Multilevel Governance – Localising the 2030 Agenda
Towards an inclusive, green and resilient recovery at the local level
"Governance is recognised as the means to a broader end; it is an essential lever of the systemic transformations needed to achieve all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," notes the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) 2019. The forthcoming GSDR 2023 takes this statement even further, focusing on integrative, adaptive and inclusive governance approaches as levers for Recover Forward and the necessary transformation towards sustainability. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the resilience of governance systems and public sector institutions as well as their ability to adapt, function, and innovate, but it has also exposed underlying vulnerabilities.
The 2030 Agenda constitutes a compass for Recover Forward. Implementing the 2030 Agenda requires solid sustainable development governance as a foundation for the necessary transformation. To this end, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Recover Forward needs to be strategically anchored at the national government level. The Sustainable Development Goal targets and indicators need to be embedded in the respective national plans and budgets. Governments should prioritise policy coherence, to overcome sectoral silos and to align existing rules and regulations towards achieving the goals that are interlinked across sectors. Governments are required to use integrative, adaptive, informed and inclusive governance approaches with adequate capacities and abilities, including smart policy mixes.
The cornerstone for sustainable development governance consists of effective, transparent, accessible and inclusive institutions. While there are no one-size-fits-all solutions and no “silver bullets”, governance approaches need to be diverse, tailored, innovative and adaptive, using science and data to support decision-making.
The following topics provide entry points for sustainable development governance in line with Recover Forward:
Towards an inclusive, green and resilient recovery at the local level
To fulfil its transformative potential, the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development must be fully realised at the local level. Localisation refers to the process of transforming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into local reality, focusing development on the needs and priorities of communities. It is a two-way process in which the local meets the national and the global level, in a mutually reinforcing manner. 65% of the SDG targets are directly related to the mandate and mission of local governments.[1] The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly disrupted implementation of many of the SDGs and has turned back years of progress. The crisis has exposed and exacerbated the fragilities and inequalities deeply rooted in our societies – specifically in cities and urban areas. Cities have faced 90% of COVID-19 cases, making them particularly vulnerable to the consequences – social, economic, environmental, cultural – of the pandemic.[2]
The Decade of Action identifies local action as one of the key levels of intervention to achieve these goals. Equally, UNSG’s report “Our Common Agenda" recognises the key role of cities and local governments in achieving sustainable development. Working towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and advancing an inclusive and resilient recovery at all levels are not either-or processes; they are two sides of the same coin.
Balancing nation-wide recovery and development plans with tailored initiatives responding to local specificities is therefore an important challenge to be addressed. A successful balance requires the adoption of integrated and holistic approaches anchored by two axes of work: vertical – strengthening and facilitating multilevel governance systems, and horizontal – prioritising inclusion of and participation by all sectors and territorial stakeholders in decision-making processes.
Local authorities and local governments are the first responders to crisis recovery and first-line service providers in key recovery sectors. The success of localising the 2030 Agenda, however, depends strongly on the degree of political, administrative, and financial decentralisation of public functions in each partner country. The tasks and responsibilities of local governments vary across countries. Accordingly, each local community needs to adjust the SDGs to their specific context, considering how the SDGs can be achieved through by implementing of common local tasks and responsibilities.
Localising the SDGs is a transformative process. Local governments need support to set their priority goals and targets, determine and mobilise the means of implementation and set up monitoring systems to track progress.
A preliminary synthesis report presents action-oriented recommendations to address the multilevel governance and SDG localisation nexus. Case-studies illustrate experiences with vertical and horizontal integration as well as stakeholder engagement.
Learn MoreThe online platform developed by UN-Habitat in cooperation with the BMZ and GIZ provide local and national governments as well as development practitioners from bilateral- and multilateral organisations worldwide with a complete overview of the steps and opportunities for strengthening multilevel cooperation.
Learn MoreThe UNSSC Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development in cooperation with the BMZ and GIZ created a learning and training programme for local actors and development practitioners, proactively steering a better, forward-oriented recovery.
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