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The Mistra Geopolitics programme, running from 2017 to 2020, is an interdisciplinary research effort involving six Swedish core partners and international institutes. It aims to help Sweden navigate geopolitical insecurity and leverage innovation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The programme is organized into five work packages: WP1 focuses on the frame of geopolitics and security in the Anthropocene; WP2 analyzes transnational impacts on Sweden including trade and migration; WP3 examines global governance responses to environmental security risks; WP4 explores the link between geopolitical landscapes and the SDGs; and WP5 integrates these findings through a co-creation process and foresight scenarios to strengthen Swedish competitiveness.

The SEI Gender and Social Equity Programme seeks to address knowledge and policy gaps by mainstreaming gender and social equity into the institute's research and technical tools. The programme is structured around three main tasks: developing new research projects with a gender and social equity lens, adapting modelling tools like WEAP and LEAP for social inclusion, and aligning these perspectives across all SEI research and operations. Current initiatives include studying the gender pay gap in Estonia's bioeconomy, analyzing social factors in SMEs' sustainability agendas, and using agent-based modelling to simulate inclusive sustainability pathways for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 10YFP Programme on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education is a global initiative resulting from Rio+20, co-led by Japan, Sweden (via SEI), and WWF. It defines sustainable lifestyles as choices that "minimize environmental degradation" while supporting equitable development. The programme focuses on three main pillars: educating for sustainable lifestyles across formal and informal settings, developing and replicating low-carbon lifestyle scenarios, and promoting innovative and traditional models of sustainable living. Key objectives include building a common framework for understanding sustainable lifestyles, integrating these principles across society, and empowering individuals—particularly youth—through education and awareness. The programme is supported by a Multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee (MAC) and seeks to provide recommendations for policies, infrastructures, and business strategies that enable sustainable living, with a specific emphasis on urban spaces.

The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) operates the Global Classrooms programme in Johannesburg, funded by the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) and Merrill Lynch. The programme uses Model United Nations (MUN) simulations of the UN Security Council to teach students research, negotiation, and diplomacy. Students are paired with tutors from the University of the Witwatersrand for four months of preparation before participating in simulated crises. In 2006, the programme involved 75 schools and addressed hypothetical crises including Mediterranean water quality, nuclear proliferation in Zimbabwe, polio containment in Nigeria, piracy in Somalia, and water rights in Lake Victoria.

The Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP), run by the CCAC and CATF, provides technical and regulatory support to up to 20 governments eligible for official development assistance between 2024 and 2027. The programme focuses on closing policy gaps to reduce methane emissions from the energy sector, offering services such as national inventory development via the Country Methane Abatement Tool (CoMAT), remote sensing capacity building, and leak detection and repair (LDAR) demonstrations. The FFRP explicitly excludes funding for private sector stakeholders or projects that extend fossil fuel operations. The document highlights that abating methane in the fossil fuel sector could avoid up to 0.1 °C of warming by 2050 and generate $260 billion in direct economic benefits by preventing premature deaths and crop losses.

COMPACT is a European Union co-funded programme implemented by PARI, SALGA, and Integrity Action to enhance the responsiveness of South African local government. The initiative focuses on deepening democracy by increasing community participation in Integrated Development Planning (IDP) processes, specifically regarding water and sanitation services, and improving the oversight of municipal service delivery across 12 municipalities.

SUMERNET PLUS is a transboundary programme running from July 2025 to December 2029, funded by 54 million SEK from the Swedish Government. It aims to link evidence-based research with policymakers and marginalized groups to improve climate resilience in the Mekong Region. The programme focuses on three key themes: nexus interactions and trade-offs among sectors like water and energy, building socio-ecological resilience, and supporting just sustainable transitions. To achieve these goals, it will provide 34 grants ranging from SEK 150,000 to 2,000,000, conduct capacity building for various stakeholders, and facilitate policy dialogues at regional forums such as the Mekong River Commission and ASEAN.

The EcoSanRes Programme, managed by the Stockholm Environment Institute from 2001 to 2010, focuses on developing sustainable sanitation systems that recycle organic waste for crop production. The programme operates through a network of regional knowledge nodes and international collaborations, such as the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance, to build capacity, conduct evidence-based research, and promote pro-poor sanitation solutions in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The WWF Graduate Internship Programme provides an 18-month structured learning experience for first-degree, Honours, and Master’s graduates in South Africa. The programme aims to enhance employability and build capacity for environmental governance by pairing interns with mentors in specific roles at WWF or partner organizations. WWF manages the application and training process, while hosts provide workstations, operational budgets, and mentoring. Since 2012, the programme has placed 250 interns, with 66% being women and 85% being black historically disadvantaged individuals.