Discussion on SDG Localization

Patrick DuongRegional AdvisorLead ‘SDG Localization’

UNDP Regional Hub for Asia-Pacific

patrick.duong@undp.orgTwitter: @PatrickDuong

Bangkok 23 May 2019

Sustainable Development Goals:

Ninth Regional Workshop on Integrated Resource Management in Asian Cities:

The Urban Nexus

UNDP SDG Localization Video

https://youtu.be/h_bvvop61nY

At the macro level: ASEAN economies remain strong

Cities are Engines of Growth Rural Development ASEAN trade

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60

80

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1990 2002 2013

ASEAN Developing countries and China, Poverty Headcounts ($1.9/day)

Cambodia Indonesia Lao PDR Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Thailand Viet Nam Overall China

With strong economic growth, ASEAN reduced extreme poverty (US$1.9/day) significantly from 48.8% in 1990 to 7.2% in 2013.Based on 7 countries: Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam (+ Cambodia using nat. poverty line)

But…

Sustainable development remains fragile & growth is unevenly distributed

Countries are vulnerable to shocks

Urbanization & Migration

By 2026, 50% of the Asian population will live in cities.

Out of 700 urban slum dwellers in Asia-Pacific, 84 million live in Southeast Asia.

(UNESCAP)

Climate change & Disasters

Financial Risks

Social Cohesion

Growth is unevenly distributed

Despite an average 5% economic growth, pockets of poverty still exist.

GINI raised from 33.5% in the 90’ to 33.7% in recent years.

(UNESCAP)

The region is vulnerable to natural disasters.

Economic losses due to disasters surged from US$ 5 billion/ year in the 70’ to around US$ 75 billion per year in recent years.

(UNESCAP)

The SDGs: an opportunity to rethink territorial and local development

Leave No-One Behind

Localizing the SDG is important because:

• ‘Pocket of poverty’ exist across the country and requires ‘tailored’ development interventions.

• Local development strategies must take into account socio-eco, cultural and religious contexts.

• ‘Leaving no-one behind’ calls for new development strategies beyond sector approaches (trade-offs, accelerators).

• The SDGs will only be achieved if a ‘whole of society’ is involved and new partnerships developed to deliver and finance the SDGs.

Agenda 2030 requires to “Leave no-one behind”

• People living below poverty line (USD 1.9/day)

Large majority of ASEAN pop above the USD 1.9/day (ppp)

But also:• Populations affected by Multi-

Dimensional Poverty (rural and urban)

• Marginalized and vulnerable groups (incl. in middle and high income countries)

The importance to localize:

Impact of fiscal decentralization on literacy rates

J. B

oex

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15

From Up-stream policies, Local planning to Community engagement

Key Steps:

Awareness & Training

Inst. arrangementsCoord. Policy coherence

Prioritization. Data. M&EPlanning/Budgeting. Fin.

Implementation. CD/LGGov. sys. Design thinking

Partnerships for Implementation and Financing

1 2 3 4 5

A large spectrum:

What do we mean by ‘SDG Localization?

LNOB: Despite high enrolment rates, Sopia was amongst the children who couldn’t go to school.

SDGs are inter-related and complex

For her to enroll 13 institutions & 8 SDGs are involved.

Sopia(7 years old)

3 key governance challenges for SDGs in Asia and the Pacific

3: Data gap

• Disaggregated data are often unavailable (or not used by local planners).

• Local governance indicators are rarely included in planning processes.

• Services are planned and budgeted in silos.

2: Limited downward accountability and demand

• Downward accountability is often limited (or politically driven).

• Weak demand from citizens to participate & hold government accountable.

• Limited knowledge and interest from the private sector, CSOs to contribute to the SDGs.

I: Unfinished Decentralization and Local Governance reforms

• Political decentralization exist but administrative & fiscal decentralization are not always completed.

• Influenced by central governments, LGs often have little authority and resources to plan, finance and drive local development plans.

Local Governance challenges for the SDGs

Complexity or… Confusion?

• Multi Dimensional Poverty to target locations & populations: Access to basic services (Ed, Health, Nutrition).• Rural development (Land policy, agriculture production, value chain, access to markets)• Enhanced LGs authority to drive local development (incl. fiscal decentralization, Performance mgt.)• Education (incl. vocational training) and Social protection (incl. inclusive finance)• Infrastructure (incl. Access to Energy, WATSAN, Roads, etc.)• Innovation (Co-design, Prototype. Regulations comes later)

Different Development Contexts Different Localization Approaches

• Reduce inequalities (mainly minorities/urban poverty)• Improve efficiency and inclusiveness of municipal services• Targeted sustainable development investments (incl. FDI, SEZs,

Eco diversification, FinTech, etc.) • Balanced Rural/Urban development

• Smart Cities model• Urban poverty• Green growth, etc.

Rural CitiesPeri-urban

Where to start?

We should no longer plan, budget and work in silos

• Central / local coherence (and cooperation) is a must.

• Use Innovation and System thinking to co-design, prototype, finance and scale solutions.

• Design Platforms to collaborate between teams & stakeholders.

Policy CoherenceCoord. Data, Sys.

Thinking, Integrated Planning/Budgeting,

Accountability

SDG Financing

Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

Different Approaches but the same ‘4+1 Enablers’- UNDP’s Offer -

System Thinking

AI &

D

igit

aliz

atio

n

Data Analytics

Innovation&

Accountability

Design Thinking & Co-Labs

Big-D

ata &

Blo

ckchain

Start ups, research, FinTech

Investments, infrastructure, job creation

Policy & technical assistance

Integrated planning & budgeting

Fiscal allocations (IGFTs) & investment strategies

System thinking for SDG

Policy coherence & legal frameworks

Data analytics & AI

Design thinking, Co-Labs

Stakeholder engagement

Platforms Connect Institutions & People to Co-design, Innovate & Implement solutions

INNOVATION &ACCOUNTABILITY

+ DPs

China: Awareness and Training. MOST Led SDG Pilot Zones/Cities

Mongolia: Training of Local Councilors

India: SDGs in local Plans, SocialCops data platform. Blockchain (Land reg.)

Pakistan: Federal to Provincial Policy coherence (system thinking). Local SDG Units . Urban COPs

Vietnam: CoLabs for Youth Entrepreneurship. PAPI (Public Admin. Index)

Thailand: National Vision (Sufficiency Eco) to drive the SDGs. Sustainable tourism

Cambodia: Commune data and planning . Agri value chain.

Philippines: Digitalization. CBMS Local data sys & SDG Poverty Maps (StatSim).SDG FACES

Indonesia: Policy and legal frameworks. SDG Financing (Islamic Finance + Philanthropy). Local DRR database.

Malaysia: Urban project Singapore: Smart City (ASEAN network)

Lao PDR: Community Radio. Risk Informed Planning (DRR)

Myanmar: Local / Township planning

UNDP : At the heart of a Regional Network of SDG Localization Expertise (non exhaustive list)