New reports on the localization of the 2030 Agenda 
Local and Regional Governments Day at the 2022 High-Level Political Forum

 

Dear members,

The 2022 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is currently held under the theme “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
 
UCLG, on behalf of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (GTF), is coordinating the participation of a diverse delegation in the HLPF, and the presentation of reports on the role of the local and regional governments’ constituency in localizing the 2030 Agenda.
 
The local and regional governments constituency will present their priorities throughout the Forum, showcasing the importance of basic service delivery as the cornerstone of the response to the interconnected crises that we are living through, and will call for a more networked multilateral system based on multilevel governance and multilevel collaboration so as to address inequalities, the climate emergency, and the need to co-create peace from our territories.

 
Three new reports were launched on the occasion of the Local and Regional Governments’ Day, offering up-dates on local and regional governments’ role in achieving the SDGs, promoting gender equality and contributing to a just and sustainable recovery. Moreover, 11 new Voluntary Subnational Reviews (VSRs) have been elaborated by local government associations and the total number of available Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) has surpassed 150.
 
 
Firstly, the sixth edition of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments’ Towards the Localization of the SDGs shows how local and regional governments (LRGs) are taking vital actions to promote transformative recovery processes for sustainable local development. In particular, it analyzes LRGs’ strategic roles in the coordination mechanisms for SDG localization, in the Voluntary National Review (VNR) processes, in the implementation of local-level actions, as well as in promoting quality and lifelong education for all (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), life below water (SDG 14), life on land (SDG 15), and partnerships for the SDGs (SDG 17). The report draws upon this year’s VNRs; around 150 Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs); all 26 Voluntary Subnational Reviews (VSRs) produced to date; the 220 LRG responses to the annual GTF/UCLG survey; and the Country Profiles on SDG localization. This report has only been made possible thanks to the collaboration of the membership.
 
Secondly, SDG 5 localization across the globe is comprehensively explored in From Making Commitments to Realizing Change: Local and Regional Governments’ Progress on Gender Equality. Drawing on a feminist, inclusive and caring lens, this report synthesizes trends, case studies and best practices to ensure a diverse gender-sensitive approach is incorporated into policies, processes, budgets and programmes to address structural inequalities and improve the wellbeing and livelihoods of all people.
 
Finally, the Country Profiles on SDG localization highlight the involvement and, in many cases, the leading role of LRGs towards SDG localization, after presenting a present a brief country-by-country analysis of the national strategies, coordination mechanisms and reporting processes related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
 
Moreover, the 11 VSRs produced by the local government associations of Argentina, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Italy, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, the Philippines and Uruguay are also available now in UCLG’s VSR Repository – as are the now over 150 VLRs produced by cities and territories from around the world.
 
All these reports share the ultimate goals of the GTF with respect to the HLPF: to raise awareness of the critical actions undertaken by LRGs to achieve the SDGs and to foster transformative action; to shed light on the challenges LRGs face in this endeavor in order to improve collaboration with national governments, among other efforts; and to underscore the opportunities that arise from a collective movement working hand-in-hand to accelerate action towards achieving the 2030 Agenda, and, amongst others, SDG 5 on gender equality. 

Sincerely,

The UCLG World Secretariat