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  2. [2024] 2024 International Mayors Forum

[2024] 2024 International Mayors Forum

Tuesday, 02 July 2024 - 9:00am to Thursday, 04 July 2024 - 5:00pm

Documents

Concept Note and Agenda (updated as of 1 July 2024)

The Jakarta Declaration (updated as of 4 July 2024)

 

Documents

The photos of the forum can be found HERE

 

Background

As the world continues to urbanize, the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demands a focus on accelerating progress in cities, towns and peri-urban areas. According to the United Nations, 55 per cent of the world’s population resided in urban areas in 2018. By 2050, 68 per cent of the world’s population is projected to be urban.

SDG localization is the process of transforming the SDGs into reality at the local level, in coherence with national development frameworks and in line with local communities’ priorities. With 65% of SDG targets linked to the work and mandates of local and regional governments, localization is a pre-condition for their understanding, uptake, and achievement. In recent years, the role of local and regional governments has gained prominence and visibility at the international level, recognized by Member States in General Assembly resolutions and High-level Political Forum (HLPF) political declarations, and by the Secretary-General in his report on Our Common Agenda and on Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals: towards a rescue plan for people and planet.

Furthermore, in October 2023, the Secretary General launched his Advisory Group on Local and Regional Governments to advise and advance coordination and collaboration, among the constituency of local and regional governments and the United Nations system, towards coherent actions aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda.

In the face of growing global uncertainty, localization has become more important than ever, reflecting the ability to translate global aspirations to concrete results at the local level. Drawing on the 2023 SDG Summit and its Political Declaration, localization was identified as one of the high impact initiatives that can drive SDG progress.

In 2023, the United Nations Sustainable Development Group identified Six Key Transitions: Investment Pathways to Achieve the SDGs. These transitions can have catalytic and multiplier effects across the SDGs to ensure transformative and accelerated progress. They include food systems; energy access and affordability; digital connectivity; education; jobs and social protection; and climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. A new SDG localization benchmark has also been adopted into UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks to measure impact through the use of the SDG Fund.

Accelerating SDG localization through the six key transitions requires enhanced UN cooperation and coordination. Through the Local 2030 Coalition, the High Impact Initiative on localization to push the achievement of the transitions at the local level, there is an opportunity to enable connections between the UN and diverse stakeholders with the shared objective of localizing SDGs. By providing a bridge for sharing knowledge, expertise, innovations, tools and investments, Local2030 empowers and strengthens local and subnational governments and actors by providing advisory and technical support to accelerate progress toward the SDGs.

The SDGs cannot be achieved without scaled-up and sustained investments in urban infrastructure and services, such as quality and affordable housing, access to quality education, sustainable public transport systems, health care services and sanitation, decent work and a safe environment, with a particular focus on the needs of the most vulnerable amid rising inequality. Investing into urban infrastructure has large multiplier effects across SDGs with infrastructure either directly or indirectly influencing the attainment of 92% of the 169 individual SDG targets.

Nearly 1.1 billion people live in slums or slum-like conditions in urban areas, with an additional 2 billion expected to live in slums or slum-like conditions over the next 30 years. The growing slum population is a manifestation of the housing and urban design crisis, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued increase in rural to urban migration. Improved planning for these mega-trends from national to local level is essential to accelerate global to local progress on sustainable development.

Cities also play a leading role in the economic development of countries and global prosperity, contributing as much as 80 per cent to the global gross domestic product (GDP). However, the current trend of urbanization is also often accompanied by significant social and environmental challenges, such as the lack of access to adequate, affordable urban housing options, urban infrastructure and basic services for a growing number of citizens, who have to contend with rising inequality and exclusion, unemployment, food insecurity and extreme poverty. This is particularly true in developing countries, where 95% of urban expansion will take place over the next decades.

Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production are concentrated in cities, which are also the main areas to address climate change and environmental degradation. Cities alone account for 60-80 per cent of global energy consumption and generate as much as 75 per cent of the energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Despite the closeness of local governments to the needs and realities of sustainable development, local authorities have too often limited financial and human resources at their disposal to fully achieve the SDGs.

