Partnership Initiative to Advance Sustainable Development Goals in Northern Kentucky

Executive Summary

A collaborative fundraising effort has been established between the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) and local business Cora’s Cakery to support Project RAMP. This initiative provides critical financial assistance for paratransit services, directly contributing to the advancement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The partnership focuses on reducing inequality, fostering sustainable communities, and alleviating poverty by ensuring accessible transportation for vulnerable populations.

Program Analysis: Project RAMP and Alignment with SDG 10 & 11

Project RAMP (Regional Area Mobility Program), operational since 2012, offers financial aid to qualified individuals for ADA-compliant transportation services across Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties. The program’s objectives are in direct alignment with key SDG targets.

• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The program fundamentally works to reduce inequalities by ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equitable access to mobility, preventing social and economic exclusion caused by physical or financial barriers.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Project RAMP directly supports Target 11.2, which calls for providing access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations.

Fundraiser Mechanics and Contribution to Sustainable Development

A fundraising campaign is scheduled for the month of September to generate financial support for Project RAMP. The proceeds will enhance the program’s capacity to serve community members facing financial challenges.

Key Details

• Partner: Cora’s Cakery
• Mechanism: 50% of proceeds from the sale of all cake jars will be donated.
• Beneficiary: Project RAMP
• Duration: September 1 through September 30
• Access: Orders can be placed online for shipment.

Direct SDG Impact

1. SDG 1 (No Poverty): By subsidizing essential transportation costs, the fundraiser helps alleviate the financial burden on low-income individuals, enabling access to employment, education, and other economic opportunities.
2. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The initiative promotes well-being by ensuring reliable access to healthcare services, medical appointments, and community activities crucial for physical and mental health.

Cross-Sector Collaboration: A Model for SDG 17

This initiative is a clear example of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), demonstrating an effective partnership between a public sector entity and a private enterprise to achieve common sustainability objectives.

Stakeholder Roles

• Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK): As a public authority, TANK identifies community needs and manages the transportation program, ensuring it aligns with public service and sustainability mandates.
• Cora’s Cakery: As a private business, it utilizes its commercial platform to generate revenue and awareness for a social cause, showcasing corporate social responsibility.

This partnership model illustrates how local-level, cross-sector collaborations are essential for the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   SDG 1: No Poverty

   • The article highlights that Project RAMP helps “riders with financial challenges” and provides “financial assistance.” By making essential transportation services affordable, the initiative directly addresses a dimension of poverty, ensuring that lack of funds is not a barrier to mobility.

   SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The program specifically supports “those with disabilities” by providing transportation services. This directly tackles inequality by promoting the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities, ensuring they have access to mobility, which is crucial for participation in community life.

   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The article focuses on the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky’s (TANK) paratransit services. This initiative contributes to creating more inclusive and accessible urban environments by providing specialized transportation for vulnerable populations, specifically persons with disabilities in Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties.

   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The article describes a partnership between a public entity (Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky) and a private business (“Cora’s Cakery”) to achieve a common goal. This collaboration to raise funds for Project RAMP is a clear example of a public-private partnership working to advance sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Target 10.2: Promote universal social, economic, and political inclusion

   • Project RAMP directly supports this target by providing transportation to people with disabilities and financial challenges, empowering their inclusion and ensuring they can access services and opportunities within their communities.

   Target 11.2: Affordable and sustainable transport systems for all

   • The article’s focus on TANK’s paratransit services and the financial assistance offered through Project RAMP aligns perfectly with this target. It emphasizes providing accessible transportation with “special attention to the needs of… persons with disabilities.”

   Target 17.17: Encourage effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships

   • The fundraiser is a direct manifestation of this target. The article states, “Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky and Cora’s Cakery have partnered for a September fundraiser,” showcasing a public-private partnership to mobilize resources for a social cause.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   • The article does not mention official SDG indicators but implies several ways to measure the project’s impact.
   • Number of beneficiaries receiving assistance: The article mentions that the foundation helps “passengers who qualify for help through an application process.” An indicator of progress would be the number of individuals with disabilities and financial challenges who successfully receive subsidized transportation through Project RAMP.
   • Funds mobilized through partnership: The article specifies that “half of the proceeds from every cake jar sold” will be donated. The total amount of money raised through this fundraiser serves as a direct, quantifiable indicator of the resources mobilized by the public-private partnership to support accessible transportation.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 1: No Poverty	Ensure access to basic services for the poor and vulnerable.	Number of individuals receiving financial assistance for transportation services.
   SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… disability… or economic… status.	Provision of specialized transportation (paratransit) to persons with disabilities and financial challenges.
   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	11.2 By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all… with special attention to the needs of… persons with disabilities.	Operation of the Regional Area Mobility Program (RAMP) providing ADA transportation in three counties.
   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.	Amount of funds raised for Project RAMP through the partnership between TANK and Cora’s Cakery.

Source: spectrumnews1.com