Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) – as co-drivers of the South African Goalkeepers community for the Gates Foundation – is part of a vibrant, cross-sectoral community of innovators, advocates, and policymakers driving progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Supported by SU's Policy Innovation Lab and SU International, the Goalkeepers are committed to a achieving a better future for all by 2030, as agreed upon by all member states of the United Nations.
SU's Policy Innovation Lab at the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking has been coordinating the secretariat of the South African Goalkeepers community for the Gates Foundation (formerly Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) since 2024. Their work is enforced through a collaboration with the SDG/2063 Impact Hub at SU International.
Members of the Goalkeepers South Africa Network recently had an opportunity to engage with Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, and Paulin Basinga, Africa Director, during a meeting in Cape Town. The SA network, the first country-level programme of its kind, includes 20 active members who champion various SDGs that speak to the basic human needs, with a focus especially on access to healthcare (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5) and food insecurity (SDG 2).
Their discussion highlighted the significant strides made by the Goalkeepers in advancing the SDGs at a local level and reinforced the impact of their work in key areas such as health, education, poverty alleviation, and innovation.
Of particular importance for countries like South Africa is the Foundation's renewed focus on three global aspirations. These include preventing avoidable deaths among mothers and children, eliminating infectious diseases such as HIV and TB, and helping millions escape poverty by building more inclusive economies.
The Policy Innovation Lab stands ready to be part of this chapter. Whether through AI-enabled governance tools, research collaborations, or platforms like the Goalkeepers network, the Lab is actively shaping new ways of working toward the goals Gates has reemphasised: health, education, inclusive economies, and a better future for all. “These priorities mirror the Lab's own focus on locally driven, systems-based solutions. By aligning with these global ambitions, the Lab helps ensure that innovation reaches those who need it most," says Prof Willem Fourie, Chair of Policy Innovation and head of SU's Policy Innovation Lab.
On 3 June, 2025, the secretariat joined 16 Goalkeepers and members of the SA and US Gates Foundation offices for a face-to-face networking session. Fourie reflected on how SU's interventions had helped them to shape their work. One of the main objectives for 2025 will be that Goalkeepers pair up and create a collaborative project to advance the SDGs through their work and advocacy. The head of the Gates Foundation South Africa, Matshidiso Masire, reminded participants of their responsibility to “lift others as we rise in our fields".
Later this year, the Goalkeepers will come to Stellenbosch for a two-day immersive bootcamp programme to work on their projects in groups and also learn more about the social innovation projects being run in and around the town. “This will give them hands-on time with the SU LaunchLab colleagues to workshop their project, its business model and pitches," concluded Fourie.
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