Supporting SDG localization through a twinning programme for the development of Voluntary Local Reviews

When adopting the 2030 Agenda, United Nations Member States committed to work closely with local and regional governments on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2015, sub-national authorities have been actively localizing the 2030 Agenda, bringing the SDGs closer to the people they serve and using the framework as a tool for planning and implementation.

As part of its follow-up and review mechanisms, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages Member States to "conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven."

In this spirit, local and regional governments are increasingly engaging in such sub-national reviews of SDG implementation, also called Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) or Voluntary Subnational Reviews (VSRs). While the VLRs/VSRs hold no official status, the process of undertaking these sub-national reviews is providing multiple benefits to the entities engaging in them and to SDG implementation at large: strengthening commitment of local authorities and other stakeholders on SDG implementation, promoting dialogues and knowledge exchange, and empowering them to take action.

On this purpose, FAO, in close cooperation with UN-Habitat and UNDP, is organizing a study tour of selected municipalities from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia that are currently developing their VLRs, to the Municipality of Mafra, Portugal, which has distinguished itself through its outstanding VLR work and strong commitment to SDG implementation.

The target municipalities include: Trebinje (Republika Srpska), Bijeljina (Republika Srpska), Kakanj (Federation of BiH), Maglaj (Federation of BiH), Poti (Georgia), Kashuri (Georgia).

The objectives of the study tour are to:

• Promote and facilitate knowledge exchange, technical capacities and cooperation on the development of VLRs, learning from the experience of the Municipality of Mafra, and from the municipalities in BiH and Georgia currently developing their VLRs.
• Provide the municipalities from BiH and Georgia with an opportunity to see first-hand some of the ongoing food systems-related initiatives in the Municipality of Mafra.