Methodology and report preparation process

2. Methodology and report preparation process

Building on the work undertaken during the first assessment cycle of SDG achievement (performed by the United Nations between 2015 and 2019), this year’s edition of the local and regional government report to the HLPF responds to an urgent call to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs. In response to the political declaration adopted following the 2019 edition of the HLPF, LRGs have restated their firm commitment to fulfil the 2030 Agenda and the need to accelerate implementation processes as we enter the Decade of Action.1

As in previous years, the report is grounded on first-hand experiences shared by LRGs from around the world. The GTF has consulted its networks and their members through the “Survey on the role of LRGs and their associations in the localization of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda”. In total, 204 responses were collected from all over the world (see Box 2.1). This report also builds on the outcomes of two actions that have been promoted over the past year in order to propel localization efforts worldwide. On the one hand, it builds on the reporting efforts of LRGs based on a thorough comparative analysis of all the VLRs that have been published, to date, in the Guidelines for Voluntary Local Reviews. 2 On the other hand, this year’s report also builds on the pilot project for the promotion of subnational reporting on SDGs in direct partnership with the national LGAs of the selected countries. This effort contributes to the elaboration of countrywide reports on SDG implementation at the

Box 2.1

Surveys collected by the GTF in 2020

A total of 204 surveys were collected by the GTF in 2020 (from 180 in 2019): 76 from national local government associations (23 from reporting countries) and 104 surveys from local and regional governments (9 from reporting countries not covered by answers from LGAs) and 24 from partners. The majority of the answers came from Europe (82 surveys) followed by Latin America (35 surveys), Africa (23 surveys) and Asia-Pacific (22 surveys). An important majority of LGAs of Europe participated in the survey (31), followed by LGAs from Africa (18), Latin America (10) and Asia-Pacific (8). Beyond LGAs, the large majority of LRGs that participated in the survey come from Europe (51), followed by Latin America (25) and Asia-Pacific (13). The majority of partner institutions (think tanks, NGOs and academia) are from Latin America. In Europe, a majority of LRGs are from Spain, France, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands and Finland. A majority are cities (29), followed by departments or provincial councils (11) and regions (6). From Latin America almost all countries are represented, and the majority of answers came from cities. In Asia-Pacific, the majority of the answers are from Indonesia and the Philippines, with a dominance of provincial governments and cities. From the Commonwealth of Independent States, all the participants in the survey are cities. From Middle East and West Asia, responses came from 5 LGAs from three countries of the region, one provincial association, 2 municipalities and 2 other local governments. From North America, two national local governments from Canada and US responded to the survey.

Figure 2.1

Countries that submitted their VNR to the HLPF and countries whose LRGs answered the GTF Survey (2016-2020)

Source: own compilation. Only VNR Only survey Both VNR and survey Both VNR and survey in 2020 No information available

subnational level in six pilot countries that have been selected from the 47 countries reporting to this year’s HLPF.3

Furthermore, and as was the case in previous editions, this year’s edition of the local and regional government report to the HLPF also analyses 39 of the 47 VNRs published (until 28 June) and, perhaps most notably, the engagement of the LRGs in their respective elaboration of the VNRs and national SDG implementation mechanisms. The aim is to compare and contrast different national and subnational sources and to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of multilevel government arrangements in the different territories. In sum, the present edition of the GTF’s Towards the Localization of the SDGs report puts forward a comprehensive analysis that seeks to prepare the ground for a debate about the challenges currently facing LRGs. It seeks to shed light on the opportunities that they can exploit as they advance in their localization processes to accelerate the implementation of the Global Goals.

Last but not least, given the gravity of the global crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity to build up collective knowledge to help with recovery, this fourth edition of the GTF's report to the HLPF will also build upon the work undertaken by GTF members and their partner organizations in the monitoring of local and regional responses to the crisis worldwide. Throughout the crisis, GTF members are making it a priority to support LRGs. These efforts have included the compilation of resources and organization of webinars and learning sessions, so as to contribute to collective knowledge building by allowing for LRGs to exchange experiences on the basis of solidarity. Moreover, member organizations have also advanced other initiatives such as the establishment of work taskforces for recovery or full-fledged monitoring initiatives.4