Boosting the localisation of the sustainable development goals to propel transformative change

As our world grapples with unprecedented challenges, exposing our fragile systems and threatening progress towards the 2030 Agenda, achieving the SDGs requires integrated and cross-sectoral actions. The SDG transitions framework was introduced to promote more integrated solutions to transform systems related to climate, food, energy, jobs, social protection, education, and digital connectivity.

All crises of our time have local dimensions, putting additional pressure on prompt and effective local action that ensure no one and no place is left behind. Therefore, localizing the SDGs brings opportunities for shaping responses and planning through innovative, collective, and coordinated pathways for sustainable development close to where people live. As the United Nation’s Secretary General remarked during the launch of the Advisory Board on Local and Regional governments in October 2023, the SDGs are eminently local and multi-level cooperation is vital to rescue the SDGs with speed, scale and coordination.

The Joint SDG Fund (the Fund) is the UN flagship global fund to supercharge the UN Development System to be fit for purpose and to catalyze systemic transitions in areas of cross-sectoral and cross-organisational integrated policy and financing to accelerate the SDGs. The Fund has already invested around US$ 79 million supporting actions for localizing the SDGs. This included initiatives that worked with local and regional stakeholders and governments on innovative policy solutions as well as on developing financial solutions to mobilize capital for the local level.

The Fund recognises SDG localisation as a key pillar of its new strategic approach and a pivotal driver behind all key SDG transitions. The Fund’s strategic framework anchored on the key transitions ensures that the Fund’s investments lead to tangible transformative outcomes driving local impact. In partnership with the Local2030 Coalition, a dedicated funding track was launched to support catalytic initiatives in 30 countries that can clearly demonstrate the role of SDG localization in accelerating the key transitions. Moreover, the Fund and the Local 2030 Coalition have developed a SDG Localization Marker to identify initiatives that effectively prioritise localisation efforts, ensuring both policy coherence and transparent and accountable tracking of allocated financing for SDG localisation, and facilitating rigorous monitoring and reporting on the progress achieved in localising the SDGs.

The event will convene diverse partners and frame the conversation around the role of the Joint SDG Fund and Local 2030 Coalition in supporting national, regional and local governments overcome impediments to financing and advancing the SDGs at the local level. The event will build on the practical local solutions from three countries, showcase Spain’s leadership of the SDG Localization agenda and highlight USAID’s best practices to further enrich the conversation with a different perspective.