15-16 June 2021 | SINDH – UCLG ASPAC LEAD for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – localisation in Pakistan programme, held two days consultative meeting with the executive committee of Local Council Association Sindh (LCAS) and core committee of Provincial alliance on SDGs in Sindh. The consultation was aimed at getting an endorsement of LCAS members on the Provincial advocacy strategy developed under LEAD4SDGs programme. Representatives from government departments, local government, civil society, UNDP and media shared their views and insights on the localisation of SDGs in Sindh province.
In the consultative meeting, the alliance members prioritised the biannual activities to be implemented under alliance action plan. An orientation session was also organised by UNDP to enhance the knowledge of alliance and LCAS members on the 2030 Agenda, the five pillars of SDGs, the localisation concept at the sub-national and local levels.
In his remarks, Syed Ameer Ali Shah, LCAS Secretary General, highlighted the significance of a stable democratic system at all the levels especially in the local context. The reluctant political will is the main cause of delayed Local Government election in the country, he stated. While stating the causes of the delayed Local Government election in Sindh province, he mentioned the dispute on power-sharing between federal, provincial, and local governments. He further added that the lack of confidence in the latest census is another bone of contention between the federation and the provinces.
Syed Kumail Haider Shah, President LCAS, said that SDGs localisation is all about local development. Without an efficient and stable local government, it’s impossible to achieve SDGs at the local level.
It is an established reality that the 2030 agenda could not be achieved without a strong local government framework in any country, the alliance members argued. The alliance members discussed the achievements of the Sindh government and Provincial Parliamentary SDGs taskforce. Sindh is working in collaboration with the UNDP to build provincial framework for the implementation of SDGs besides exploring opportunities under public-private partnerships initiatives in the province. The alliance members emphasised the importance of allocating annual provincial budgets for SDGs implementation and to align SDGs into the provincial frameworks.
There is a dire need of having an established provincial alliance’s advocacy and lobbying efforts with decision-makers whose actions impact people’s lives, everyone agreed upon. In this regard, LEAD4SDGs programme brought the alliance members of one page to move forward with the alliance’s advocacy agenda for the localisation of SDGs in Sindh province under LEAD4SDGs programme.
It was a productive meeting where the LEAD team, LCAS and alliance members agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the local government and other relevant departments to provide support for the smooth implementation of LEAD programme.
The programme informed the participants about future activities including the formation of two district alliances in each selected programme districts i.e., Naushahro Feroze and Larkana in Sindh. In addition, LEAD programme will also air three TV programmes and three articles while engaging journalists to report on the localisation of SDGs in Sindh province. In the coming six months, LEAD programme will also organise a provincial conference on the importance and implementation of SDGs while inviting famous celebrities, provincial legislators, and area experts to raise awareness among the masses.
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