The Local 2030 Steering Committee convened for the first time on 29 April 2022 in New York and online.

Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group delivered the opening remarks. This was followed by the welcoming remarks of the Local2030 Coalition Co-chairs, Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Steering Committee's first cohort for the period 2022-23 includes:

• Marina Sereni, Vice Ministers for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy;
• Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone;
• Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG);
• Esther Muiruri, Founder of the Gold Ribbon Initiative, Kenya; and
• Clara Arpa Azofra, CEO of Arpa Equipos Móviles de Campaña, Spain, and a member of the Board of the UN Global Compact.

The meeting officially introduced the Steering Committee, reviewed the priority actions of the Coalition and unanimously endorsed the 2022 workplan.  

As the need for a multi-stakeholder alliance has never been more urgent to secure a green, resilient, and inclusive future for all, especially the most vulnerable, the Local2030 Coalition and its members will focus on bringing together an extensive network of partners to support local stakeholders through enhanced advocacy efforts, coordinated action, and innovative monitoring systems.

To this end, the Coalition will leverage the views and experiences of its Steering Committee – a diverse group that brings different perspectives to achieve the 2030 Agenda – to build on existing initiatives and fill in the gaps where necessary.

The meeting also counted on the presence of the special guests. Ms. Eva del Hoyo Barbolla, the Director-General of Sustainable Development Policies of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, and Mr. Unai Telleria, the Delegate from the Basque Country to the USA, who presented a whole of government proposal for supporting the SDG Localization Agenda and the secretariat of the Local2030 Coalition.

We were inspired to exchange with such a diverse and robust group of Steering Committee members and partners. We look forward to working together to make the SDGs a reality for all!

The Steering Committee of the Local2030 Coalition 

The Steering Committee (SC) of the Local2030 Coalition is the governing body of the coalition and provides strategic leadership and governance oversight. The SC is expected to make key strategic decisions and ensure effective oversight through receiving regular reports and reviewing the results from the Local2030 Coalition Secretariat.

The SC is comprised of the two co-chairs, and one representative from (i) a national government, (ii) a local and regional government, (iii) civil society, (iv) the private sector, and (v) the organized constituency of local and regional governments. Members will serve for a two-year term, with the exception of UN-Habitat, the permanent chair of the Local2030 Coalition and host of its Secretariat.