With an estimated gap of some US$ 4.2 trillion per year, the SDGs require a quantum leap in finance flows – from billions to trillions – ensuring that financing delivers results locally. The 2024 Financing for Sustainable Development Report highlights that urgent steps are needed to mobilise financing at scale to close the development financing gap, which increased by nearly two-fold after the COVID-19 pandemic. Some countries are making progress, aligning national budgets with SDG targets, translating them to city-level, and issuing SDG debt vehicles such as an SDG Bond to close financing gaps even at sub-national level.

Greater financial resources, capacity and innovation are required through strengthened national to local coordination and multi-level governance for the 2030 Agenda. The SDGs can only be achieved through the substantial involvement of local actors, hence the need for localizing the SDGs, where local governments and stakeholders play an essential role in accelerating SDG targets in communities.

 

Goals and Objectives

The broader goal of the International Mayors’ Forum is to provide an annual platform for policy dialogue and knowledge sharing on key aspects related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. The Forum will also be an important opportunity for local, regional, and national governments to explore how they can contribute to the Summit of the Future in 2024 and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025 as important opportunities to, inter alia, accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. Building on the outcomes of the 2023 International Mayors Forum held in Senegal, the specific objective of the 2024 International Mayors Forum is to promote dialogue and share experiences on how to practically accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda through localization of the SDGs in the six remaining years.

The Forum will focus on accelerating action at the local level on transformative entry points – or the Six Key Transitions: Investment Pathways to Achieve the SDGs - that can have catalytic and multiplier effects across the SDGs, as identified in the context of the 2023 SDG Summit to ensure transformative and accelerated progress.

In line with the 2024 High-level Political Forum, the International Mayors Forum will strive to support local and regional governments to share experiences, lessons learned and good practices, focusing on accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the local and regional levels. This will include presentations on local progress through Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), including the Jakarta Special Region’s 2024 VLR, as well as that of other subnational governments presenting their VLRs.

 

Target Audience

Mayors and officials from subnational government entities, as well as key ministerial representatives from developed and developing countries, – including least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing states and middle-income countries. Representatives of UN entities, Local 2030 Coalition and regional hubs, international experts and other stakeholders will also be invited to attend the Forum.

The Forum will particularly promote and encourage participation of representatives from countries in special situation, particularly African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and countries in conflict and post-conflict situations, most of which also being part of UNOSD’s priorities.

 

Dates and Venue

The Forum will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia from 2 to 4 July 2024.The venue will be announced as soon as it is confirmed.

 

Language

The Forum will be conducted in English. Simultaneous interpretation in French and Bahasa will be provided.

 

Programme and Agenda

Day 1 (2 July)

Opening of the Forum

Opening Remarks

  • Mr. Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
  • H.E. Mr. Tito Karnavian, Minister of Home Affairs, Indonesia, represented by Mr. Restuardy Daud, Director-General of Regional Development, Ministry of Home Affairs
  • Hon. Mr. Heru Budi Hartono, Acting Governor of Jakarta, Co-President of UCLG ASPAC

Keynote Speech

  • H.E. Mr. Suharso Monoarfa, Minister of National Development Planning (Bappendas)

 

Introductory Session

  • Mr. Michal Mlynár, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Acting Executive Director of UN-Habitat (video remarks)
  • Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head, UN Office for Sustainable Development, DESA

 

Session 1: Status of implementing the SDGs locally: progress, gaps and challenges

Moderator: Ms. Gita Sabharwal, UN Resident Coordinator, Indonesia

  • Ms. Celeste Connors, CEO, Hawaii Local2030 Hub; Co-chair, Local2030 Islands Network; Steering Committee, Local2030 Coalition
  • Hon. Ms. Noraini Roslan, Mayor of Klang, Malaysia, Steering Committee, Local2030 Coalition
  • Mr. Jairaj Phatak, Director General, All India Institute of Local Self-Government
  • Mr. Riccardo Maroso, Programme Manager, UN-Habitat

 

Session 2: Breaking the Local Government Finance Gridlock - Investment pathways to achieve the SDGs at local and regional levels

Moderator: Mr. David Jackson, Director, Local Development Finance, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

Presenters

  • Hon. Mr. Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui, Mayor of Karachi, Pakistan
  • Hon. Ms. Refiloe Mamogobo, Mayor of Ezulwini, Eswatini
  • Hon. Mr. Abdulrahman Omary Shiloow, Mayor of Tanga City, Tanzania
  • Ms. Sujala Pant, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP

 

