The International Project Management Association (IPMA) is a federation of 68 member nations, who collaborate to promote the recognition of project management and engage stakeholders around the world in advancing the profession.

IPMA’s Council of Delegates has discussed during its meeting in Astana/Kazakhstan the importance of sustainability for projects, project managers and the project management profession at large. It´s no coincidence that on the same day the World Expo 2017 in Astana closes its doors with a positive outlook on the key topic “Future Energy”. During the last three months, an intensive dialogue was conducted aiming to concentrate on the future of energy, and on innovative and practical energy solutions and their impacts. Projects are instrumental for achieving sustainable solutions. The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations shape a global agenda for all, including our profession.

The project management profession at large should reflect the Sustainable Development Goals, consider them by developing the objectives and plans as well as setting them into practice in a given context. A global association like IPMA can provide the profession with its good practices (e.g. standards) and recognise achievement of sustainability in projects (e.g. through achievement awards).

Achieving sustainability requires an active role of all people involved in the project, programmes and portfolios. From Astana, the members of IPMA issue a global call to action to actively support the achievement of sustainability through projects by increasing the awareness and adoption of sustainable competences.

IPMA President Reinhard Wagner confirmed IPMA’s stance saying “Listening to the daily news makes me feel that we really need to change something. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN lead the way and are an urgent call for all people engaged in the field of project management. We are the change! We can make a difference in the way we manage projects. IPMA provides guidance through its three global standards IPMA ICB®, IPMA OCB®, IPMA PEB® and will continue promoting competences throughout society to enable a world in which all projects succeed.”

This communique has been released concurrently by all 68 member associations of IPMA.

IPMA President Reinhard Wagner is available for comment. Please contact us via info@ipma.world.