SDSN Andes

What SDSN Andes does

SDSN Andes (Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the Andes) is a regional non-profit network organization founded in March 2017 as a thematic node of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). It operates across seven Andean countries—Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela—working to advance the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement through research collaboration, policy advice, capacity building, and SDG localization. The organization is governed as part of the global SDSN framework and serves a multi-stakeholder membership of universities, research centers, civil society organizations, and government/private sector partners; membership is free for qualified institutions while partner status is granted in recognition of contributions to sustainable development.

The organization's core product is its network platform, supported by four strategic focus areas: Biodiversity Protection (including the Mira-Mataje Binational River Basin initiative between Colombia and Ecuador), the SDGs and Spillover Effects program (applying Life Cycle Assessment and Multi-Regional Input-Output analysis), the WEFE (Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem) Nexus Initiative, and a Circular Economy program. A standalone Resilient Coastal Communities Development project combines seismic analysis, LiDAR topographic mapping, drone surveys, and mathematical propagation models for tsunami preparedness across Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Supporting services include a Resources Library (Network Reports, Happiness Reports, Practical Guides, Bulletins, Editorials) and a Localization of SDGs program. There is no proprietary technology stack, software product, or AI/ML capability; technical work is limited to applied research methods executed in partnership with academic institutions such as Yachay Tech University, the University of Tokyo, and the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception.

The business model is non-commercial: there is no disclosed revenue, no pricing for membership, and no equity or venture funding. The organization operates on a 9-employee base, relying on UN SDSN affiliation, institutional partnerships (including with the Beyond One Foundation, ISA, and ECLAC), and event-based visibility (COP16 in October 2024, the ECLAC Forum in March-April 2025, the World Happiness Report 2025 Latin America launch) to sustain activities. Distribution occurs through digital channels (website in English and Spanish, multi-platform social media, podcasts on Spotify), member communications (bulletins and newsletters since 2021), and convening events rather than through any commercial sales motion. The organization is led by Regional Director Jorge Gómez Paredes, a PhD who also serves as a public commentator on climate-related issues.

Name

SDSN Andes

Legal name

SDSN Andes (Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the Andes)

Website

https://unsdsn-andes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SDSN Andes is a UN-affiliated non-profit regional network that coordinates universities, research centers, civil society, and government partners across seven Andean countries to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement through research, capacity building, and policy collaboration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Development Network Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

akta.pro primary industry

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

Keywords

• Sustainable development network
• SDG implementation services
• Biodiversity conservation
• Circular economy consulting
• Climate resilience research

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SDSN Andes operates a regional sustainable development network covering seven Andean countries (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina) under the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) framework. The network connects universities, research centers, civil society organizations, governments, and the private sector to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement through research, policy collaboration, capacity building, and project development.

Product overview

SDSN Andes is a regional network platform that supports achievement of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement across seven Andean countries. The organization's core offerings consist of its network platform and four strategic focus areas: Biodiversity Protection (including the Mira-Mataje Binational River Basin conservation project), SDGs and Spillover Effects (applying economic analysis and Life Cycle Assessments to understand SDG interconnections), the WEFE Nexus Initiative (addressing Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem interdependencies), and Circular Economy. Additionally, the network provides a Resilient Coastal Communities Development project for tsunami preparedness in Pacific communities, an SDGs Localization Program to adapt global goals to local contexts, and a Resources Library containing reports, guides, bulletins, and educational materials. The network connects universities, research centers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders across Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SDSN Andes Regional Network
• SDGs and Spillover Effects Project
• Biodiversity Protection Initiative
• Resilient Coastal Communities Development Project
• Localization of SDGs Program
• WEFE (Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems) Nexus Initiative
• Circular Economy Program

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Beyond One FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 October 2024SDSN Andes partnered with Beyond One Foundation to present innovative projects on biodiversity conservation, sustainability promotion, and environmental protection at COP16 in Cali, Colombia. The partnership also involves joint organization of talks and intercultural events with sustainability experts.
• ISA (Institute for Sustainable Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the SDGs Spillover Effects project, evaluating how economic structures encompassing production chains and trade in globalized economies influence aspects of the SDGs, and devising measures to reduce negative effects and increase positive ones.
• Yachay Tech University (Ecuador)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the Development of Resilient Coastal Communities project, combining seismic analyses, topographic mapping through LiDAR and drones, and mathematical propagation models.
• University of Tokyo (Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the Development of Resilient Coastal Communities project, contributing expertise in seismic and tsunami analysis for Pacific coast communities.
• Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception (Chile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the Development of Resilient Coastal Communities project, working on tsunami resilience for Chilean coastal populations.
• Antonio Paredes Candia Art MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for the sustainable leadership webinar held October 10-11, 2024 in La Paz, bringing together leaders from various sectors to share experiences on building a sustainable future.
• CEPAL/ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for the Forum of Latin America and Caribbean Countries on Sustainable Development (March-April 2025), contributing to discussions on the 2030 Agenda and SDG progress.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• World Resources Institute (WRI) Latin America: Global research organization with established Latin America programs on forests, climate, and sustainable cities. Overlaps with SDSN Andes' biodiversity, climate, and circular economy focus areas but operates at much larger scale and with proprietary data assets.
• IUCN South America: Regional office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature focused on biodiversity and ecosystem management in South America. Direct overlap with SDSN Andes' biodiversity protection focus area, including work on basin-level conservation.
• ECLAC / CEPAL: UN regional commission for Latin America and the Caribbean that convenes the Forum of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, a key venue where SDSN Andes participates. Broader mandate and larger footprint, but overlapping on SDG policy advisory in the region.
• FLACSO (Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences): Regional intergovernmental academic institution producing applied social science research across Latin America. Comparable audience of policy makers and researchers, with overlapping interest in SDG localization and development policy.
• UNDP Latin America and the Caribbean: UN agency with a regional mandate on sustainable development, poverty, and governance across Latin America and the Caribbean. Operates at far greater scale than SDSN Andes but shares SDG implementation and policy advisory focus in the same geography.

Others

• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Latin America: Standards organization promoting sustainability reporting across Latin America. Adjacent to SDSN Andes' SDG localization work via the private-sector and policy ecosystem, enabling comparability rather than direct competition.

Direct peers

• SDSN Mediterranean: Regional node of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network covering the Mediterranean, with a comparable mandate to advance the SDGs through research, convening, and partnerships. Directly comparable in structure, scope, and parent affiliation to SDSN Andes.
• SDSN South Asia: Another regional SDSN network operating in South Asia. Shares the same UN-SDSN parent, multi-stakeholder model, and SDG implementation focus, making it the closest structural peer to SDSN Andes outside the Andean region.
• SDSN Africa: Regional SDSN node focused on sustainable development across African countries. Operates the same convening-and-research model as SDSN Andes under the UN SDSN framework, providing a comparable template for regional sustainability networks.

Emerging players

• Conservation International Andes Region: Conservation organization with active biodiversity and ecosystem services projects across Andean countries. Overlaps with SDSN Andes' biodiversity protection and ecosystem services work but is more project-execution oriented and less policy-oriented.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SDSNAndes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sdsnandes
• Facebookfacebook.com/sdsnandes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sdsnandes
• Instagraminstagram.com/sdsnandes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SDSN Andes