13 August 2021 | JAKARTA – UCLG ASPAC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesian Inter Parliamentary Cooperation Body or Badan Kerja Sama Antar Parlemen (BKSAP) to ensure the localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BKSAP has tasks to coordinate and strengthen the SDGs awareness raising among parliament members in Indonesia as well as to build partnership on SDGs implementation with other parliamentarians at the global level. The signed MoU marked a five-year collaboration of the two parties to strategically build partnership on the implementation of SDGs at national and regional level.
The MoU was signed at BKSAP Office in the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) premises between Damayanti, the Deputy of Session, Secretariat General of the House of Representative of the Republic of Indonesia and Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi representing UCLG ASPAC. Both parties have agreed to promote the implementation of the MoU by transforming the workplan into concrete actions.
Upon the signing, Dr. Bernadia addressed in a short interview that “2030 Agenda for sustainable development is a global development agenda that promotes partnership as one of important vehicles to attain its goals and targets. Today, I am very happy to be here to build a strategic partnership with Indonesian parliamentarians as a concrete move to strengthen the capacity and raise the awareness of the parliamentarians on SDGs attainment. 
As we are already aware the parliament members have strategic functions to support the SDGs localisation as well as to ensure the SDGs imple
mentation at local level. UCLG ASPAC is committed to support this initiative and will remain at our disposal for further collaborative actions. UCLG ASPAC encourages mutual partnership between local governments and parliamentarians to ensure the SDGs attainment by the year 2030”.
UCLG ASPAC and BKSAP are now collaborating to develop an annual workplan which includes series of activities from capacity building to advocacies.
Commitment to Support Local Governments – Where It All Started
UCLG ASPAC, under the framework of LOCALISE SDGs programme, has been in collaboration with associations of local parliament for city level namely Asosiasi Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah Kota Seluruh Indonesia (ADEKSI) and for regency level Asosiasi Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah Kabupaten Seluruh Indonesia (ADKASI) to support SDGs implementation. One of the programme results is the production of pocketbook designed for parliament members on COVID-19 response and SDGs attainment. The collaboration with parliamentary bodies also produced more applicable partnership with the legislative members such as attendance at virtual discussions, and development of Voluntary Sub-national Review (VSR) among other relevant activities. The partnership also set a foundation for local parliamentarians to be more active on SDGs policy dialogue as well as to provide support for the implementation at local level. Indonesian parliament has a pivotal role in ensuring that the SDGs are integrated into development planning. With its three key functions in legislation, budgeting, and oversight of the executive bodies, the parliament is government’s strategic partner in the implementation of SDGs. Good understanding on SDGs among the parliament members will help accelerate the SDGs attainment both at sub-national and national level.