Session 3: Leveraging the Six Key Transitions: Investment Pathways to Achieve the SDGs locally - Digital Government, Smart Cities and Inclusion

Moderator: Ms. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary-General of UCLG ASPAC

Presenters

  • Hon. Ms. Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Thailand
    • Presentation File
  • Mr. Ngo Trung Hai, General Secretary, Association of Cities of Viet Nam
  • Ms. Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria
  • Mr. Marco Kamiya, Representative for Indonesia, UNIDO
  • Ms. Ana Thorlund, Public Governance Expert, UNPOG, DPIDG, DESA

 

Session 4: Leveraging the Six Key Transitions: Investment Pathways to Achieve the SDGs locally - Digital Government, Smart Cities and Inclusion

Moderator: Ms. Sara Castro-Hallgren, Sustainable Development Officer, UNOSD

Presenters

  • Ms. Ivonne Lobos Alva, Senior Expert, Stockholm Environment Institute
  • Hon. Mr. Gregório da Cunha Saldanha, Mayor of Dili, Timor Leste
  • Mr. Abdi Ahmad, Commissioner, Oromia Planning and Development Commission, Ethiopia
  • Dr. Sri Haryati, Undersecretary of Jakarta for Economy and Finance

 

Day 2 (3 July)

Session 5: Country experiences implementing multi-level governance to achieve the SDGs

Moderator: Ms. Mahesti Okitasari, Expert, UNU-IAS

Presenters

  • H.E. Ms. Sariha Moya, Secretary of Planning, Secretariat of National Planning, Ecuador
  • Mr. Ali Rasheed, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development, Maldives
  • Hon. Mr. Adam Azim, Mayor of Male City Council, Maldives
  • Hon. Mr. Ali Nizar, Mayor of Addu City Council, Maldives
  • Mr. Pungkas Bahjuri Ali, Head of the National SDGs Secretariat at the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas)

 

Session 6: Measuring, Monitoring and Evaluating SDG Localization

Moderator: Ms. Sanjeevani Dilanthi Singh, Sustainable Urban Development Section, EDD, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)

Presenters

  • Hon. Mr. Hisaaki Suzuki, Mayor of Gamagori, Japan
  • Ms. Nana Inaguma-Urakami, Researcher, UNCRD
  • Hon. Mr. Dewan Kamal Ahmed, President of Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB)/Mayor of Nilphamari Municipality, Bangladesh
  • Hon. Mr. Yankuba Darboe, Mayor of Brikama Area Council, Gambia

 

Launch of Voluntary Local Reviews

Moderator: Ms. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary-General of UCLG ASPAC

Presenters

  • Hon. Mr. Bey Machmudin, Acting Governor of West Java Province
  • Hon. Mr. Andi Harun, Mayor of Samarinda
  • Hon. Mr. Dico M. Gunandito, Regent of Kendal
    • Presentation File
  • Ms. Atika Nur Rahmania, Head of Development Planning Board of the Special Region of Jakarta
    • Presentation File

 

Session 7: SDG Localization Champions and Voluntary Local Reviews Dialogue

Moderator: Mr. Jurgen Gafke, Senior Programme Management Officer, UN DESA

Presenters

  • Hon. Mr. Yutaka Yamana, Deputy Mayor, Hamamatsu, Japan
  • Mr. Julio Saguir, Secretary of Public Management and Planning, Government of the Province of Tucumán, Argentina
  • Hon. Mr. Wild James Ndipo, Mayor of Blantyre, Malawi
  • Hon. Mr. Heese Maclean Saulande Nyangu, Mayor of Kasungu, Malawi
  • Hon. Ms. Sri Purwaningsih, Acting Mayor of Jambi, Indonesia represented

 

Session 8: Defining key outcome messages for the 2024 International Mayors Forum Declaration

Moderator: Mr. Mohanty Choudhury Rudra Charan, Environment Programme Coordinator, UN Centre for Regional Development, UN DESA

Chair: Ms. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General, UCLG ASPAC

Rapporteurs

  • Mr. David Jackson, Director, Local Development Finance, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
  • Hon. Ms. Kapandula Annie Kalamatila, Mayor of Lufwanyama District, Zambia

 

Day 3 (4 July)

Session 9: Declaration of the 2024 International Mayors Forum

Moderator: Ms. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General, UCLG ASPAC

