GEEF

Insights into policy and practice through partnerships and policy development for people with disabilities are essential for advancing inclusion and equity, aligning directly with the GEEF 2025 theme, “Time for Action: Bridging Divides for a Sustainable Future.” This session will address key challenges such as accessibility, representation in decision-making, and disparities in education, employment, and healthcare for people with disabilities. These issues are critical to sustainable development because an inclusive society ensures that no one is left behind, fostering innovation, resilience, and social cohesion.

By bridging these divides, the session emphasizes the urgency of integrating disability-inclusive policies into broader development agendas, ensuring equity and sustainability for all. Additionally, it will explore the role of technology and innovation in enhancing independence and well-being while developing actionable strategies to bridge gaps in services and infrastructure. By focusing on these areas, the session contributes to creating a more sustainable and equitable future for aging populations with disabilities.

The session aims to address the unique challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in aging societies, including healthcare access, social inclusion, and economic stability. It seeks to promote innovative and inclusive policies, foster multi-stakeholder collaboration, and advocate for the integration of disability-inclusive approaches into global sustainable development goals.

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, which is led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), the University of Washington in Seattle, provides a comprehensive picture of mortality and disability across countries, time, age, and sex. It quantifies health loss from hundreds of diseases, injuries, and risk factors, so that health systems can be improved and disparities eliminated.

The burden of disease in Africa holds significant importance because it affects the continent's overall development, economic growth, and well-being. Especially, the disease burden in Sub-Saharan Africa is multifaceted, with a mix of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health challenges, and emerging health threats. Addressing this burden requires comprehensive, multi-sectoral approaches that involve strengthening health systems, improving access to healthcare, increasing disease prevention and control efforts, and addressing the social determinants of health like education, nutrition, and sanitation. Reducing the disease burden is crucial for the region's overall development and progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In this GBD session, we will look into the burden of cancer and maternal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa and find solutions through a multi-faceted approach from various experts to reduce it. Therefore, we will seek efforts from various angles to reduce the burden of Sub-Saharan Africa by global experts from IHME, Yonsei University, and the African CDC.

This session aligns with the GEEF 2025 theme, “Time for Action: Bridging Divides for a Sustainable Future,” by highlighting the transformative potential of transdisciplinary research in addressing global challenges. Sustainable development requires innovative approaches that transcend traditional academic and institutional boundaries. The session brings together Yonsei TRUST, which emphasizes bridging social divides through macro-level approaches, and Y-CIRCLE, which tackles climate change via integrative frameworks, to share their pioneering methodologies. Both initiatives align with GEEF's goal of fostering inclusive dialogues and collaborative action.

Yonsei TRUST addresses structural inequities and societal polarization, striving to create sustainable platforms that foster inclusivity and resilience. TRUST's work focuses on societal challenges such as inequality and exclusion, providing practical solutions that integrate academic research and actionable initiatives. The TRUST research team consists of 30 professors from various disciplines across Yonsei University, including Underwood International College, the Departments of Sociology, Communication & Arts, Language & Literature, the College of Social Sciences, Engineering, Education, and Dentistry. Ultimately, TRUST aims to create a ‘transdisciplinary’ platform that fosters an inclusive national and international society through a sustainable development model that reduces inequalities.

Current TRUST projects range from quantitative data collection on intergenerational trauma to the development of an LLM chatbot that can be integrated into the medical education system to address ethical issues associated with meta-research. By bridging gaps such as the digital divide, resource distribution, gender disparities, and literacy challenges within societies, TRUST aims to create a new conceptual solution to the SDGs by fostering collaboration among researchers to generate innovative solutions that promote sustainable development, particularly among the socioeconomically disadvantaged.

Y-CIRCLE advances climate change responses through interdisciplinary education and research. Recognizing the interconnected impacts of climate change on urban environments, economies, and social systems, Y-CIRCLE develops transformative strategies by integrating knowledge from various disciplines. Y-CIRCLE consists of 7 colleges and 12 departments. This diverse academic foundation enables Y-CIRCLE to address climate-related challenges with a comprehensive and collaborative approach.

