Ministry of Local Government conducts an Assessment on the Current Status of Localisation of SDGs in Uganda
The Ministry of Local Government in Rwanda under the auspices of the East African Local Governments Forum supported by GIZ Kigali, Rwanda and working with EALGA Secretariat is conducting a situation analysis on localization of SDGs in East Africa Region at local/County Government levels.
The workshop organized by Ministry of Local Government on 4th February 2020 in the Ministry Boardroom brought together 12 participants from UNDP, National Planning Authority, Office of the Prime Minister, Consultants from Rwanda, Uganda National NGO Forum, Officials from Ministry of Local Government and Uganda Local Government Association. The meeting aimed at providing a situation analysis on the status of implementation and localizing the SDGs in EAC member states and provide recommendations.
Ms. Rose Gamwera, SG, ULGA gave remarks on behalf of EALGA introduced the consultant from Rwanda who will be conducting the study on localization of SDGs in Uganda through Local Governments thus Ms. Meklit Abdella. She noted that every year a member of the EAC is given an opportunity to chair the East African Local Governments Forum and each country contributes through producing an intervention. As a result, in 2018 Rwanda decided to prepare LG in the region to create awareness on the SDGs. To build synergies and complementariness, a study was commenced in Rwanda on localizing the SDGs, now Uganda and it will be rolled out in all the EAC member states. She underscored that GIZ is supporting the study to ensure that results will be cascaded in the work of other development partners in supporting Local Governments to localize the SDGs. She added that findings of the report will be shared o 1st March 2019 for members to validate.
The study focuses on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and communities) and SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong Institutions) as the basis for localization and implementation of the SDGs with interlinkages to the other goals. The study will comprise of desk reviews thus mapping out already existing studies on localizing and implementation of SDGs in Uganda, this will also comprise of national development documents to assess whether they are aligned to the SDGs, mapping out and interacting with relevant stakeholders engaged in SDG implementation, national level consultations and one on one interviews with key stakeholders.
Discussions were informed guiding questions and these included; awareness and ownership of SDGs at national and sub-national levels, extent to which the national and local strategies and plans aligned with the SDGs, is the current SDGs coordination mechanism inclusive, understanding of SDGs amongst different stakeholders at different levels i.e. national and subnational as well as across sectors i.e. public sector, private sector and CSOs, describe the capacity of Uganda to implement the SDGs, challenges in localizing SDGs in Uganda and proposed recommendations.
Participants were impressed with the role Civil Society is playing in raising awareness and localizing the SDGs and UNNGOF was identified as a partner and important player in the localization and implementation of the SDGs. We shared our contribution on localization specifically The Tondeka Mabega campaign an initiative that brings together CSOs that work within marginalized groups and communities to localize the SDGs. The campaign is an overarching principle of the SDGs thus leaving no one behind as well as globalize the voices of marginalized groups that can be left behind ensuring that their voices, concerns and issues are acted on at the local, national and global levels. The campaign works at both national and subnational level countrywide mentioning that we are currently working with ULGA in the 18 DINU districts.