The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (ONU-Habitat) recently organized a meeting in Tunis to launch a partnership platform aimed at localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The platform seeks to strengthen coordination among four territorial levels: national, regional, municipal, and local. This initiative aims to better articulate development programs with the needs of local communities. Tunisia and Senegal are pilot countries for this project.
Five municipalities in Tunisia have been selected to participate in the initiative: Kélibia, Sened, Sejnane, Zahret Medyen, and Bechri Fatnassa Negga. The selection criteria included the unique characteristics of each municipality, such as coastal, rural, dense, or less dense populations. The goal is to improve the coherence of existing territorial planning systems and increase cooperation opportunities.
Martino Miraglia, head of the SDG localization team at ONU-Habitat in Nairobi, praised Tunisia's pioneering work in this area. He expressed hope that the partnership platform will help consolidate and systematize Tunisia's efforts, allowing the country to share its experiences with other nations. The platform will facilitate the exchange of experiences and identify solutions tailored to each territory's specificities.
The meeting highlighted the challenges faced by local communities in achieving their development goals. Representatives from various territories discussed issues such as infrastructure damage caused by floods, limitations on agricultural activities, and insufficient financial resources. The 2016 extension of certain municipalities' territorial limits without corresponding budget increases was also cited as a difficulty.
The program's objective is to stimulate economic growth in these regions and attract investors. To address these challenges, the platform aims to foster closer cooperation among local authorities, national administrations, and international partners. Exchanges of experience, particularly with Italian partners, will help identify adapted solutions.
The partnership platform seeks to bridge the gap between international commitments, national ambitions, and local realities. By promoting cooperation and knowledge sharing, the initiative hopes to support Tunisia's efforts to achieve the SDGs. The country's experience will be closely monitored, and lessons learned will be applied to other contexts.
The launch of this platform is a significant step towards achieving sustainable development in Tunisia. By engaging local communities and fostering partnerships, ONU-Habitat aims to ensure that development programs are tailored to the specific needs of each region. The success of this initiative will depend on the effective collaboration of all stakeholders involved.
Key points
- The partnership platform aims to strengthen coordination among national, regional, municipal, and local levels to better articulate development programs with local needs.
- Five Tunisian municipalities have been selected to participate in the initiative, chosen for their unique characteristics.
- The program seeks to stimulate economic growth in these regions and attract investors by fostering cooperation and knowledge sharing.
