Distributed SDG Decision-making for Electronic ECOWAS and UN

Assists universities in Africa ECOWAS countries to attain their SDGs with the use of Decision Intelligence methodology for rational/scientific decision-making.

Proposed Through a Collaboration of: Columbia University, Stevens Institute of Technology, The Simulation Exploration Experience Lab of NASA, Global Systems Analysis and Simulation, Millennium Institute, UNESCO/Global University System, Energy Mentors International LLC, and Universities of: Port Harcourt (Nigeria), KNUST (Ghana), OUAGA-II (Burkina Faso), and SSUET (Pakistan).

Problem to be Addressed: Sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective clean renewable energy policies, technologies, and investments are key drivers to grow the local economy and improve infrastructure, education, and health, especially in developing countries. The innovative development and use of System Dynamic Simulation Models will permit the evaluation over the longer term of proposed new policies and technologies for their impact on infrastructure, jobs, sustainability in urban/rural areas, industrial manufacturing, commerce, public health and economic growth. Clean renewable energy policies can then be evaluated with respect to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as lower carbon emissions and improved clean air and water, climate change, education, public health, jobs, trade, and economic growth. 

Proposed Approach: Our project will construct Dynamic Simulation Models that can be used to develop and “what if” test policies for a transition from high-carbon fossil fuels to low and zero-carbon fuels to determine which are the most effective. Clean and renewable energy will be modeled for electric power generation, transmission, and battery storage (e.g. smart grid), and transportation (e.g. mass transit, high speed rail system, electric vehicles), incorporating a variety of other social and economic factors such as health and wellbeing, societal development, impact on infrastructure and industry, and stimulation of economic development.  We propose to perform this analysis and educate (online e-learning) university students, workers, and policy-makers in ECOWAS countries, given their early phase of development, and need for social, economic,and industrial stimulation.  

Why Use System Dynamic Simulation Models: These simulation models are tailored to the economic, social, and environmental sectors and factors that are important to each country.  Inputs are developed in concert with local universities, experts, and governments.  Millennium Institute has developed an “integrated Sustainable Development Goals (iSDG)” simulation Model that integrates economic, social, and environmental factors to analyze policies. Models are adapted to the specific SDG targets and characteristics of 43 countries, many in Africa.  We cooperate with government agencies to help policy-decision making and building broad support for the better policies the model identifies.  Our partners; Millennium Institute, NASA-SEE, SIPA-Columbia University, and Stevens Institute of Technology; have developed quantitative simulation models and role-playing negotiation models for many countries and SDGs, including clean energy, transportation, and water systems.  We will interlink the sector models for clean energy, water, and health with other SDGs important to each country with a system dynamics solver and/or NASA Distributed Observer Network.  This will create the "Electronic ECOWAS" and "Electronic African Union," eventually "Electronic United Nations."

We plan to achieve this cooperation first by developing a system dynamic simulation model tailored for the economic sectors important to Africa’s ECOWAS countries, by working with the local in-country experts for the sake of accuracy.  We will interlink the sector models for each of the 17 SDGs with NASA’s Distributed Observer Network to produce a single country model for each of the ECOWAS countries. Then we plan to interlink those individual countries’ comprehensive models with blockchain technology through broadband Internet to form the “Electronic ECOWAS,” as constructing a virtual Beowulf super computer with inexpensive laptop computers around broadband Internet.

This Project promotes rational, scientific critical thinking among government officers, aspiring future leaders with the use of “Decision Intelligence (DI)” which utilizes the system dynamics methodology based on cybernetics feedback theory.

This will be done through broadband Internet with democratic fashion of distributed simulation together with distributed database of block chain technology.  Furthermore, repetitive mode of simulation will provide simulator/trainer approach with the hands-on training as transforming knowledge into wisdom, ultimate consequence of education.  This will also lead to the “Peace Gaming” for the Pro and Con of SDGs decisions.

The Project expects coordinated development of global e-learning and e-healthcare.

• Fact finding trip by American experts to Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria,
• Major universities in those countries conduct (1) planning workshop, (2) form consortium of higher educational and healthcare institutions, (3) construct models for each sector of SDGs and interlink them to form a comprehensive country model, (4) plan for global e-learning and e-healthcare,
• Apply for grant from the PEER Program <https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504726>, so the universities can autonomously conduct their own projects,
• Conduct “Peace Gaming” among sectors of SDGs and ECOWAS countries with the combined use of role-playing qualitative gaming and model-based quantitative simulation,
• Design global e-learning and e-healthcare online programs.

