The Rise and Relevance of Sub-National SDG Assessments
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, provide a universal framework to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. While these goals are global in ambition, their achievement depends heavily on action at the local level.
Recognising this, the concept of sub-national SDG monitoring emerged alongside the 2030 Agenda itself. In fact, local and regional governments played a pivotal role in shaping the SDGs, particularly SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and successfully advocated for the inclusion of local perspectives in global development frameworks. The formal push for localisation began in earnest in 2014, during the UN-led consultations on the post-2015 development agenda, co-led by UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments.
Since then, the practice of sub-national SDG monitoring has expanded rapidly. Cities and regions around the world have begun producing Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), developing territorial SDG indices, and integrating the SDGs into local development plans. These efforts are not just complementary to national strategies, they are essential.
Why National-Level Classifications Fall Short
Global institutions like the World Bank classify countries by income using tools such as the Atlas Method and GNI per capita. While these classifications are useful for macroeconomic comparisons, they obscure the deep inequalities that exist within national borders.
For example
- A country labeled “upper-middle income” may still have rural provinces with limited access to clean water, education, or healthcare.
- Urban averages can mask informal settlements and marginalized communities that are far from meeting even the most basic SDG targets.
These national averages fail to reveal the spatial and social disparities that are critical to achieving the SDGs. Without sub-national assessments, entire populations can be left behind - unseen and unserved.
The Case for Localised Monitoring
Sub-national SDG assessments are essential for
- Localising the SDGs to reflect community-specific priorities and challenges.
- Generating disaggregated data to monitor inequalities and service delivery gaps.
- Strengthening multi-level governance and aligning local, national, and global agendas.
- Engaging citizens and local stakeholders in sustainable development.
Tools such as Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), local indicator frameworks, and territorial SDG dashboards have emerged as powerful mechanisms to support this work. These tools not only inform national reporting but also foster innovation, accountability, and peer learning among local governments.
Current Status of Sub-National Assessments
The following table presents the status of sub-national SDG assessments across all 193 UN Member States. It captures whether countries have initiated localised monitoring efforts, such as VLRs, territorial SDG indices, or integration of the SDGs into sub-national development plans. The table also highlights the types of sub-national units involved (e.g., provinces, municipalities), the mechanisms used to localise the SDGs, and any notable innovations or initiatives. This comparative overview is intended to provide a global snapshot of how countries are translating the 2030 Agenda into action at the local level, revealing both progress and gaps in the effort to ensure that no one and no place is left behind.
Looking Ahead
As the 2030 deadline approaches, the success of the SDGs will hinge on our ability to translate global goals into local action. Sub-national SDG assessments are not just a technical exercise, they are a political and moral imperative to ensure that no one, and no place, is left behind.
In order to progress sub-national SDG assessments, the following actions could be considered
- Strengthening Policy and Legal Frameworks - To advance sub-national SDG monitoring, it is essential to establish enabling policy and legal frameworks that formally recognize the role of local governments in implementing the 2030 Agenda. National legislation and development policies should explicitly include sub-national actors as key stakeholders in SDG delivery. This includes revising monitoring and evaluation systems to incorporate local-level indicators and ensuring that local development plans are aligned with national SDG strategies. When local monitoring is integrated into national Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), it enhances coherence and accountability across all levels of government.
- Building Local Data and Monitoring Capacity - Robust sub-national monitoring depends on the availability of timely, disaggregated, and locally relevant data. This requires investment in local statistical systems, including training municipal staff in data collection, analysis, and reporting. Tools such as VLRs, territorial SDG indices, and geospatial dashboards can help local governments track progress and identify gaps. Emphasizing disaggregated and real-time data also ensures that inequalities, especially those affecting marginalised communities, are made visible and actionable.
- Promoting Multi-Level and Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration - Effective sub-national SDG monitoring requires strong coordination between national, regional, and local governments. Institutional mechanisms should be established to harmonise indicators, share data, and align priorities across governance levels. In addition, collaboration with civil society, academia, and the private sector can enrich the quality and relevance of local data. Peer learning networks among cities and regions can also foster innovation, allowing local governments to exchange best practices and scale successful approaches to SDG localisation.
- Ensuring Sustainable Financing and Political Commitment - Sustainable financing is critical to building and maintaining local monitoring systems. Governments should allocate dedicated funding for digital infrastructure, human resources, and capacity-building initiatives that support SDG tracking at the sub-national level. Political leadership is equally important: local authorities must understand the relevance of the SDGs to their communities and take ownership of the agenda. When local leaders champion the SDGs, they help embed them into planning, budgeting, and service delivery, making the goals more than just a global vision, but a local reality.