Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals: Making Cities for All

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals provide a powerful illustration of the challenges and opportunities cities present. Specifically, the SDGs localization process highlights how the empowerment of local stakeholders is essential to make sustainable development more responsive and therefore relevant to local needs, aspirations and lives. This process is closely tied to the New Urban Agenda (NUA), which inevitably lays the groundwork for policies and approaches that build upon the local and urban component of 2030 Agenda. This Side-Event intends to showcase approaches, mechanisms and tools that have been successful in defining and addressing gaps for the promotion of more inclusive cities - leaving no-one behind. Firstly, it will look at the mechanisms available to initialize the SDG localization process. Secondly, it will provide the opportunity to share lessons learned from MDG localization processes and present initial efforts for the SDG localization, facilitating the road ahead in the SDGs’ attainment. Finally, it will highlight the importance of local, regional and national governments in guaranteeing social inclusion, local and national ownership and institutional accountability. The event will also be the occasion for all participants to network around the theme of the SDGs and NUA localization.