Knowledge

Synthesis Report on Climate Action by Local and Subnational Governments

Climate Change Association (2019)

Issued by the Climate Change Association in November 2019, this report provides a detailed description of advances made in climate policy up-to-date. Divided into three sections, it assesses which local and subnational government approaches have had an impact on the climate change goals.

Each section of the report outlines a different aspect of the implementation process. Section one focusses on the implementation progress of local governments concerning climate policy, section two compares the advances made in different territories, while section three highlights achievements from 80 different initiatives around the world. Moreover, it sheds light on decentralised cooperation approaches.

Government at a Glance Southeast Asia 2019

ADB and OECD (2019) This joint report by ADB and OECD uses 34 indicators to assess government performance and public management practices in the ten ASEAN member countries.

The first edition of the ‘Governments at a Glance’ series for Southeast Asia provides the latest data on public administration, public finance and economics as well as public employment, budget practices and procedures, strategic human resources management, digital government, open government and citizen satisfaction with public services. While the report concludes that people in Southeast Asia are relatively satisfied with public service quality, the key areas identified for improvement include reducing barriers preventing women from reaching senior leadership positions, strengthening fiscal frameworks and digital government strategies to provide citizens with better access to services.

Failing to Reach the Poorest: Subnational Financing Inequalities and Health and Education Outcomes

Development Initiatives and ODI (2019)

Investments in health and education are crucial to improving lives and reducing inequalities. This paper provides information on global inequalities and carves out options to improve targeting in order to enable better preconditions for faster and more efficient progress. In this context the paper assesses the outcomes of subnational financing of health and education in 82 low- and middle-income countries as well as in target regions with the worst health and education outcomes.

New Guidance Document Presents Towns and Cities with 15 Pathways to Localise the SDGs

ICLEI Europe, City of Aalborg and Basque Country (2019)

The report ‘15 Pathways to localise the sustainable development goals’ by the City of Aalborg, the Basque Country and ICLEI outlines different ways to implement the SDGs at the local level by drawing inspiration from the 15 pathways of the Basque Declaration. The publication makes use of illustrated stories in order to give local governments and other local stakeholders’ concrete ideas for action. The chosen examples demonstrate how integrated approaches allow for goals to be implemented across sectors and departments.

2019 Voluntary National Reviews Synthesis Report

UN DESA (2019)

The 2030 Agenda incites signatories to ‘conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven’ (paragraph 79). In 2019 a total of 47 countries presented their results at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The 2019 Voluntary National Reviews Synthesis Report summarizes these results in part and assesses them according to best practices, lessons learned as well as gaps and challenges encountered in working towards the achievement of the SDGs. In addition, key elements concerning the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as well as actions taken on each of the SDGs are outlined.

Localizing the 2030 Agenda in Canada

BCCIC, CCIC and Canada (2019)

The policy brief 'Localizing the 2030 Agenda in Canada' reviews good practices from around the world and provides the Canadian government with recommendations concerning the localisation of the 2030 Agenda in Canada. Among other proposals, the brief advocates for the inclusion of territorial, municipal and Indigenous governments in decision-making processes in order to link their individual development plans to the 2030 Agenda and foster local sustainable development solutions. The policy brief is part of the BCCIC’s and CCIC’s Good Practice in 2030 Agenda Implementation Series.

Leave No One Behind Index 2019

ODI (2019)

The ‘Leave No One Behind Index 2019’ provides information concerning the assessment and monitoring of the crucial 2030 Agenda principle ‘leave no one behind’. In addition to data collected in 2019, the report uses data from previous years to track changes and developments with regard to implementation. The report assesses that in 2019 at least 81 countries were able to work successfully with the ‘leave no one behind’ principle while 54 were ‘partially ready’ and 12 countries were ‘not ready’ yet.

Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

UN (2019)

This publication provides a summary of the Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development held in Copenhagen from 1 - 3 April 2019. The Conference was Organised by the UN DESA and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate Denmark, the conference’s goal was to align the climate and SDG processes and stimulate action from stakeholders at the global, regional and country level. The summary report outlines the discussed approaches to maximize climate action and SDG efforts.

In Brief: United Nations Development Cooperation - Making the Most of the UN Development System in Countries

United Nations Sustainable Development Group (2020)

This briefing outlines the methodologies and approaches proposed by the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. Overall the following five aspects are considered: strategic planning, funding, implementation and monitoring, learning, reporting and evaluation. In addition, the brief explores how the UN and governments can improve their means of cooperation in order to increase their contributions to the global realisation of the SDGs by 2030. The Framework presents the most important planning and implementation instrument for UN development activities within countries.

Women in Politics: Local and European Trends

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) (2019)

The study ‘Women in Politics: Local and European Trends’ looks at 41 European countries and analyses to what extent political positions at all levels of government are held by females. Covering a ten year period, the study demonstrates that only 1/3 of political decision-makers in Europe are women. The study showcases areas in which improvements have been made and offers recommendations to further strengthen female equity at the political level.