The OGP Local Circle on the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a community of practice that gathers local and national governments, civil society, and other organizations working to advance sustainable development. It aims to generate a space for the exchange of experiences, challenges, best practices, and tools to advance the 2030 Agenda through an open government perspective.
SESSIONS
Agenda 2030 (Open Gov Week)
Public-Private Partnerships and Opportunities for Implementing the 2030 Agenda
Civil Society Commitment to Civic Education, Agenda 2030, and SDGs
Citizen Participation in the 2030 Agenda and Awareness of the SDGs
Multilevel Governance Mechanisms for Sustainable Development
Coordination
City of São Paulo, Brazil
Contact: Bruno Venâncio, [email protected]
May 2025
About
This session explored how open government accelerates SDG implementation at the local level. Speakers shared how transparency, participation, and data use, essential enablers for SDG localization, improve civic trust and responsiveness in public institutions, improve service delivery, and support climate and social goals. Cases from Baguio, São Paulo, and UNDP’s global network highlighted how open government is not just complementary but essential to achieving the 2030 Agenda.
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- Local governments play a central role in SDG achievement, with 65% of targets dependent on their implementation (UNDP). Yet many local actors lack access to tools, data, and decision-making platforms.
- Open government practices act as a bridge between citizens and public authorities, making local governance more effective and democratic while advancing multiple SDG targets simultaneously.
- In São Paulo (Brazil), open government is treated as a human rights issue, driving the institutionalization of inclusive mechanisms like youth councils and participatory policymaking.
- Baguio City’s (Philippines) disaster response, climate adaptation, and infrastructure planning have been enhanced through community mapping, digital tools, and inclusive consultations, showing how open government improves resilience and service delivery.
- Examples from Bogotá (Colombia), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Rourkela (India), and Amman (Jordan) underscore how open government fosters localized innovation, supports marginalized voices, and creates long-term impacts through co-creation and transparency.
- UNDP emphasizes the need for systemic transformation where open government and SDG localization are not separate paths but intersecting strategies for inclusive, sustainable development.
- Melisa Gorondy Novak, SDG Local Action, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Córdoba Province (Argentina)
- Bruno Venancio, São Paulo (Brazil)
- Donna Tabangin, Baguio (Philippines)
September 2023
About
Representatives from ProCórdoba and the City of São Paulo explored how partnerships with the private sector can strengthen open government efforts and support sustainable development at the local level. The session reaffirmed that open government principles, transparency, dialogue, and inclusion are essential for designing and delivering effective policies involving diverse actors in the public and private sectors.
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- The City of São Paulo shared how long-term public-private partnerships, like those behind the CEUs (Unified Educational Centres), help deliver inclusive education and cultural infrastructure in vulnerable areas
- The experience of ProCórdoba demonstrated how joint management between government and business can foster economic development and international trade through collaborative, transparent processes.
- Speakers agreed that engaging the private sector can broaden the scope for co-creation, strengthen implementation capacity, and reinforce the sustainability of public initiatives.
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals was recognized as a key enabler, providing a framework to advance open, cross-sector collaboration for long-term impact.
- Melissa Gorondy Novak, Córdoba Provice (Argentina)
- Roberto Rossotto, Pro Córdoba Agency (Argentina)
- Sofía Garzón, Pro Córdoba Agency (Argentina)
- Bruno Venâncio, São Paulo (Brazil)
- Clébio Batista, Private Sector Representative, Integra
- Jesus Pacheco, São Paulo (Brazil)
April 2023
About
Citizen education is a fundamental element for the success and long-term sustainability of the 2030 Agenda and the promotion of the SDGs. Participants shared good practices and concrete experiences of how civil society organizations are working with public authorities in implementing and monitoring the 2030 Agenda through civic awareness, engagement, and training. Across all contributions, participants stressed that inclusion must be intentional, requiring civic engagement strategies that reflect the realities of vulnerable communities and ensure no one is left behind.
