WUF12: Egypt’s Initiatives to Localize Sustainable Development Goals

At the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), currently held in Cairo, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova, highlighted initiatives launched by the Egyptian government to support efforts to localize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She spoke during a session the event, “Boosting the localisation of the sustainable development goals to propel transformative change”, co-organized by the United Nations Joint SDG Fund and the Local2030 Coalition.

The session, which included representatives from the governments of the United States, Spain, Costa Rica, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as the UN Joint SDG Fund and the Local2030 Coalition, saw Panova commend the “clear impact” of the Fund on the UN’s work in Egypt. She explained that the Fund has strengthened UN cooperation at the national level, with the funding provided by the Fund enabling coordinated approaches among UN agencies on key SDG areas.

The Resident Coordinator emphasized that the Fund’s work has been impactful by focusing on a number of multi-dimensional SDG accelerators. She noted that, under the leadership of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, the government has partnered with five UN agencies to develop the building blocks for an Integrated National Financing Framework. This includes a comprehensive financing strategy that serves as a roadmap to close financing gaps, enhance resource allocation to key sectors, unlock innovative financing, and stimulate private sector financing for sustainable development.

Panova highlighted several initiatives launched by Egypt to support progress toward achieving the SDGs at the local level. These include “Hayah Karima” (Decent Life), a flagship initiative to improve the quality of life in poor villages, the release of sustainable development localization reports in 2021 covering all 27 governorates, and three voluntary local reviews from the governorates of Beheira, Fayoum, and Port Said, which were presented at the 2023 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).

At the same time, Panova pointed out challenges facing SDG localization in Egypt, including disparities in planning and monitoring capacities among governorates, the need to improve collaboration with local stakeholders, and to enhance the collection, management, and utilization of disaggregated data.

Panova also said that the UN is in the process of establishing a new joint program, led by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, in collaboration with three UN agencies—UN-Habitat, UNDP, and UNICEF. This program aims to strengthen local governance by integrating people-centered decision-making processes throughout the policy cycle, including planning, budgeting, and monitoring.

She emphasized the significant role that the UN could play, 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.” The new joint programme will engage young people in various ways by including youth in all capacity building and participatory planning activities, policy dialogues for young people. “We will work with the new Local2030 Cairo Hub to disseminate successful models across Egypt, Africa and globally,” she added.

The event brought together a diverse range of partners, with speakers highlighting the role of the UN Joint SDG Fund and the Local2030 Coalition in supporting national, regional, and local governments in overcoming financing challenges and advancing the SDGs at the local level, as well as showcasing successful initiatives from around the world.

The UN Joint SDG Fund is the UN’s leading global fund dedicated to mobilizing the UN Development System and catalyzing policy and financing transformations to accelerate SDG efforts. The Fund has already invested nearly $79 million in supporting SDG localization actions. This includes initiatives working with local and regional stakeholders and governments to develop innovative policy solutions and financing mechanisms to mobilize local capital.