Bridging Silos: Unlocking SDG Synergies Through an Integrated Development Approach to Landscape Restoration

Desalegn A. Gugissa (), Fekadu Gelaw, Amare Bantider, Dereje A. Yimam, Aytenew E. Tatek, Venusia Gete, Art Dewulf and Gete Zeleke
Additional contact information
Desalegn A. Gugissa: Water and Land Resource Centre, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 3880, Ethiopia
Fekadu Gelaw: Water and Land Resource Centre, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 3880, Ethiopia
Amare Bantider: Water and Land Resource Centre, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 3880, Ethiopia
Dereje A. Yimam: Public Administration and Policy Group, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706KN Wageningen, The Netherlands
Aytenew E. Tatek: Public Administration and Policy Group, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706KN Wageningen, The Netherlands
Venusia Gete: Water and Land Resource Centre, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 3880, Ethiopia
Art Dewulf: Public Administration and Policy Group, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706KN Wageningen, The Netherlands
Gete Zeleke: Water and Land Resource Centre, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 3880, Ethiopia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-21

Abstract: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires integrated interventions that leverage synergies and minimize trade-offs across sectors and institutions. However, siloed institutional structures often prevent such alignment. Using panel data from 361 households and a difference-in-differences approach, this study examines how an integrated landscape restoration intervention, combining homestead gardening, soil and water conservation (SWC), and credit provision, affects SDG outcomes in rural Ethiopia. The study evaluated impacts on SDG-1 (no poverty), SDG-2 (zero-hunger), SDG-13 (climate-action), and SDG-15 (life-on-land) outcomes. Results indicate no statistically significant outcomes from single-intervention participation. Among dual interventions, SWC + credit improved all SDG indicators except SDG-1, while homestead gardening + SWC showed limited impacts. These results suggest that credit provision plays a critical catalyst in widening the impact of biophysical interventions across multiple SDGs. Participation in the full tripartite intervention induced significant, synergistic improvements across all SDG outcomes. These findings provide empirical evidence that bundling biophysical restoration with socio-economic interventions maximizes synergies. The results also underscore the need to inform integrated development approaches using ex-ante analysis of potential synergies and trade-offs among interventions to optimize efficacy and avoid unintended consequences. The findings offer critical guidance for evidence-based multi-objective policy formulation to advance the 2030 Agenda.

Keywords: integrated development; homestead gardening; alignment; Ethiopia; trade-offs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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