Current Y-CIRCLE initiatives include collaborative research and knowledge sharing through seminars, conferences and global research partnerships. By securing funding from both public and private sectors, Y-CIRCLE aims to establish Yonsei University as a global hub for climate change research and to expand its reach as a transdisciplinary research and education consortium.

This session explores how universities can bridge divides—be they social, environmental, or academic—through innovative, transdisciplinary approaches. It highlights the critical need for collective action and the role of higher education in driving global resilience and sustainability.

This session aims to:

• Highlight the significance of transdisciplinary research in addressing social divides and climate change.
• Share best practices and methodologies from Yonsei TRUST and Y-CIRCLE to foster resilience and sustainability.
• Encourage collaborative approaches among academia, policymakers, and practitioners to bridge divides and promote inclusive development.
• Encourage the creation of actionable frameworks that are innovative and promote knowledge exchange between those in academia, politics, and practices that enhance inclusive societal development.

This session primarily explores how innovative glocalization strategies can contribute to achieving SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), while also addressing challenges related to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). It investigates how transportation infrastructure can be optimized to enhance accessibility while preserving local identity and economic autonomy. Additionally, the session examines the role of living infrastructure, including education, healthcare, and mobility solutions, in enhancing the quality of life in rural communities. By promoting entrepreneurship rooted in local culture and resources, and by responding to environmental changes affecting local food systems, this session seeks to bridge the urban-rural divide and contribute to a more balanced and sustainable global future.

WITH(Wholistic Interests Through Health), an organization rooted in the ‘Food and Nutrition for Good News’, a missionary organization specializing in food and nutrition, approaches the Yellow Window Perspective to tackle health and nutrition problems in 73 areas called “Yello Window.” These regions face extreme challenges: 1 in 20 children die before their fifth birthday, and maternal mortality rates are 55 times higher than in high-income countries. Additionally, 1 in 4 children are chronically undernourished, 2 in 5 women of reproductive age are anemic, and 2 in 5 adults are overweight or obese, exacerbating the multiple burden of malnutrition in these areas. Such statistics reveal serious gaps that perpetuate cycles of poverty, health issues, and inequality.

WITH takes a integrated approach to solving these problems by combining education, economic development, political participation, and water and sanitation improvements with health and nutrition. Our goal is to close gaps in nutrition and health, including achieving SDG 2 Zero Hunger and SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, and help these communities recover, grow self-reliant, and achieve long-term well-being.

This session aligns with the GEEF 2025 theme, “Time for Action: Bridging Divides for a Sustainable Future,” focuses on solving global nutrition and health inequalities and supporting sustainable, inclusive development. Our session titled “Better Nutrition for All: Wholistic Healthy Changes for Yellow Window” aligns with these goals by addressing the critical issues of poor health and nutrition in vulnerable regions.

          1      Ensuring the health of women and children: Focuses on improving the health and nutrition of nutritionally vulnerable groups, including maternal and child and adolescent girls in the Yellow Window, throughout the life cycle. It also supports them to become the main actors in addressing nutrition issues throughout the life cycle.

          2      Sustainable Development and Financing: The program works on creating policies to improve health and nutrition in the long term. It also encourages sustainable financing through development aid and private investments, ensuring these efforts continue to make a lasting impact.

          3      Youth and Future Generations: This program improves the health and nutrition for people at all stages of life, especially children and youth, ensuring quality education and promoting opportunities for lifelong learning. It also provides expertise to create positive change in local communities, creating quality jobs and ensuring a brighter future for future generations.

          4      Transforming Global Governance: WITH works with both local and international partners to implement these strategies effectively. By doing so, it supports global cooperation and pushes for better policies that reduce inequalities and protect human rights.

This session tackles critical health and nutrition challenges, especially in areas most in need. By using a comprehensive approach and working with communities, the initiative helps close gaps in inequality, ensuring sustainable, long-term change. This works shows the kind of action needed to build a better and more equal future.