Under the theme “A networked multilateralism for present and future generations: Local governments at the heart of the countdown to 2030”, this year’s Local & Regional Governments Forum (LRGF) gathered mayors, governors, youth leaders and UN officials to take stock of how cities and regions are driving the final push toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
High‑level dialogue
Chaired by Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor of Kitchener, the opening panel delivered a blunt assessment: decision‑making and finance must move closer to the city level.
- Carlos Martínez Mínguez (Mayor of Soria) called local governments “engines of transformation,” arguing that measurable, locally generated data should steer national and UN priorities.
- Eckart Würzner (Mayor of Heidelberg) reported that 80 % of daily trips in his city now rely on cycling, walking, or public transport—a result of long‑term political commitment to decarbonisation.
- Pramono Anung (Governor of Jakarta) shared that the Indonesian capital has achieved 98 % universal health coverage and recorded its lowest gender‑inequality index on record.
- Francisco Peña (Mayor of Santo Domingo Oeste) framed local economies as “critical junctions,” spotlighting a new circular‑economy fund aimed at start‑ups and job training.
Speakers converged on one message: without predictable, direct financing streams, local ambitions will stall. This sentiment echoed the Pact for the Future’s request for a stronger role for local and regional governments in multilateral decision‑making .
The cities countdown to 2030: SDGs in review
Moderated by Rohey Malick Lowe (Mayor of Banjul), the second session drilled into the five Goals under formal HLPF review—SDG 3 (Health), 5 (Gender), 8 (Work), 14 (Life Below Water) and 17 (Partnerships) .
| City/Region | Practice | SDG Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Comrat, Moldova | Free medical check‑ups, vaccination drives and health‑literacy classes budgeted with women’s committees | SDG 3, 5 |
| Östergötland, Sweden | Green‑hydrogen hubs plus a “no worker left behind” upskilling guarantee | SDG 8 |
| Badalona, Spain | Whole‑city retrofit into green corridors and low‑emission zones | SDG 3 |
| Huánuco, Peru | Rural poverty reduction plan and gender inclusion | SDG 1, 5 |
Two cross‑cutting lessons emerged:
- Localization as practical governance – Emil Broberg, Regional Councillor of Östergötland, insisted that Swedish municipalities see the SDGs “less as a slogan, more as a management framework.”
- Finance as pre‑condition – Xavier García Albiol, Mayor of Badalona, cautioned: “without direct and sustainable finance, the SDGs are simply not achievable.”
Foresight for future generations: designing tomorrow’s public services
Half the world is under 30 years old, reminded UN Assistant Secretary‑General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier, opening a foresight exercise on public services.
- Digital nativity – connectivity as a fundamental right.
- Intersectional design – climate, mental health and livelihoods addressed together.
- Networked collaboration – cities, youth, businesses and UN agencies co‑create solutions.
- Urgency – a willingness to pilot, fail fast and scale what works before 2030.
Participants highlighted emerging flagships: Koulikoro’s mobile clinics in Mali, Tramuntana’s waste‑to‑value scheme in Malta, and Nancy’s dignity‑driven social services in France.
Closing calls
Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, delivered the closing keynote, warning that “ambition without resources will not deliver results.” His statement: unlock domestic revenue, de‑risk private capital and empower municipalities to plan, invest and deliver.
Guy Ryder, UN Under‑Secretary‑General for Policy, linked these imperatives to upcoming milestones—the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the second World Summit on Social Development (WSSD2) and the Secretary‑General’s report on engaging local governments.
Five strategic take‑aways
- Direct finance is necessary
Sub‑national SDG bonds, social impact funds and climate‑resilience windows must reach local treasuries directly.
- Data closes the credibility gap
Voluntary Local and Sub‑national Reviews create an evidence loop that builds trust between citizens and national planners.
- Youth are co‑architects, not beneficiaries
Embedding youth councils in budget and planning cycles accelerates innovation and accountability.
- Gender mainstreaming creates opportunities for growing
From Nordic equal‑pay guarantees to Comrat’s women‑led budgeting, gender equality multiplies social returns.
- Networked multilateralism starts at home
Empowered mayors and governors become “local diplomats,” aligning city solutions with global compacts.
Conclusion
With only five years left on the 2030 clock, the LRGF showed that cities and regions are moving faster than the international system built to support them. Providing the finance and policy space they need is now the decisive factor in whether the world crosses the SDG finish line. As Marcos Neto put it, “Financing local futures means financing our collective future.”