experience on sustainable development goals, leadership, and the exchange of knowledge with colleagues from other countries, especially from the Global South, created alternatives and new approaches to the daily challenges that I face in the Brazilian reality, especially on land use and sustainable production chains."Marcel Artioli, Brazi

"Through MGG I have learned to estimate what are sustainable practices, that you need a comprehensive picture of the challenge, including all perspectives of actors involved and a vision that change towards a sustainable future is possible"Garry Armando Reagen, Indonesia, Internal Audit Manager, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), MGG 2019  Garry's change story:When applying to the MG

“The Voluntary Sustainability Standards process is a typical MGG knowledge cooperation project. It brought people together to discuss contesting issues, topics and different interests. But because the MGG Network is a safe and trustful space we could overcome these differences and establish national platforms for voluntary sustainability standards”Jiahan Cao, China, Researcher and policy analyst,

“In the MGG Academy I have learned, we can all be transformational leaders. I am professor, researcher and the coordinator of the master's degree in international development cooperation in Mexico, it was a job that was offered me for my CV but above all for being part of MGG”. Blanca Elena Gómez García, Head of the Master's Degree in International Cooperation for Development at Instituto Mora , M

“The time I spent in the MGG Academy was wonderful, we have built knowledge, developed skills and built solid relationships”Maria Cândida Mousinho, Brazil, MGG 2, Professor and Researcher at the Post-Graduation Program on Energy and Environment (PGENAM/UFBA) and the Doctorate in Knowledge Diffusion (PPGDC/multi institutions partnership) at the Federal Institute of Bahia (IFBA) Maria's change story

A Latin-American poet once said, "the ones who are gone shall never return." After a bunch of meaningful moments in Bonn, Berlin, and Brussels –indoors and outdoors, talking or staring, with cold or rain– learning and growing with friends from China, Brazil, Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa, make me grasp this quote better… I will not get back homewards, at least, not being the

“As part of the MGG Network, I had the chance to shape and promote the topic of sustainability standards, strengthening awareness and fostering academic exchange as well as policy advice on this topic – in particular, highlighting the developing country perspectives in this issue area.”Archna Negi, India, Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, MGG course 2, 2007  Archna's change story:As a resu

“MGG not only offered the platform to me to engage with development professionals and counterparts in partner institutions, but also equipped me with the policy savvy and global governance mindset to effectively analyze and discuss policy issues.”Yanzhu Zhang, China, Policy Advise at Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of Ministry of Ecology and Environment, MGG Academy 2020 Yanzhu's change s

“The MGG Academy and the Network changed the way how I prioritized networks and how I network. We improved our network activities and how network members interact. The MGG Network also inspires us to establish a similar multi-stakeholder network on climate change and disaster management, consisting of national and local actors in Indonesia”Beltsazar Krisetya, Indonesia, Researcher at Center for St

“Through the MGG Programme I have broadened my national and international network and included the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in everything I do.” Dolores Brito, Brazil, Executive Analyst in Metrology and Quality, Inmetro, MGG 2017  Dolores' change story:I have promoted and implemented in my organisation a workshop on the 2030 Agenda in collaboration with a MGG friend. For this work, we use