WUF12 addresses SDG localisation, growth finance

At the twelfth World Urban Forum (WUF12), held in Cairo, two pivotal discussions underscored the important significance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) localisation and financing for growth. These discussions revealed a collective dedication to addressing the worldwide challenges of urbanization and sustainable growth by means of enhanced collaboration amongst numerous stakeholders. This article delves deeper into these discussions, highlighting key insights, initiatives, and the best way ahead for the UN and its companions.

ONE UN Roundtable: Bridging Financing Gaps for SDG Acceleration

The “ONE UN Roundtable” served as a key platform for the United Nations Development System (UNDS) to strengthen partnerships with multilateral growth companions. During this roundtable, individuals targeted on bridging financing gaps in nationwide SDG acceleration plans by means of enhanced collaboration between the UN System, Resident Coordinators, and multilateral growth banks.

The Urgency of Financial Investment

UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach emphasised the pressing want for elevated monetary investments to assist the New Urban Agenda. She said: “Addressing the global housing crisis is a high priority.” This comment resonates deeply in a world the place urbanization is quickly rising, and the demand for reasonably priced housing is bigger than ever. Rossbach highlighted that sustainable investments rely closely on well-planned city growth, which have to be inclusive and resilient.

Addressing the Gap Between Ambition and Reality

Elena Panova, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, famous the robust dedication from individuals to construct inclusive, resilient, and financially sustainable city areas. She acknowledged the “gap between ambition and reality,” a divide usually rooted in financing challenges. This hole presents a major hurdle for a lot of nations striving to fulfill their SDG commitments. Panova emphasised the significance of supporting native actors in advancing sustainable growth on the bottom, stating that native initiatives usually have a direct affect on the lives of residents.

Collective Efforts and International Cooperation

The roundtable included voices from UN Resident Coordinators in Turkiye, Nepal, Senegal, and Mexico, all echoing the necessity to leverage personal and public assets to speed up SDG implementation. They highlighted the significance of offering the mandatory technical help to native governments, making certain that they’ve the instruments and assets wanted to successfully implement their SDG initiatives.

Since its institution at WUF10 in 2020, the roundtable has introduced collectively UN entities, Resident Coordinators, multilateral growth banks, and nationwide authorities representatives. The purpose has been to boost the UN’s alignment with native and nationwide priorities, recognizing that efficient SDG implementation requires a tailor-made strategy that considers the distinctive contexts of varied nations and areas.

The Financing Challenge

In a world the place greater than 80% of Sustainable Development Goals are at the moment off-track, the WUF12’s “ONE UN Roundtable” aimed to develop forward-looking methods to assist the UN’s built-in efforts towards SDG acceleration. Participants mentioned greatest practices from earlier UN conferences, the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) Ministerial Declaration, and proposals from the Summit of the Future.

A big a part of the dialogue centred across the important annual financing hole of $2.5trn-4trn for SDG implementation, as highlighted by the UN and growth companions. This hole poses a frightening problem for nations striving to attain their SDG targets, significantly within the context of rising world inequalities and financial instability.

Enhancing Partnerships for Sustainable Financing

A key precedence for the “ONE UN” platform at WUF12 is enhancing partnerships with multilateral growth banks to strengthen SDG financing, particularly for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These areas face distinctive challenges that necessitate tailor-made options and localized financing methods.

Discussions targeted on bettering coordination between UNDS and different monetary establishments to create a collaborative framework for bridging monetary gaps in SDG implementation. Participants acknowledged that efficient financing for growth requires not simply further funding but additionally progressive approaches to useful resource allocation and funding.

Expected Outcomes and Future Directions

Expected outcomes from the roundtable included a quantitative set of suggestions to strengthen collaboration on SDG financing and the qualitative identification of mechanisms to determine strategic partnerships between the UN and monetary establishments. These insights will show invaluable in informing discussions at future world occasions, together with the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025.

As the worldwide group prepares for this important occasion, it’s important to deal with the monetary and operational challenges of the SDG agenda. The discussions at WUF12 highlighted the necessity for a collective effort to mobilize assets and improve collaboration throughout sectors, making certain that nobody is left behind within the pursuit of sustainable growth.

Egypt’s Initiatives for SDG Localization

In parallel to the roundtable discussions, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova, highlighted a number of initiatives launched by the Egyptian authorities to assist efforts to localize the SDGs. Her remarks got here throughout a session titled “Boosting the Localization of the Sustainable Development Goals to Propel Transformative Change,” co-organized by the United Nations Joint SDG Fund and the Local2030 Coalition.

