13 June 2016

Many of the investments to achieve the sustainable development goals will take place at the subnational level and be led by local authorities” the UN Secretary-General said in his Synthesis Report “The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives and Protecting the Planet”, already highlighting that an inclusive multilevel approach would be necessary.

In order to ensure that no one will be left behind, we have to work closely with local and regional governments, also involving and empowering the communities in their cities and territories.

The localization of the 2030 Agenda, including the SDGs, should be at the heart of global efforts for a successful implementation. Local and subnational authorities have specific competences on a broad range of topics crucial for the achievement of the SDGs. Especially when it comes to public services, integrated planning, policy-making, implementation and monitoring, these actors can translate guidelines from the global and national levels into tailored-cut actions to address the diverse specificities and needs of the territories within countries.

It is time we unite efforts and bring down the SDGs agenda to the ground, at the subnational level, boosting the coherence of policies across national actions, the cohesion throughout territorial plans and strategies, the coordination with all levels of governments, and the collaboration with multi-stakeholders.

Unless we build effective partnerships, as well as provide the necessary support and capacity-building to actors at all levels, it will not be possible to ensure that the goals and targets will benefit everyone.