Methodology

2Methodology

This year’s edition of Towards the Localization of the SDGs comes at a critical juncture in the effort to achieve the SDGs. As noted in the UN Secretary-General’s Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals report, the COVID-19 crisis has halted, or reverted, much of the progress made over the past

6 years. The extent of the recoil is still unknown and will be largely determined by the strategies implemented to recover from the crisis.1 The present report therefore seeks to echo the voices of LRGs and their call for a sustainable and resilient recovery that promotes economic, social and environmental sustainability as the means for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Spurred on by the pandemic, the second year of the decade of action for sustainable development has highlighted the critical role played by LRGs in building an inclusive path towards delivery of the SDGs. This report analyses and presents the concrete ways in which LRGs have contributed to addressing the COVID-19 crisis on the ground, while trying to ensure—and at times even advance—the delivery of the SDGs, despite the many challenges faced.

The evidence presented in this report is grounded in the experiences shared by LRGs and their associations via the 2021 “Survey on the role of LRGs and their associations in the localization of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda” (see Box 2.1). Further first-hand evidence has been drawn from subnational SDG monitoring and reporting efforts, which—quite remarkably—have accelerated in recent years. In this regard, two specific modalities should be distinguished.

On the one land, this report builds upon efforts undertaken in previous years regarding the compilation of Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs); this initiative continues to expand across the world.2 The analysis presented in the first volume of the Guidelines for Voluntary Local Reviews, by UCLG and UN-Habitat, has been complemented with a further analysis of the VLRs published in 2021.3 The present report also reflects the key debates arising from the second volume of the Guidelines for Voluntary Local Reviews, which is to be launched during the 2021 HLPF. Its highlights include how to leverage the link between national and local reporting processes in order to accelerate SDG implementation.

On the other hand, this report also weaves in the 15 Voluntary Subnational Reviews (VSRs) that were undertaken between 2020 and 2021.4 Since 2020, UCLG has been promoting the elaboration of VSRs in countries that are reporting to the HLPF. These subnational reviews are drafted

BOX 2.1

Surveys collected by the GTF/UCLG in 2021

For the preparation of this year’s edition of Towards the Localization of the SDGs, the GTF has collected 263 surveys, as opposed to the 204 collected in 2020. The surveys received have come from 92 different countries, 28 of which are reporting this year. Of the 263 surveys, 94 correspond to answers from LGAs (24 from reporting countries); 159 to answers from LRGs (including 5 from reporting countries that are not covered by the answers from the LGAs) and 10 to responses from partners. Most of the replies came from Europe (94 surveys), followed by Latin America (53), Africa (37), Eurasia (29), Asia-Pacific (28), and Middle East and West Asia (19). In Africa, most replies come from LGAs. In ASPAC, answers from LGAs and LRGs are balanced. In Eurasia, most replies come from Russian LRGs (26). In Europe, 34 LGAs from 28 countries have responded (plus NALAS: a subregional network from South-East Europe). In Latin America, the majority of the replies come from LRGs (34), particularly from Argentina and Brazil, and include those of 14 LGAs from 13 countries. In MEWA, the majority of the replies come from Turkish (10 of 19) and Palestinian LRGs (4). In NORAM, all 3 replies come from Canada.

FIGURE 2.1

Countries that committed to submitting their VNR to the HLPF in 2021 and countries whose LRGs answered the 2021 GTF/UCLG Survey

Source: own compilation. Countries whose LRGs answered the 2021 GTF/UCLG Survey Countries committed to present a VNR in 2021

in close collaboration with the national LRG associations in each country. They provide both comprehensive and in-depth analyses of the corresponding national environments for SDG localization. They also include the experiences of LRGs from different parts of each country in implementing the SDGs on the ground.

The report also provides a systematic analysis of the actions taken by LRGs around the world in response to and, as far as possible, to help them to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. This analysis is based on the premise that health must permeate all other policies. Through this lens, the report explores the relationship between LRG initiatives and the pillars of sustainable development within the context of the current crisis. Initiatives from different LRGs from all around the world are highlighted in order to ensure geographical balance and a truly representative review.5 The report consolidates these different subnational sources of information on SDG implementation and punctuates them with an analysis of the VNRs presented to this year’s HLPF. At the time of writing, 35 VNRs have been analysed in depth in order to produce this report. As in previous editions, special attention has been paid to the involvement of LRGs and LGAs in national reporting processes and to the coordination mechanisms guiding SDG implementation. Finally, the report reflects on the means of implementation available to LRGs and on how these have also been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In sum, the present report puts forward a contrasted analysis of the progress of SDG localization in the territories reporting to this year’s HLPF. It compares and contrasts key national and subnational sources on SDG implementation, with the objective of preparing the ground for further debate on the effectiveness of multi-level government arrangements in the different territories. In these trying times for humanity, we find ourselves at a crossroads regarding the achievement of the SDGs. This report seeks to provide evidence of the crucial importance of SDG localization and of the challenges faced by LRGs as they try to accelerate their actions during this time of crisis.