Since 2020, the world economy has been impacted by an increase in the frequency and severity of man-induced and natural disasters, which has made it more difficult to achieve the SDGs. The 2030 Agenda highlights the necessity of an individualized, inclusive strategy in which the local government's core principles are embodied by the commitment to leave no one behind.
"Localizing" describes the process of implementing the 2030 Agenda while taking subnational contexts into consideration. This includes creating objectives and targets, formulating implementation methods, and using indicators to monitor and assess development. Localization pertains to the manner in which local and regional governments can support the achievement of the SDGs through bottom-up initiatives, as well as the ways in which the SDGs can function as a framework for local development policies.
In an effort to expedite the national implementation of SDGs, localization -- an area in which local government (LG) can be extremely important -- is the focus of policymakers and practitioners. The policy discourse is mainstreaming LG's ability and its current connection to the localization of the SDGs in Bangladesh, as well as its provision of an inclusive framework for the SDGs' localization.
Apparently, in order to achieve inclusive sustainable development within their respective localities, local governments are best suited to facilitate and mobilize local development stakeholders, including the NGO and private sectors, local communities, and national and international organizations.
Bangladesh has incorporated the SDGs into its national development plans and policy objectives, having already completed its Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) in 2017 and 2020. Consistent with the objectives of the Sustainability 2022 SDGs, the government decided to execute and accomplish the SDGs by means of a "whole of society" approach that encompasses all relevant stakeholders.
At the national level, there is the 40-specified indicator national SDG monitoring as well as the high-level SDG Implementation and Review Committee. The aforementioned committee has been collaborating with the General Economics Division (GED) which acts as the principal government agency responsible for coordinating and executing the SDGs across ministries, to create a framework for localization.
To achieve the SDGs by 2030 and LDC graduation by 2026, Bangladesh needs to go past pledges to quick actions, policies, and initiatives along with the necessary funds and adjustments. There is not much time left. The local government has had difficulty improving management, anticipating requirements, creating plans, and implementing solutions over time.
Localization is essential to ensuring that the SDG outcomes are properly incorporated into people's daily lives
In the absence of "responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels," it is literally impossible to strengthen management and planning capabilities, participatory mechanisms, and regular financial negotiations between all levels of government and local communities to define priorities and plan of action.
Notwithstanding the number of challenges on the surface, the standing committees of the local government bodies work with the local community and business community to give local governments access to new financing sources. The planned approach of policy adoption and execution has resulted in a significant drop in the degree of poverty inside the nation. Inclusive growth policies include a comprehensive social security program including transgender livelihood initiative, maternity allowance, old age allowance, vulnerable group feeding (VGF) and stringent budgetary control.
Responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels and effective, accountable, and transparent institutions necessitate a well-defined institutional framework, improved management and planning capacities, participatory mechanisms, and regular financial negotiations between local communities and all governmental levels. Besides, the Bangladesh government needs to address its financial constraints, gaps in income mobilization, risks related to debt sustainability, institutional capacity, governance challenges, and coordination procedures in order to effectively accomplish the SDGs.
Forging strong international ties is necessary to maintain the advancement of the SDGs and reap the benefits for each nation individually. To transform policies into inclusive growth and prosperity in Bangladesh's rural areas, strengthening local governance should be the interim government's only realistic option. Adopting policies and initiatives for improved service delivery that can address poverty, lessen inequality, lessen the effects of climate change, and advance gender equity is best left to local governments.
Localization is essential to ensuring that the SDG outcomes are properly incorporated into people's daily lives. The interim administration ought to keep a close eye on developments and document successes in putting the SDGs into practice. Encouraging all involved parties to participate is crucial to achieving successful and efficient outcomes.
Dr Mohammad Tarikul Islam is professor at the Department of Government and Politics in Jahangirnagar University. He has been a visiting scholar and guest faculty at Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard.
