What makes a good coordinator for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals?

Member nations that signed up to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals agenda designated a coordinator to promote meaningful participation of the ministries. This study applies the concepts from responsive regulation to policy coordination. The framework provides four types of responsiveness, supporting the analysis of 53 interviews in Finland, Germany and Czech Republic. It was found that they were minimalists at heart, and therefore would do just enough (pyramidal), care from a distance (meta), and influence through the peers (networked). They would control matters that are more procedural and temporary (e.g. inter-ministerial working groups) and not those more substantive and permanent (e.g. setting of performance targets). Moreover, the centre of government rather than the individual ministries is most suitable for responsive coordination due to its perceived neutrality. The whole-of-government strategy on sustainable development is the result of artful coordination that is responsive and neutral. Future research might explore when would responsiveness and neutrality in coordination cease to be beneficial.