The Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs

Jointly promoted by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and UN-Habitat, the Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs is an operational initiative designed to accelerate the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals at the country level.

The Partnership Platform supports national governments in designing and implementing National SDG Localization Frameworks—the comprehensive set of policies, governance structures, financial mechanisms and initiatives required to localize the SDGs.

In parallel, the Partnership Platform provides tailored city-level support to enhance the capacity of local governments in the areas of data, planning, and investment – anchored on the SDG Cities approach. By linking national frameworks with local action, the Partnership Platform ensures that national delivery of sustainable development is both vertically integrated and contextually grounded, ensuring adequate resources for local implementation.

A core objective of the Partnership is to close the local-level financing gap by facilitating the identification, development, and funding of high-impact projects at the local level. Anchored in the principles of multilevel governance and policy coherence, the overarching vision of the Platform is to enhance the effectiveness of national-to-local SDG delivery, ultimately contributing to a better quality of life for all.

At the international level, the Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs promotes the development of cutting-edge knowledge, continuous learning and technical exchanges between national and local governments and relevant partners committed to transformative change through localization. The Partnership Platform articulates its support with and contributes to the mandate and work of the Local2030 Coalition, the UN system-wide initiative on localizing Agenda 2030.

What are the CHALLENGES the Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs aims to tackle?

Data Gap: Lack of disaggregated data limits understanding of challenges and hinders progress tracking at all levels.
Coherence & Decision-Making Gap: Disconnect between national and local policies reduces coherence, effectiveness and overall impact of sustainable development efforts.
Implementation & Finance Gap: Inadequate funding and limited local capacities weaken overall national delivery and efforts to advance progress and sustainable development.

What are the TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGES the Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs aims to achieve?

The Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs aims to promote inclusive prosperity and enhance quality of life for all by strengthening the effectiveness of national delivery of sustainable development. It aims to do so by transforming:

Multilevel governance systems anchored on policy coherence for sustainable development.
Cities and local governments' capacities to plan, invest, and deliver inclusive public services, informed by local data and community needs.
Cooperation and partnerships through continuous learning, knowledge development, and exchanges at the international level.

What are NATIONAL SDG Localization Frameworks?

The comprehensive set of policies, governance structures, financial mechanisms and initiatives required to accelerate the localization of the SDGs. National SDG Localization Frameworks help National Governments:

Improving coherence, effectiveness, and impact of national sustainable development efforts.
Identifying and implementing projects with high environmental and social impact at the local level.

What does the Partnership Platform OFFER?

The Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs combines technical support with knowledge innovation and technical engagement at the international level, with the objective of creating a virtuous and continuous flow of exchanges from the local to the national and international levels, and back. Specifically, the Partnership Platform focuses on:

Methodologies and Tools: for developing National SDG Localization Frameworks.
Capacity Building: tailored packages for national and local governments.
Knowledge and Normative Material: including research, policy briefs, and reviews of inspiring practices.
Advocacy: Facilitating peer learning and technical exchanges at the international level.

The Partnership Platform, its members and partners, gather annually on the occasion of the High-Level Political Forum or other relevant events.

With WHOM does the Partnership Platform work?

AMembers: National governments and national institutions are eligible to become members of the Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs, joining a community of partners committed to advancing SDG localization through National SDG Localization Frameworks. Governments can express their interest in joining the Partnership Platform through written communication addressed to UN-Habitat and MASE. Membership is formalized through the signing of a Letter of Intent.

Partners: The Partnership Platform collaborates with relevant partners to develop knowledge, deliver support and facilitate continuous learning on localization, multilevel governance and policy coherence for sustainable development.

The Partnership Platform articulates its work with the SDG Cities Initiative to deliver tailored support to cities and communities. In addition, it aims to contribute to the work and mandate of the Local2030 Coalition, the main global initiative and UN-System-wide platform on localizing Agenda 2030.