Chair: Hon. Mr. Heru Budi Hartono, Governor of the Special Region of Jakarta, Co-President of UCLG ASPAC, Co-President of UCLG ASPAC

 

Closing of the 2024 International Mayors Forum

  • Mr. Mohanty Choudhury Rudra Charan, Environment Programme Coordinator, UN Centre for Regional Development, UN DESA
  • Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head, UN Office for Sustainable Development, DESA
  • Ms. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General, UCLG ASPAC

 

Official Handover for 2025 International Mayors Forum

  • Hon. Mr. Heru Budi Hartono, Acting Governor of Jakarta, Co-President of UCLG ASPAC
  • Hon. Mr. Toshihiko Ota, Mayor of Toyota City, Japan
  • Hon. Mr. Toshiaki Haneda, Chairperson of Toyota City Council, Japan

 

Organisers

The 2024 International Mayors Forum is organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, represented by the Special Region of Jakarta, in collaboration with the United Cities and Local Governments in Asia Pacific and the Local 2030 Coalition.

Rooted in the United Nations Charter and guided by the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) upholds the development pillar of the United Nations. UN DESA brings the global community together to work towards common solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. The Department also helps countries translate global commitments into national action in the economic, social and environmental spheres. Over the course of the past several years, DESA has supported the engagement of local government representatives at the HLPF. DESA also provides technical cooperation and support, including capacity development, to Member States at their invitation, working at national and regional levels with governments, civil society organizations, UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) and other key stakeholders to advance sustainable development and ensure that no one is left behind.

Established in 2011, the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) is part of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) providing capacity in support of the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs, especially on climate action, and environmental targets. Since 2017, UNOSD has been organizing the annual International Mayors Forum to strengthen SDG localization and increase knowledge and commitments towards advancing the SDGs through national to local leadership.

UN DESA is further supporting the annual International Mayors Forum through its United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), which strives to promote sustainable regional development in developing countries, and the United Nations Project Office on Governance (UNPOG), which aims to strengthen the public governance capacities of developing countries.

The Special Region of Jakarta, the former capital of Indonesia, serves as the country’s cultural, political, and financial centre. Demonstrating a strong commitment to achieving the 2030 Agenda, Jakarta adopted Governor Regulation 156/2018 on the Local Action Plan for Sustainable Development Goals for 2018-2022. This framework outlines specific targets and indicators tailored to Jakarta's context. Currently, Jakarta is formulating the Local Action Plan for SDGs 2023-2026, aligning with its Regional Development Plan of 2023-2026. The city is actively implementing various initiatives to address urban challenges and promote sustainable development, aligning with Indonesia's national SDG priorities, including poverty reduction, quality education, and climate action. Jakarta communicated its progress on the 2030 Agenda to the world with its first Voluntary Local Review (VLR) in 2021 and will launch its new VLR for 2024 at the International Mayors Forum. As the host and organiser of the International Mayors Forum 2024, Jakarta underscores its commitment to sustainable urban development, providing a platform for mayors worldwide to exchange best practices and collaborate on achieving the SDGs.

United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) is the largest regional section of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, and hosted by the Government of Jakarta Special Region. UCLG is a global association representing local governments, officially recognised as the voice of local governments by the United Nations. UCLG ASPAC has connections to over 7,000 local governments, encompassing a population of more than 4.3 billion people, which is over half of the world's population. UCLG ASPAC serves as the primary knowledge hub for local government matters in the Asia-Pacific region. It promotes democratic local governance, fosters collaboration among cities, local governments, and their associations, and facilitates programs, networks, and partnerships to enhance the capabilities of local governments and their associations. UCLG ASPAC actively engages local governments in localising the SDGs. Since 2019, UCLG ASPAC has supported the development of Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) and Voluntary Subnational Reviews (VSRs) for several members. These efforts aim to strengthen local governments' capacity for SDGs reporting, enhancing the monitoring and reporting mechanisms for local governments and their associations.

The International Mayors Forum is also organized in coordination with the Local2030 Coalition, as a high impact initiative that aims to accelerate the six key SDG transitions through three action areas focused on advocacy, action and monitoring and reporting. The Local2030 Coalition enables connections across a diverse range of stakeholders – from local and subnational governments to the private sector other local actors – with the shared aim of localizing the SDGs.

 

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