How our engine works
"It's not what we do, it's why we do it." - Simon Sinek
Photo by Mike Bird
Who We Are
169to1 is a global action framework, first introduced in 2017 and rebuilt for the years beyond 2030. It helps institutions turn the UN Sustainable Development Goals into local action they can show and stand behind.
169to1 is independent of the United Nations. You set your own agenda. We provide the method to act on it. You choose one SDG target that matters to you, act on it locally, and show the result.
The aim is to reach 1 percent of the world's leading institutions, 169,000 in all, each owning one target. Our purpose is to make sustainability visible, credible and practical, one target at a time.
Why 169to1
There are 169 targets across the UN's Global Goals. No institution can act on all of them. 169to1 hands each one a single target it can own, act on, and be seen to deliver.
How The Method Works
The method is simple and has three steps, built around three free tools that are are a big part of the 169to1 engine.
Select. Find your one target with the SDG Target Selector. Thirteen quick questions about your real situation return the five targets you are best placed to carry.
Classify. Weigh that target with the SDG Traffic Light Toolkit, which shows its feasibility and how urgent it is, in plain English.
Prove. Measure it with the SDG Impact Index, which turns the official UN indicators into plain English and gives you one clear proof point.
Alongside these, activation resources help you turn the choice into real work, and verified credentials from Certifier, so you can be recognised for what you deliver.
Select your target. Classify and act on it. Prove it and be recognised for the result.
Who Is It For?
169to1 works for four kinds of institution, and each starts the same way, with one target.
Education. Build a year around one goal that helps students learn, take part and enjoy the work, bringing sustainability into everyday classroom life.
SME businesses. Choose one target the business can influence and show what responsible, measurable action looks like, from supply chains to workplace culture.
NGO teams. Align one target with the core mission, then use that focus to strengthen programmes, secure funding and report impact clearly.
Youth Ambassadors. Pick one real issue, act on it in the local community, and show what youth leadership looks like in practice.
This isn’t our initiative. It’s yours.
