06
Means of implementation One of the objectives of this report is to analyse the extent to which sub-national governments are being provided with the adequate means of implementation to play their role in the achievement of the SDGs.76 A thorough assessment of these tools is not an easy task. VNRs, generally, report on national policies and programmes, even in areas that are competences of local and regional governments, and they seldom mention whom – and through which process – will be in charge of the actual implementation of the goals. This lack of detail and clarity makes it harder to understand what means LRGs and local stakeholders have at their disposal. It is essential to acknowledge LRGs and the role they can play in the achievement of the SDGs, as well as to understand their tasks and responsibilities as defined by law in each country’s system and context. It is likewise important to have a clear picture of the policies and initiatives that create and define the ‘enabling environment’ that LRGs need. As mentioned above, if LRGs perceive the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs as another external ‘burden’ to carry without adequate support, they will be less motivated to be proactive in the process. One of the key conditions for the creation of an ‘enabling environment’ for LRGs is to acknowledge that progressive and effective ‘decentralization’, adequate policies to empower LRGs, and a collaborative multi-level governance approach are integral parts of the national framework for implementation. Several studies, conducted both during and after the process of implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), show that the low level of achievement of certain MDGs is strongly linked to insufficient financial and technical support to sub-national governments in critical domains.77 Out of the countries that have submitted either a VNR or a Main Message to the HLPF in 2016 and 2017, 19 have singled out decentralization (or devolution) as one of the challenges for the implementation of the SDGs.78 Other countries, refer to the empowerment of LRGs and the improvement of multi-level governance as key strategic needs, without mentioning decentralization.79 LRGs themselves, on the other hand, report weak or incomplete decentralization processes as a major difficulty in the implementation of the SDGs – especially in terms of unclear transfers of policy competences, lack of adequate resources, weak capacitation, poor accountability and transparency.80
6.1 PROPOSALS TO STRENGTHEN SUB-NATIONAL GOVERNANCE AND CAPACITIES IN THE VNRS A limited number of VNRs refer overtly to administrative reforms to strengthen sub-national governments, promote decentralization and enhance vertical coordination and multi-level governance. As mentioned above, within the framework of the peace-building process, the empowerment of sub-national governments and policies in Colombia was high on the national political agenda. The Colombian government aimed to reduce inequalities across regions, departments and municipalities, and the VNR presented a number of initiatives
76 This section does not take into consideration the 16 countries that – on July 5, 2017 – had not yet published their full VNRs. 77 Local governments from Benin, Sierra Leone and Uganda, for example, warned that the achievement of the MDGs was hampered by the late disbursement of funds from the central government to the local authorities. 78 Benin, Chile, Ethiopia, Germany, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Togo, Uganda, and Uruguay.
56
79 Argentina, Brazil, Czech Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Montenegro, Nigeria, the Philippines and Turkey. 80 Benin, Chile, El Salvador, Malaysia, the Philippines, Togo, and Uruguay.