Within the framework of the Sixth Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, from April 25 to 28, 2023, Under the Presidency of Argentina, ECLAC, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Paraguay will organize a side event on the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role of Voluntary Local Reports (SIL) in the Americas and the Caribbean (LAC) region.
CONTEXT
The countries of the LAC region have appropriated the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs as a State commitment, in broad cooperation with multiple actors, including civil society, youth, the private sector, academia, the local authorities and legislative and parliamentary authorities, among others. Although Voluntary National Reports (VNIs) continue to be the main mechanisms for reviewing progress and challenges in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, as part of their efforts to localize the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, local and regional governments are increasingly involved. in subnational reports for the implementation of the SDGs, also called voluntary local reports (ILV). Although the 2030 Agenda does not mandate the preparation of these reports, the process of preparing them brings multiple benefits to the entities that participate in them and to the implementation of the SDGs in general, among other things by contributing to the collection and analysis of timely data, accurate and disaggregated information on the implementation of the SDGs and on those furthest behind at the local level; bringing stakeholders closer to decision-making processes; strengthening multilevel governance; and promoting the integration of the SDGs in local planning. Not only capitals and big cities, but also an increasing number of smaller cities, provinces and districts, including rural areas, are adopting the practice of preparing local situation reports. At the same time, more and more countries are linking voluntary national assessments to voluntary local assessments, strengthening multi-level governance and vertical coordination to accelerate SDG implementation.
PARTICIPANTS
The participants in this event included national and local authorities from the LAC region that have been involved in SDG localization efforts and/or the preparation of SILs and INVs; Resident Coordinators of the United Nations system and representatives of their offices, and other officials of the United Nations system, including DESA and ECLAC, as well as other actors, including civil society and the academic sector.
PURPOSE OF THE EVENT
The main objective of the workshop was to share good practices and experiences, as well as innovative approaches to overcome the challenges faced in the formulation and preparation of SILs to implement and monitor the 2030 Agenda at the local level, and improve vertical integration at the local, national, regional and global levels.
RESULTS
Expected outcomes of this workshop included:
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Increased regional dialogue, peer learning and exchange of good practices in the formulation, dissemination and presentation of SILs, as well as in local responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and their interrelationships with the implementation of the SDGs.
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Strengthening of the capacities of the participants to link subnational and local efforts and identify their contribution to the INV process.
METHODOLOGY
The workshop was carried out in a spirit of peer learning encouraging the exchange of concrete experiences of local and national authorities. Panelists were invited to give presentations based on guiding questions, followed by interactive discussions to encourage dialogue and sharing among all participants.
