March 2022 | UCLG ASPAC Local Empowerment Advocacy and Development (LEAD) for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Localisation in Pakistan, is a collaborative programme funded by the European Union (EU) and UCLG ASPAC and implemented by the Association for Development of Local Governance (ADLG), Local Council Association Baluchistan (LCAB) and Local Council Association Sindh (LCAS). In March, the LEAD team recorded various efforts they made, from alliance formation, involvement in the national dialogue, to organising training of trainers for the acceleration of SDGs localisation.
Formation and Launch of District Alliance on SDGs in District Kech, Balochistan
3-4 March 2022 | Kech-Turbat – Establishing provincial and district-level alliances are essential, primarily to educate citizens about SDGs localisation, allowing them to participate in the process of developing SDG-aligned local development plans, said Mr. Abid Hussain Lehri, President of the Local Council Association Baluchistan (LCAB) at the “Formation and Launch of District Kech Alliance on SDGs Meeting.”
The meeting brought together counterparts from civil society organisations, private sector, academia, research institutions, bar associations, media, local council association, community elders, representatives from the district administration and relevant stakeholders from line departments to form a district alliance in Kech and to deliberate on the future course of action for this newly formed alliance.
An open discussion provided an opportunity for the participants on sharing their input on the terms of reference (TORs) developed for the district alliance. All the participants highly appreciated the efforts of LEAD for SDGs Programme and agreed to remain committed to the cause of localising SDGs at the local level while signing off the membership forms and becoming a member of the Kech district alliance.
On Friday, 4 March 2022, “day two of the event,” an awareness workshop was held, during which the National and Provincial SDG frameworks were thoroughly explained. The implementing partner the Association for Development of Local Governance’s staff trained the alliance members regarding prioritising the SDGs at the district level. The session about data collection and reporting of SDGs implementing constraints were discussed at length. In the end, the open session was conducted for a better future line-up of activities.
Quarterly Meeting of Provincial Alliance Sindh
This meeting was organised as a follow-up and finalisation of the Content & Action Plan for the Provincial Alliance, Local Councils Association Sindh.
7 March 2022 | Karachi – It is indispensable to come together in the forums where experts from diverse fields will be sharing their suggestions to accelerate the process of monitoring and localising the Sustainable Development Goals in Sindh, said the President of Local Councils Association Sindh, Mr. Syed Kumail Hyder Shah.
In the heart of Sindh, the Quarterly Meeting for Provincial Alliance Sindh on SDGs was organised to foster enabling environment for the local development of Sustainable Development Goals in Sindh, under the Local Empowerment Advocacy and Development (LEAD) for SDGs – Localisation in Pakistan Programme. The President LCAS, Syed Kumail Hyder Shah greeted newly joined members of Provincial Alliance Sindh on SDGs.
Stakeholders from around 26 different areas such as civil society organisations, private sector, academia, research institutions, bar associations, media, local council associations, community leaders, and representatives from district administration gathered to follow up on the last quarter and formulate the action plan for future course of activities related to policy advocacy, awareness and capacity building regarding prioritised SDGs in Sindh.
All the participants praised the unique initiatives arranged by the partner organisations of LCAS, EU and UCLG ASPAC under the LEAD for SDGs Localisation in Pakistan Programme.
Participation in Pakistan’s First-ever National Dialogues on SDGS
17 March 2022 | Islamabad – The LEAD for SDGs Localisation in Pakistan Programme’s leadership participated in the diverse thematic dialogue on sustainable development Agenda driven by a desire to mobilise national efforts to effectively brought SDGs to life in every sector of Pakistan.
Mr. Anwar Hussain, Team Leader of the Programme, participated to present project achievements and ways for effective localisation of SDGs for improving human security. The Panel discussed the issues and concerns of socially excluded groups, the panellists pitched ideas and solutions to develop numerous businesses, industries and educational institutions for SDGs.
SDG Academy is committed to forming future collaborations with LEAD for SDGs Localisation in Pakistan Programme to draw policy interventions and mobilise governments for effective localisation of SDGs.
Training of Trainers for Capacity Building of Master Trainers to Mainstream SDGS at the District Level in Sindh and Balochistan
16-17 March 2022 | Islamabad – LEAD for SDGs Localisation in Pakistan Programme conducted Training of Trainers on Mainstreaming SDGs in Local Development Planning, Monitoring and Reporting.
Mr. Azhar Saeed, SDGs Expert trained all the master trainers. The training was conducted to fulfil the objective of identifying SDG targets that are most relevant for local governments. The participants discussed how SDGs can be used to develop planning and reporting by local governments at the district level.
On Day Two, the master trainers were engaged in hands-on practical activities to learn the mechanism of data collection, reporting, and action planning for SDGs Localisation.
The Master trainers will further deliver the training at the district level in Sindh and Balochistan to build the capacity of the elected and non-elected local government officials, utilising the newly developed “trainer’s manual” to train a slot of experts to further conduct trainings at the district level in both provinces. The main purpose of the training is to help the participants acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for the localisation of SDGs at the district level and use localised SDGs targets and indicators for district-level development planning, monitoring and reporting.
