Italy and UN-Habitat launch new platform for SDG localization

Italy and UN-Habitat have established a new platform for the localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stated Italy's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Luca di Gianfrancesco, at an event on "National SDG Localization Frameworks" held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), Report informs.

He noted that Italy and UN-Habitat have laid the foundation for a new global initiative aimed at improving governance mechanisms: "Localizing the SDGs at the local level is of great importance for global targets. That is precisely why it is of great importance to strengthen joint commitment by concretely recognizing the key role of multi-level governance, the localization of SDGs at the local level, and policy coherence for sustainable development as pillars of the 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda. Against this backdrop, Italy and UN-Habitat, also within the framework of the Italian government's 'Mattei Plan' partnership with Africa, have launched the Partnership Platform for the local-level implementation of SDGs. The purpose of this is to contribute to the central role of SDG localization as a driving force for systemic transformation."

The ambassador touched upon the goals of expanding international partnership: "Today, I am particularly pleased to welcome on this panel speakers from Senegal, as well as from other partner countries and organizations. Thanks to UN-Habitat's leadership, the Partnership Platform, and other initiatives, we also share the goal of strengthening international cooperation on the important topics addressed by WUF13. Indeed, we are fully convinced that multilateralism, one of the fundamental principles of the Italian Constitution, remains essential for exchanging experiences, drawing useful indicators and lessons. This is the basis for respecting and supporting experiences coming from the local level, while also promoting an increasingly coherent global approach."