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Localize Sustainable Development Goals to Leave No-One Behind

Discussion in one of the parallel sessions on increasing role of local government association for achieving SDGs. Left to right: Sara Heflich de Duque (UCLG), Khairul Ishak Mahadi (UCLG ASPAC), Iilliza Sa'aduddin Djamal (Banda Aceh), and Erna Hernawati (Bogor).

UCLG ASPAC formed collaboration with Yayasan Inovasi Pemerintahan Daerah/YIPD (Local Governance Innovation Foundation), associations of local governments in Indonesia at the Provincial Level (APPSI), Regency Level (APKASI) and City Level (APEKSI), UNDP and various other partners. Through Inovasi Indonesia Forum & Expo 2017 or Indonesian Innovation Forum and Exhibition, held from 19 to 21 July 2017 in Jakarta, UCLG ASPAC and partners brought together experts, private sectors, international organizations, and other related stakeholders in one place to share knowledge on the implementation of global agenda, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to local goods.

More than three plenary and eight parallel sessions on various fields related to innovation and relevancies to the global agenda were organized. In parallel session on the Role of Local Government Associations held by UCLG ASPAC, Sara Hoeflich de Duque, Director of Learning, UCLG, mentioned her view: local government association could increase their role for the achievement of SDGs through comparative study and creating tools to map social, culture, economy, and environment condition of every city.

As part of the Talk Show on How to Synchronize SDGs at National and Local Levels, and Launching of SDGs Publications, Hamong Santono, Senior Program Officer, INFID, interestingly addressed that SDGs document could still be improved; and thus, there is room for local government to innovate. Putting solution in more practical way, Arum Atmawikarta, Indonesia’s National Planning Agency (Bappenas),

informed that SDGs Coordination Team is currently established in national level; while in local level, there needs to be included in 5-year local budget plan.

Erna Witoelar, former UN’s Ambassador on MDGs in Asia and the Pacific, deliberated the challenge of implementing SDGs in Indonesia, saying that huge disparity is faced by Indonesia, making the nation hard to put priority on SDGs. Only with the help of local authorities in putting local priority, can the government do it in national level.

The forum agreed that there are challenges to implement SDGs in Indonesia.

Political, technical, and network works are thus very much required to make the implementation happen. As local actor, role of local government is key. Therefore, they are strongly encouraged to cultivate partnerships, particularly Apart from the rich discussion, UCLG ASPAC also launched “Road Map on Localising SDGs and the SDGs: What Local Governments Need to Know” in Bahasa version. The toolkit contains information about SDGs and how each Goal relates to local government’s targets; and can further be used as guidance for local authorities in creating local plans in alignment with the global agenda.

Launching of the SDGs Road Map and the SDGs: What Local Government Needs to Know in Bahasa Version with the presence of Mayor Emil Dardak of Trenggalek Regency/CoPresident of UCLG ASPAC, and the Secretary General Dr. Bernadia I. Tjandradewi and Ms. Erna Witoelar, former UN Ambassador on MDGs for Asia and the Pacific.

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UCLG ASPAC also conducted the training on Localising SDGs which was attended by representatives of local and central governments on Indonesia. It was the first training on Localising SDGs held by UCLG ASPAC for Indonesian apparatus, following the release of the Presidential Decree of Indonesia No 59/2017 on the Implementation of SDGs on 4th July 2017.