16-17 September 2019 | ISLAMABAD – UCLG ASPAC, LEAD for SDGs (Local Empowerment, Advocacy and Development for Localisation of SDGs in Pakistan) programme with the co-financing of the EU (European Union Delegation to Pakistan) and in collaboration with programme partners ADLG (Association for the Development of Local Governance in Pakistan) and LCA’s (Local Council Associations) of Sindh and Balochistan convened a partners consultation workshop on the successful completion of programmes six months inception phase.
Throughout the two days-consultation, programme inception phase progress was reviewed by the partners to made course corrections and to finalise the future paths of partnership and collaboration, and to guide the way forward.
The workshop noted that the overall programme design is responsive to the needs and priorities of the provinces. Inputs received included the needs to adopt provincial context in the implementation approaches to ensure the localisation of SDGs at the grass-root level of district and union councils to strengthen the local governance system.
The workshop also discussed one national and two provincial programme design review stakeholders’ consultative workshops, participated by more than 100 stakeholders held in inception period in Islamabad, Quetta and Karachi. The overwhelming response of the stakeholders including parliamentarians, governments, civil society, development partners, academia, UN agencies, media, women and youth organisations was greatly appreciated for the positive and constructive feedback and willingness to create programme synergies and technical support and contributions to strengthen and empower the local governments for mainstreaming, adoption and localisation of SDGs at district level in both Sindh and Balochistan provinces.
In the way forward; programme annual workplan was agreed and launches of programme at national and regional levels scheduled in the mid of November 2019. To increase the pace of programme implementation operational matters were discussed and agreed on.
Constructive inputs included the need of strong programme communications, advocacy and knowledge management tools to bring all stakeholders and communities together on the platform of LEAD for SDGs programme.
