A guided approach to aligning your festival with the
UN Sustainable Development Goals.
festival
SDG MAP
About this map
Aligning any business or organisation with the UN SDGs can be a time-consuming and ​resource-intensive affair. Bigger organisations may be able to afford consultants but ​many independently run festivals have the best intentions but do not know where to ​start.
There is also no shortage of resources and toolkits, which are valuable, but likewise ​require a reasonable commitment to understand and implement.
This map is intended to make it easy for any festival to take its first step and to do so in a ​way that immediately aligns with the intent and purpose of the SDGs, allowing for ​further adoption as the concepts become more familiar.
festival
SDG MAP
How to use this map
The next page lists all the individual goals of the SDG that are relevant to the operations ​of a festival, regardless of the type of festival. For each goal, we have identified the ​specific actions (known as targets) you can take that will help you fulfil the basic ​objective of that particular goal, and where possible, we link to further resources.
You ought to aim towards fulfilling as many of these actions as possible. Most of them ​are quite practical, though there may be a few where the legal or cultural settings of ​specific jurisdictions may pose some challenges.
festival
SDG MAP
Acknowledgement
This pilot project was made possible by a grant from the British Council.
Target 1.3
Commit to the minimum wage and other national social protection mechanisms.
What you can do..
Most countries have a minimum wage structure. You should ensure that all staff, whether part- or full-time are paid the minimum wage at the very least, and implement all nationally appropriate social protection systems.
Your festival budgeting should account for staffing expenses based on the minimum wage.
Target 2.3
Engage small-scale food producers for festival F&B, ​especially women.
Target 2.4
Ensure all food sourced for festival comes from ​sustainable agricultural practice.
What you can do..
Instead of allowing big-name food and beverage companies to ​operate within the festival grounds, look at creating a food market for ​small, artisanal food producers from the local community who in turn ​source their raw produce from local farmers' markets. You should ​also use this as a differentiator in marketing your festival by ​supporting these immediate communities.
Target 3.5
Prevent alcohol and substance abuse within festival grounds.
Target 3.7
Provide adequate access to sexual health services for festivals that ​incorporate camping/on-location stays.
Target 3.a
Have clear guidelines on the use of tobacco products and ​advertising.
What you can do..
Develop a proper SOP for alcohol and drug use, provide on-site access to condoms and contraceptives, have 24-hour access to health professionals, and adhere to local regulations on the use and sale of tobacco.
Target 4.4
Hire youth with TVET/ICT skills within festival operations.
Target 4.7
Embed cultural diversity and education for sustainable ​development within core festival programming.
What you can do..
Festivals are increasingly tech-enabled. This creates an opportunity to link TVET and the creative industries by providing internship opportunities to youth within a festival operation in areas such as sound, lighting, and stage management.
Festivals ought to champion the awareness of sustainable lifestyles and cultural diversity in their communities. One approach is to curate these elements in your programming and inspire your audience.
Target 5.1
Zero tolerance for gender discrimination across operations and ​programming.
Target 5.2
Zero violence against women.
Target 5.5
Women's representation at the managerial level within the festival operation.
What you can do..
Adopt an organisation policy on gender equality by putting in place clear mechanisms for hiring processes, handling sexual harassment complaints and ensuring gender parity at the management level.
Ensure clear communication of these policies to all workers.
Target 6.1
End the practice of banning the public from bringing drinking water ​onto festival grounds.
Target 6.2
Ensure adequate and clean access to sanitary services around ​festival grounds.
Target 6.4
Ensure water supply within festival grounds is sustainably sourced ​and used efficiently.
What you can do..
Avoid locating outdoor festivals close to water bodies, ensure that the festival grounds can support all sanitation requirements, and work with local council to implement proper water supply.
Target 7.2
Increase the share of renewable energy in energy mix.
What you can do..
Start with simple and practical approaches.
- Source for locations that already incorporate renewable energy in ​their mix.
- Consider novel approaches like working with renewable energy ​startups who can also benefit by showcasing their solutions in a real-​world environment.
- Encourage festival goers to bring their own battery packs to charge ​personal devices.
Target 8.3
Support the growth of micro- and small-enterprises within the festival vendor ​system.
Target 8.5
Take measures where possible to employ on a full-time basis instead of relying on ​contract work.
Target 8.6
Increase access to training for youth within the sector.
Target 8.7
Zero-tolerance for child- and forced-labour.
Target 8.8
Adopt appropriate work-place safety standards.
Target 8.9
Position festival offering, where possible, as a sustainable tourism product and ​promote local products and culture.
What you can do..
Supporting small independent vendors will help provide them with jobs ​and income while hiring full-time, where possible, will ensure the ​continued development of talents in the sector.
Target 10.1
Provide opportunities for individuals from lower-income ​groups and ensure they are paid above minimum wage.
Target 10.3
Have clear guidelines on all forms of discrimination and ​proper systems to handle such discrimination.
What you can do..
Create apprenticeship opportunities targeted at young talents from lower-income groups, with a path towards getting employed in the industry.
Adopt a policy of zero discrimination of all forms, and provide clear procedures to deal with any breach of the policy.
Target 11.7
Engage and advocate for festival programming to incorporate safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.
What you can do..
If climate conditions permit, incorporate programming in outdoor green ​public spaces with infrastructure that is inclusive for different age groups, ​accessibility and backgrounds.
Target 12.1
Align festival consumption and production according to local policies.
Target 12.2
The use of natural resources should be in line with domestic material ​consumption per capita commitments.
Target 12.3
Eliminate food waste through planning and post-festival solutions e.g. ​composting.
Target 12.4
A clear guideline on the management of hazardous waste and vetting ​vendor processes.
Learn more.
Target 12.5
Embed a circular economy approach across the entire festival supply chain.
Target 12.b
Promote local products and culture.
Target 12.c
Consider a price premium for attendees who use fossil-fuel transportation ​options to attend the festival.
What you can do..
A festival is ultimately a place where consumers gather. Consider all the ​ways that consumption can be made more sustainable, from food, ​resources or raw materials.
Target 14.1
Reduce marine pollution from land-based activities.
What you can do..
If the festival is in close proximity to a body of water, take all precautions to prevent marine pollution. Ensure that there is no possibility of run off, especially sewage.
Target 16.1
Reduce all forms of violence and deaths.
Target 16.5
Reduce corruption and bribery.
Adopt a zero tolerance for bribery and corruption.
What you can do..
Adopt adequate security measures to ensure all festival-goers have a safe and peaceful experience. Work with local law enforcement authorities to have clear SOPs in place to manage dangerous situations.
Have a zero tolerance for bribery and corruption, with clear mechanisms for whistleblowing, and require all vendors to sign a zero corruption charter.
Target 17.11
Increase exports of developing countries.
What you can do..
Aim to increase programming content from countries of the global south, increasing opportunities for talents from these regions and creating export opportunities for them.
