In an era marked by complex global challenges—climate change, economic inequities, and social disparities—the drive to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 has reached a critical juncture. These unprecedented issues expose the fragility of our systems and underscore the urgency for integrated, cross-sectoral actions.
Recognizing this, the SDG Transitions Framework was introduced as a tool to promote systemic transformations across key sectors: climate, food, energy, employment, social protection, education, and digital connectivity. As these transitions take shape, one fact is clear: local action is essential to drive global progress.
At the Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), themed “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities,” over 24,000 participants from 182 countries convened. Among the key engagements, the Joint SDG Fund and the Local2030 Coalition hosted a side event titled “Boosting Localization of the SDGs to Propel Transformative Change.”
This gathering brought together diverse stakeholders, such as UN agencies, national and local governments, community organizations, and international partners. The focus was on discussing how integrated local initiatives can accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, equipping communities and local governments with tools to drive impactful change that touches lives directly where they live.
Why Localization Matters for Sustainable Development
As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted in WUF12 “Real progress begins at the local level. On the ground. In communities and people’s lives.”
Localizing the SDGs means adapting them to meet specific community needs and dynamics, ensuring no one is left behind. Localization provides an avenue to translate high-level commitments into actionable steps that resonate with local populations, allowing communities to shape their sustainable futures.
The Joint SDG Fund and the Local2030 Coalition have come together to identify, support, and scale up local solutions through a dedicated SDG Localization portfolio. To ensure that local action is a priority across its investments, the Joint SDG Fund and the Local2030 Coalition created a first-of-its-kind SDG Localization Marker. By leveraging the UN system’s expertise and mobilizing a broad ecosystem of partners, these efforts are helping to advance the SDGs from the ground up.
Voices from the Frontlines: Panel Highlights
The event’s panel discussion brought together influential leaders from Spain, Costa Rica, Egypt, the European Union, and USAID, providing unique insights into effective local SDG initiatives.
Spain has been a leader in the SDG Localization agenda, with Mr Sergio Colina, Director General for Development Policies, and Ms. Paula Fernández-Wulff, Director General for the 2030 Agenda, offering insights into Spain’s successful approach to integrating SDGs into national and regional policy.
Ms. Elena Panova, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, and Ms. Maricela Hernández, Executive Director of the Instituto de Fomento y Asesoría Municipal of Costa Rica, shared practical examples of local solutions that have transformed communities. From Egypt’s efforts to enhance community engagement in planning and budgeting, to Costa Rica’s pioneering municipal policies and networks, each speaker illustrated how global goals are reimagined to serve local needs.
A core theme throughout the event was the necessity of multi-level cooperation to overcome impediments to financing and implementing SDG solutions. This involves not only international partnerships but also cohesive efforts within countries, connecting national agendas with local needs and actions.
The European Commission, represented by Sergio Oliete Josa, Head of Unit for Sustainable Transport and Urban Development, brought a continental perspective on creating cohesive, cross-border sustainability policies, while Kevin Nelson of USAID offered strategies for enhancing urban governance in development contexts. Their perspectives enrich the conversation, demonstrating how multilateral collaboration can bridge policy gaps and ensure resources flow to the local levels where they’re most needed.
The Path Forward: Strategic Cooperation for 2030 and Beyond
As global challenges persist, so does the imperative for unified, localized SDG efforts. The Joint SDG Fund and Local2030 Coalition are leading the way, demonstrating that sustainable development is not a top-down mandate but a collaborative process that must empower local authorities and communities to chart their paths forward.
This event reflects the shared commitment to transform localized SDG initiatives into global progress, highlighting best practices, successful case studies, and the vital role of diverse partnerships in realizing the 2030 Agenda. By fostering resilient, sustainable local systems, this event calls on all sectors to unite in action, embodying the ethos that change is most impactful when it starts close to home. Together, these efforts will help lay the foundation for a sustainable future that truly leaves no one behind.
Relevant Links
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Joint SDG Fund private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
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