24 June 2021 | UCLG ASPAC programme for localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Indonesia, LOCALISE SDGs, concluded its project by organising an online Conference on Dissemination of Learning and Programme Outcomes of LOCALISE SDGs “Encouraging Acceleration Recovery from Pandemic through Commitment and Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals Attainment”. The event was a success and attended by 300 participants via zoom and more via youtube. In total, there were more than 70 representatives of central, local government, universities, and other institutions in Indonesia, also Asia-Pacific.
In her remarks, UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi mentioned the importance of local governments’ role in fighting against the pandemic and economic and social recovery, which, at the same time, also helps the attainment of SDGs. “It is estimated that 65 percent of 169 targets of the 17 SDGs will not be achieved without the involvement of the local governments,” she said.
The European Union Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darrusalam Vincent Piket mentioned, “The COVID-19 pandemic is making it harder to meet the SDGs. It also makes it more necessary. The local authorities, municipalities, towns and regencies have a leading role in mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on each SDG target.”
“The European Union is proud that the EU-funded LOCALISE SDGs programme implemented by UCLG ASPAC in collaboration with APEKSI has been able to support the Government in these important areas. The local government is a key player in achieving SDGs in Indonesia. It is at the local level where we can have a most direct and positive impact on people’s lives,” he added.
As the host city of UCLG ASPAC, Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta represented by Deputy Governor for Population and Settlement Control, Ir. Suharti, MA., Ph.D, expressed their appreciation for good cooperation on the LOCALISE SDGs programme.
“Although LOCALISE SDGs programme has been completed, we hope that it will not be the end for strengthening the capacity of local authorities and associations of local authorities in achieving the SDGs. LOCALISE SDGs programme has good practices and should be a reference for mainstreaming SDGs in all regions. And as the host city of UCLG ASPAC, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government thank you for this well-executed collaboration”, Ir. Suharti, MA., Ph.D, added.
UCLG ASPAC’s LOCALISE SDGs stands for Leadership, Ownership, and Capacities for Agenda 2030 Local Implementation and Stakeholders Empowerment. It is a collaborative programme of UCLG ASPAC and Association of Indonesia Municipalities (APEKSI) and funded by the European Union (EU). Started in 2018, LOCALISE SDGs organised three national trainings, 38 local trainings, and three collaborative trainings that were participated by LAs and ALAs (APEKSI, APPSI, ADEKSI, ADKASI). LOCALISE SDGs also conducted multi-sectoral research to help local governments in identifying challenges and formulating policies to tackle the impact of pandemic. In total, more than 6,500 local governments from 245 LAs in which 196 LAs joined virtually and 49 LAs via face-to-face gathering (prior to the pandemic). The outreach to 245 LAs is much higher than the LOCALISE SDGs targets of 30 LAs.
During pandemic, LOCALISE SDGs provided technical assistance for tourism recovery to five selected local governments: East Kalimantan Province, South Sulawesi Province, Gorontalo City, Padang City, and Sawahlunto City from December 2020 to June 2021. LOCALISE SDGs also produce others tangible products to support LAs, ALAs in the pandemic recovery, including 5 (five) policy research on COVID-19 and SDGs; 5 (five) videos for LGAs; Pocket Books for LAs and LGAs; compilation of best practices on COVID-19 and SDGs. The training modules on LOCALISE SDGs and international cooperation; and website (https://localisesdgs-indonesia.org), that have also been developed, showed the long commitment of LOCALISE SDGs in supporting the capacity building and knowledge sharing for LAs, also ALAs regarding SDGs issues, though the program has been completed.
As part of the conference, three talk shows were held focusing on the central government’s perspective on the contribution of LOCALISE SDGs, the commitment of Local Authorities and Associations of Local Authorities after the programme ends, and inspiration from LAs in the Asia-Pacific region for Indonesia.
Erna Witoelar as the Board of Trustees of the Yayasan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan was also present to deliver the keynote 
speech; and Alissa Wahid as the Indonesian SDGs Ambassador acting as a moderator of the talkshow series. Also present in this series of events were Dr. Bima Arya Sugiarto (Chairman of APEKSI and Mayor of Bogor), Dr. H. Syarif Fasha, M.E (Mayor of Jambi) , Deri Asta, S.H. (Mayor of Sawahlunto), and Marten Taha, S.E., M.Ec.Dev. (Mayor of Gorontalo), who represent the target LAs and ALAs of the LOCALISE SDGs programme.
LAs in the Asia-Pacific region – Naga City in the Philippines, Subang Jaya City in Malaysia – were also present to share their experiences at the last talkshow session, to provide inspiration for pandemic recovery and SDGs attainment programmes that can be adapted by LAs in Indonesia.
The event concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UCLG ASPAC and three SDGs Centres from the leading universities in Indonesia: Universitas Indonesia, Institut Teknologi Bandung and Universitas Diponegoro. Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, Dr Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, said, “The signing of this MoU is a form of UCLG ASPAC’s commitment to continue its support to the Government of Indonesia and local authorities, in collaboration with the SDGs Centres of each university and the Associations of Local Authorities to conduct campaigns, policy advocacy, research and publications on SDGs post LOCALISE SDGs programme. The initiation of this partnership is very important, considering that the success of achieving the SDGs in 2030 requires a joint effort from all parties,” she added.
The representatives of Institut Teknologi Bandung – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Widjaja Martokusumo, Universitas Diponegoro- Prof. Ir. Ambariyanto, MSc, PhD., and Universitas Indonesia- drg. Nurtami, Ph.D., Sp,OF(K) both mentioned and agreed that as academic institutions, they commit to support SDGs attainment through research, education, policy development and community service. “We hoped that by signing the MoU, this collaboration can provide broader benefits, and support Indonesia in SDGs attainment, in particular at the Asia Pacific level in the future”, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Widjaja Martokusumo, added.
The final conference of LOCALISE SDGs can be re-watched through LOCALISE SDGs youtube channel. For the conference’s slides materials presented by speaker, can be accessed publicly through LOCALISE SDGs website (https://localisesdgs-indonesia.org/pengetahuan-tpb), and research publication can also be accessed through https://localisesdgs-indonesia.org/newsletter .
