The “SDG localization in Europe and Central Asia – Guidelines to support subnational development planning and budgeting” provides guidance to support local authorities and other relevant stakeholders in subnational development planning and budgeting, in the context of SDG localization. It gives an overview of decentralization and subnational decision-making in Europe and Central Asia, and examples of pilot initiatives on SDG localization in the region and beyond. In addition, the toolkit provides a step-by-step approach to SDG localization and includes a checklist to facilitate its operationalization and implementation.

 SDG localization is the process of taking into account subnational contexts in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, from the setting of goals and targets to determining the means of implementation and using indicators to measure and monitor progress. Localization entails a set of processes that aim to mainstream global development agendas into development planning documents at the local level. Although countries have made efforts to integrate the SDGs into national strategies and development documents, efforts at the subnational level tend to adopt national priorities without critical appraisal of their relevance to the needs and opportunities specific to the local context.

The guidelines present specific and adaptable actions to integrate the SDGs into subnational and local planning to meet local development needs and ensure that the LNOB principle is considered. The step-by-step approach consists of an inception phase based on stakeholders’ engagement, situational analysis to prioritize development directions and solutions, institutional analysis and strengthening, development planning document formulation, implementation, and resource mobilization, monitoring and accountability – all with the involvement and participation of local stakeholders.