The Role of the Joint SDG Fund

Panova recommended the “clear impact” of the Joint SDG Fund on the UN’s work in Egypt. She defined that the Fund has considerably strengthened UN cooperation on the nationwide stage, enabling coordinated approaches amongst UN businesses on key SDG areas. This collaborative effort has been important in addressing the multifaceted challenges that Egypt faces in its journey towards attaining the SDGs.

Integrated National Financing Framework

Under the management of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, the Egyptian authorities has partnered with 5 UN businesses to develop the constructing blocks for an Integrated National Financing Framework. This framework is designed to be a complete financing technique that serves as a roadmap to shut financing gaps, improve useful resource allocation to key sectors, unlock progressive financing, and stimulate personal sector financing for sustainable growth.

Local Initiatives and Their Impact

Panova highlighted a number of particular initiatives launched by Egypt to assist progress towards attaining the SDGs on the native stage. One of probably the most noteworthy is “Hayah Karima” (Decent Life), a flagship initiative geared toward bettering the standard of life in poor villages. This initiative displays Egypt’s dedication to addressing poverty and inequality, making certain that the advantages of growth attain all segments of society.

Additionally, she identified the discharge of sustainable growth localization studies in 2021, which coated all 27 governorates. These studies present beneficial insights into the native implementation of the SDGs and function a foundation for additional motion. Furthermore, three voluntary native evaluations from the governorates of Beheira, Fayoum, and Port Said had been introduced on the 2023 High-Level Political Forum, showcasing native efforts and achievements in SDG localization.

Challenges in SDG Localization

Despite these developments, Panova acknowledged a number of challenges going through SDG localization in Egypt. These embrace disparities in planning and monitoring capacities amongst governorates, the necessity to enhance collaboration with native stakeholders, and the need to boost the gathering, administration, and utilization of disaggregated information. Addressing these challenges is crucial for making certain that native initiatives are efficient and aligned with nationwide priorities.

A New Joint Program for Local Governance

In response to those challenges, the UN is establishing a brand new joint program, led by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, in collaboration with three UN businesses—UN-Habitat, UNDP, and UNICEF. This program goals to strengthen native governance by integrating people-centred decision-making processes all through the coverage cycle, together with planning, budgeting, and monitoring.

Panova emphasised the numerous position that the UN might play on this context, stating that the joint program “can act as a catalyst for further cooperation and investment from the government, UN agencies, development partners, and the private sector.” By fostering collaboration and engagement amongst all stakeholders, this system goals to create a extra inclusive and sustainable strategy to native governance.

Engaging Young People in Development

A key part of the brand new joint program is its deal with partaking younger folks in numerous methods. The program will embrace youth in all capacity-building and participatory planning actions, making certain their voices are heard in coverage dialogues. Panova famous, “We will work with the new Local2030 Cairo Hub to disseminate successful models across Egypt, Africa, and globally.” This dedication to youth engagement displays a recognition of the very important position that younger folks play in shaping the way forward for sustainable growth.

Global Partnerships and Best Practices

The occasion introduced collectively a various vary of companions, with audio system highlighting the position of the UN Joint SDG Fund and the Local2030 Coalition in supporting nationwide, regional, and native governments in overcoming financing challenges and advancing the SDGs on the native stage. By showcasing profitable world initiatives, the discussion board supplied a platform for sharing greatest practices and classes realized, fostering collaboration amongst nations.

The UN Joint SDG Fund is the UN’s main world fund devoted to mobilizing the UN Development System and catalyzing coverage and financing transformations to speed up SDG efforts. With almost $79 million invested in supporting SDG localization actions, the Fund has initiated tasks that work with native and regional stakeholders to develop progressive coverage options and financing mechanisms. This funding underscores the UN’s dedication to fostering sustainable growth at each stage.

The discussions at WUF12 highlighted the pressing want for enhanced collaboration and progressive financing options to assist the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals. The “ONE UN Roundtable” supplied a important platform for stakeholders to share insights and methods for bridging monetary gaps in SDG implementation, whereas the initiatives introduced by Egypt showcased the tangible steps being taken to localize these targets.

As the worldwide group continues to grapple with the challenges of urbanization, inequality, and local weather change, the insights and partnerships fashioned at WUF12 shall be important for driving progress towards the SDGs. By fostering collective motion and leveraging assets successfully, the UN and its companions can work in the direction of a extra sustainable and equitable future for all. The highway forward would require concerted efforts from governments, worldwide organizations, the personal sector, and civil society to make sure that the guarantees of the SDGs are fulfilled and that nobody is left behind.