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- Civil society organizations shared how civic education, youth empowerment, and partnerships with governments are advancing the 2030 Agenda through open, inclusive approaches.
- Junior Achievement (Córdoba, Argentina) emphasized the role of civic and environmental education in shaping a culture of responsibility. She presented how digital tools and financial literacy programs are equipping youth with skills for the future of work and active citizenship.
- Instituto Akatu (São Paulo, Brazil) underscored the importance of early education in promoting sustainable lifestyles and SDG awareness, highlighting that behavioral change begins in childhood.
- Juventus MX (Mexico City, Mexico) shared how cross-sector alliances, including with the private sector, can break down barriers to inclusion, particularly for marginalized youth entering economic life.
- Speakers reflected on how locally rooted, citizen-centered initiatives are strengthening open government and building more responsive institutions.
- Antouan Monteiro, São Paulo (Brazil)
- Denise Conselheiro, Instituto Akatu, São Paulo (Brazil)
- Elina Etchart, Junior Achievement, Córdoba (Argentina)
- Azyadeth Adame, Juventus MX, Mexico City (Mexico)
April 2023
About
This session brought together local governments from Argentina and Brazil to share participatory methodologies used to localize the SDGs. From citizen labs in Buenos Aires to community mapping in small towns like San José de la Dormida, the discussion highlighted how open, inclusive processes can drive sustainable local development. Across cases, direct engagement with communities revealed gaps between government assumptions and real needs, reinforcing the value of open dialogue in driving sustainable development.
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- Local governments shared how citizen participation and context-specific methodologies are helping localize the SDGs through open and inclusive processes.
- Buenos Aires (Argentina) highlighted how participatory mapping, gender-disaggregated data, and citizen labs reveal inequalities and inform targeted local action.
- San José de la Dormida (Argentina) presented community workshops and traffic-light mapping tools as effective ways to engage rural residents and define shared priorities.
- São Paulo (Brazil) emphasized the role of local SDG commissions to coordinate across departments and institutionalize open government approaches to the 2030 Agenda.
- Speakers agreed that participatory methodologies strengthen SDG implementation by embedding lived experiences into planning and policy.
- They stressed the need to adapt participation to local realities, whether through digital tools or in-person formats, and to sustain it throughout all phases, from diagnosis to delivery.
- Tatiana Lima, São Paulo (Brazil)
- Gabriela Chabbouh, São Paulo (Brazil)
- Mariana Camisa, Ciudad de Buenos Aires (Argentina)
- Fernando Guevara, San José de la Dormida (Argentina)
October 2022
About
The 2030 Agenda provides us with a conceptual framework and a common language to offer answers and concrete solutions to local problems. In this first session, participants explored how to achieve this by establishing shared responsibility across different decision-making levels, whether national, provincial, regional, or municipal. The session reaffirmed that effective SDG implementation depends on multilevel collaboration, territorial strategies, and inclusive, open governance frameworks.
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- Córdoba Province presented its work with 427 municipalities, highlighting how horizontal coordination and a territorial approach can help scale sustainable development efforts across diverse contexts.
- Examples from Córdoba (Argentina) and Querétaro (Mexico) emphasized the need for inter-ministerial cooperation and cross-sectoral partnerships to localize sustainable development effectively.
- Querétaro (México) and Manizales (Colombia) showcased robust youth-led initiatives, from citizen monitoring to participatory platforms, that connect local development to the global agenda.
- All speakers stressed the importance of involving non-governmental actors in shaping and monitoring policy through open forums, research collaborations, and participatory processes.
- Oscar Dominguez Castellanos, SEJUVE, Querétaro (Mexico)
- Claudia García, UN-Habitat
- Aixa Jais, Government of Córdoba (Argentina)
- Melissa Gorondy Novak, Cordoba Province (Argentina)
- Oscar Jimenez Odrosco, Public Policy Monitor, Manizales (Colombia)