How can we make sure that local voices and perspectives enter into the Voluntary National Reviews, to be presented at the HLPF in 2018? Join CIB in assisting local government associations around the world! Read on for more information...
On 15 March, CIB members met online to discuss ways to assist their Local Government Associations in the countries which are reporting to the UN’s High Level Political Forum this year, to make sure that the local perspective enters into the national reports on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Involvement of associations of local or regional governments in the reporting process is not evident in all partner countries – CIB members will try to assist their partner associations and local governments to make sure that the local voices are heard at UN level.
Mapping activities of CIB members in the reporting countries
The following countries are reporting to the UN in 2018:
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Africa (11): Benin, Cabo Verde, Egypt, Guinea, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sudan, Togo Asia-Pacific (7): Australia, Bhutan, Kiribati, Laos, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam Eurasia (1): Armenia Europe (14): Albania, Andorra, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland Latin America (6): Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay MEWA (6): Bahrain, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, State of Palestine, United Arab Emirates North America (3): Bahamas, Canada, Jamaica
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The CIB Working Group secretariat has started mapping which CIB members could assist which Local Government Associations in these countries. Thank you for sharing with us in which countries you could integrate assisting your partner LGA in this process, into your ongoing programmes (by sending an email to uclg.cib@vng.nl). Once we have received this information, we will share a matrix with the network, to stimulate coordination of efforts. From the countries in bold we already know that CIB members are actively working with LGAs and willing to help them in the process.
Make use of UCLG’s and CEMR’s SDG reporting tools
- UCLG will, just like last year, present a report to the UN, on behalf of local and regional governments. The objective is to show the UN that while a large percentage of the SDG implementation activities take place at the local level but that local governments and their associations are not always involved (enough) in the reporting process. Associations of local governments from the list of reporting countries are encouraged to fill out a questionnaire (EN version, FR version, ES version) on their SDG activities and involvement in the reporting process. Associations from other countries are of course also welcome to share good practices etc. by filling out the survey. The survey should be filled out by April 30. The survey should be regarded as a tool that helps to involve local government associations in SDG reporting and to support local governments to participate in using the SDGs. The survey includes an annex in which specific initiatives from cities can be mentioned – these can provide information for case studies for the report.
- CEMR has also created a survey, for the European associations of local governments and individual European local governments. This survey was based on an earlier version of the UCLG version. European associations of local governments do not have to fill out both surveys – CEMR will make sure to feed UCLG on behalf of the European associations. The survey will help report to the UN and will assess what kind of support is needed for local governments in this process- what are the barriers at the moment?. The deadline for this survey is the same as for the UCLG survey (30 April). CEMR will also organize a workshop on SDG reporting and the survey, on 12 April, in Bulgaria. This event is open to all European associations of local governments. Best practices from last year will be shared and assistance for reporting this year will be provided.