How Connecting Psychology and Implementation Science Supports Pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals

Developing and implementing specific programs and interventions that target the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a complex endeavor that benefits from an interdisciplinary perspective. In this article, we describe how psychology and implementation science provide knowledge on (1) developing interventions and adapting existing programs to different contexts, (2) systematically and sustainably implementing interventions at different system levels, and (3) evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness of interventions in producing desired changes. By presenting tangible research examples, we discuss how psychological theories can help define didactic principles for educational interventions, how implementation frameworks may be applied for interventions in health care, and what indicators may be useful for measuring the attainment of gender equality at different system levels. These examples illustrate that including both psychology and implementation science in the interdisciplinary discourse of how to approach the SDGs is essential for achieving sustainable positive change.