• Extend the same procedure used for ECOWAS countries to Nile River basin countries, including entrepreneurial test-bed on the local installation of clean renewable (solar or wind, etc.) energy facilities at university sites,
• Make sure local and national policy makers and key decision makers have confidence in this system and use it.
• Do the same for African Union,
• Do the same for Pakistan and Arab countries,
• Do the same for Asia and Pacific regions, etc.
• Invite Japan’s government to participate in this project along with their ODA fund.

We are invited to present our project at the the United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) for Sustainable Development which will take place on 11 July 2018 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York <http://tiny.cc/uy9vuy>.

Since this will be held annually, we will conduct our workshop in conjunction with this event, at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) of Columbia University, Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, Tandon School of Engineering of New York University in Brooklyn, NY.

We will discuss with the colleagues from overseas on standardization of modelling for easy comparison, exchange ideas, etc.

Four African/Asian universities signed Project Participation Letters.  One European and three US universities, three companies, one healthcare medical center, and two think-tank organizations dedicated resources/expertise.  

 Dr. Mensah invented fast extrusion of optical fiber initiating broadband Internet. 

 Prof. Lawrence, inductee of Hall of Fame of Inventors, contributed to the digital signal transmission through Internet.

Dr. Shilling of Millennium Institute constructed country system dynamics models of over 43 countries, mostly in Africa.

Dr. Utsumi deregulated Japanese policies for email and privatization of telecommunication. Cell phones/VOIP, benefit over 4 billion people globally. 

Mr. Avgerinos has over 35 years in-country energy projects experience globally.

• Major universities in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria will conduct planning workshop (with 30 to 50 attendees), at which time consortium of educational and healthcare institutions will be formed as branches of Global University System, a UNESCO Program at the University of Tampere, Finland.
• Experts of 17 sectors of SDGs will construct their model and will be interlinked together.
• Our colleagues in those countries will apply for PEER grant <https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504726>.
• They will then apply for the Japanese ODA. This Project will be a part of the capacity building with US $30 billion pledged at the TICAD meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

Project will use system dynamics, which has two aspects: (a) Generating scenarios and (b) Learning intricacy of inter-relations among phenomena.  For the former, the Millennium Institute is renowned, providing modeling to over 43 governments. For the latter, Dr. Mensah’s invention of fast extrusion of optical fiber initiated broadband Internet; Prof. Lawrence contributed to the digital signal transmission through Internet; Dr. Utsumi deregulated Japanese policies for email and privatization of telecommunication, thus cell phones with VOIP have benefited over 4 billion people globally; Mr. Avgerinos has industry working experience for over 35 years with in-country clean energy projects and sustainability.

We have a good sister relationship with the NASA's Simulation Exploration Experience (SEE) program (*) for lunar exploration by higher education institutions around the world (including some ECOWAS countries, Burkina Faso and Pakistan, etc.).  We are also now working to raise funds from the US National Science Foundation (NSF).  Since NASA and NSF are the members of the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER)  <https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504726>, our GUS partners in ECOWAS countries can directly request funds from the PEER organizer, thus enabling their autonomous administration of their project operations.

    (*) We are both interested in promoting simulation as an educational tool as much as possible.  

When our partners are well established, we will work with them to obtain Japanese ODA funds.  In a sense, this Project will be a part of the capacity building for 10 million Africans with US $30 billion, which was pledged by Mr. Abe, the Japanese Prime Minister at the TICAD meeting in Nairobi, Kenya in October 2016.

We have lined up outstanding US higher educational and healthcare institutions (including Mayo Clinic, etc.), so that we are certain to provide excellent global e-learning and e-healthcare programs to our colleagues in ECOWAS countries

Our key members studied at the MIT, including the ones who took courses on Systems Dynamics -- one of them directly from its initiator, Prof. Jay W. Forrester.

We believe that SOLVE can understand and support our approach of fusing humanity (e.g., international political science, etc.) with science/technology (e.g., telecommunication and simulation, etc.), particularly while conducting “Peace Gaming” (words coined by Dr. Utsumi) for the policy decisions of pro’s and con’s of UN/SDGs.  This is emulating what MIT researchersdid on the enactment of the “Law of Sea” in 1980s at the UN in NYC, which transformed adversaries to collaborators.

Understanding among funding sources because of the newness of our Project approaches, for example, Dr. Utsumi had to spend almost a decade and his own fundsto initiate globalization of Internet and deregulation of Japanese telecommunication policies for the use of email and de-monopolization of telecom industry.  Thesehave been emulated in many countries as having more than 4 billionpeople around the world nowadays – including cellphones with VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) – see 2 blogs at <http://tinyurl.com/3mucrf2>, <http://tiny.cc/egfuuy>, <http://tiny.cc/qplvqy> and <http://tiny.cc/fwfuuy>.

We hope SOLVE can provide us not only funds but also technical and educational support in global scale.