In the run-up to the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, which will take place on the 11th of July, 22 countries have volunteered to report on their progress in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Norway, The Philippines, Turkey, Germany and Colombia are amongst the countries which are carrying out these "Voluntary National Reviews". Other major groups and stakeholders who are involved in the implementation of the SDGs have also been invited to share their voluntary inputs.
Now that most reports are available online, it can be concluded that the first edition of voluntary national reviews showcases that many countries are stimulating local involvement in their efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. This is done in various ways, for example through institutionalized exchange with local authorities, or through joint concrete actions at local level.
Examples of local involvement in Agenda 2030 Agenda
Several national reviews clearly mention the cruciality of local government involvement in the implementation of the Sustainable Development goals. The Norwegian government mentions that "The Government will also make use of existing mechanisms for cooperation with local and regional authorities”. The Colombian government is convinced that true transformative action should occur at local level and has therefore focused its efforts on how to localize the SDGs. In the past six months, the central government worked together closely with municipal and department governments on the dissemination and appropriation of the SDGs, transforming the goals into a tool to permanently guide the development process. Territorial development plans and budgets by newly elected local leaders have now been aligned to the SDGs. Germany has held different dialogue forums in which it exchanged ideas and information on the international sustainability with representatives of NGOs, churches, local authorities, the scientific and academic community and the private sector. Short summaries of all national reviews are available here.
High Level Political Forum
The HLPF is the central platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015.