June 2022 | UCLG ASPAC collaborative programme for localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Pakistan, LEAD for SDGs, an initiative funded by the European Union (EU) and UCLG ASPAC, recorded substantial progress in their efforts to mainstream SDGs localisation. Included in the activities were more districts outreach for SDGs mainstreaming, new leader engagement, and sustaining the election of independent women candidates for local leader roles.
Reaching Out More Districts – 23 out of 30 and Still Counting
The chain of training programmes across Sindh is at full pace. Local Councils Association Sindh (LCAS) under the LEAD for SDGs Localisation in Pakistan Programme delivered the two-day District Level Training for mainstreaming SDGs in local development planning, monitoring, and reporting. Currently, the team covered 23 districts across Sindh out of a total of 30. Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Umarkot, NawabShah, Dadu, Sanghar, NauShahro Feroze, Hyderabad, Matiari, Badin, Tando Allahyar, Sujawal, Tando M. Khan, Thatta, Jamshoro and seven districts of Karachi. In these training programmes, the facilitators have delivered the sessions to more than 120 government officials, of which around 35 were women. All these government officials are affiliated with the areas of education, health, local government, media, and civil society.
SDGs Frameworks were inculcated with the understanding of properly identifying the prioritised SDGs as per the regional requirement. The training programmes are continued at full pace to fully achieve constructive results of formulating SDGs action planning for localisation.
Engagement with The Newly Appointed Convener, National Parliamentary Taskforce
15 June 15 | (Islamabad) Mr Anwar Hussain, Team Leader, LEAD for SDGs Localisation in Pakistan Programme and Ms Sabeena Gul, Coordinator, UCLG ASPAC in Pakistan had an introductory meeting with the newly appointed Convener of the National Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs Hon. Romina Khursheed Alam. In this fruitful meeting, the renewal of MoU with the National Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs has been discussed with a commitment to drafting the future courses of action at the Federal level, in Sindh and, in Balochistan to localise SDGs with the support of SDGs taskforces. Newly appointed Convener, National Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs has been briefed on previously completed research, dialogues and sessions in the collaboration. She praised the outcomes of the mutually arranged National policy dialogue on “Resource Allocation for Implementation of SDGs 2030 Agenda” in July 2021 under the LEAD4SDGs programme with the support of UCLG ASPAC and the EU. She acknowledged fruitful outcomes of the research on “Analysis of Budgetary Allocations for SDGs in Pakistan (FY 2019-20 & -2020-21). She also acclaimed the Capacity Building of Parliamentary Taskforces through knowledge sessions in February 2022.
Women Paved an Unprecedented Way in Local Government Elections in Balochistan
22 June 2022 | Quetta – LEAD for SDGs Localisation in Pakistan Programme harvested the seeds of stead fasting, aspiration and ambitiousness among women councillors of Balochistan. The recent general election at the local tiers of Balochistan is proof that women are equipped to attain general seats through contesting rather than mere representation through a reserved quota. This election season was a big win for independent candidates. The Programme helped to formulate alliances for SDGs implementation at the provincial and district levels. Goal 5 was one of the prioritised areas to work on. To read the full article click here
