Globally Sustainable Municipalities in North-Rhine Westphalia - Developing 15 Integrated Municipal Sustainability Strategies to Localize the SDGs

#SDGAction42504

Description

Intro

Between early 2016 and mid-2018, 15 municipalities representing 2.5 million people in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, developed individual integrated municipal sustainability strategies (IMSS) in the context of the Agenda 2030 as well as the national and the regional sustainability strategies with assistance of the Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW) of Engagement Global and the Sustainability Network North Rhine-Westphalia (LAG 21 NRW). The project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Objective of the practice

Starting in early 2016, 15 municipalities in NRW developed IMSS in the context of the 2030 Agenda as part of the project 'Global Sustainable Municipality in North Rhine-WestphaliaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ (GNK NRW). In a participatory process the municipalities transferred the SDGs to the local level ("Localizing the SDGs") by designing IMSS with specific local targets. These strategies highlight the international effects of local action and underline the importance of global responsibility at the local level. Following the principles Ã¢â‚¬Å“within the municipality for the municipalityÃ¢â‚¬Â and Ã¢â‚¬Å“within the municipality for the worldÃ¢â‚¬Â, the 2,5-year process of IMSS development had two overall objectives: 
 
1) Considering local challenges and an urban development that links ecological, social and 
economic concerns regarding the global boundaries. 
 
2) Promoting the One World perspective and the associated responsibility towards people in 
other parts of the world, especially those in the Global South.

Partners

The contents of the individual IMSS were developed in the respective municipalities by steering committees. The steering committees included representatives of the municipal administration and the local civil society as well as local politicians. This ensured local ownership of the IMSS and a strong commitment of all stakeholders from the very start. Every steering committee meeting was preceded by a networking conference. These conferences were specifically addressed to the 15 local coordinators of the project and designed as inter-municipal learning and knowledge-sharing events.

Implementation of the Project/Activity

The project was implemented in NRW, which is the most populous federal state in Germany with approximately 17.7 million inhabitants. Even though this state is characterized by its high population density of 524 people per kmÃ‚Â², it has very heterogeneous settlement structures. While urban structures like the Rhine Ruhr metropolitan region are very condensed, there are several rural regions in NRW. Hence, the model municipalities were faced with different demographic, economic and structural initial situations that had to be considered by ways of individual analysis and adapted process support.

The development and implementation of IMSS is designed as a locally mandated continuous improvement process (CIP). A CIP ensures the effectiveness and success monitoring of a sustainability strategy and aims at constant improvement and further development regarding the formulated content.

Results/Outputs/Impacts

The 12 integrated municipal sustainability strategies include strategic and operational objectives as well as measures that contribute to achieving the SDGs of the Agenda 2030. In the strategiesÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ elaboration, the municipalities have set different priorities in their content, especially against the background of the respective starting points and local challenges. The resulting IMSS cover a wide range of the SDGs. The objectives developed contribute not only to the 17 goals, but also directly to the implementation of the 169 targets of the Agenda 2030. The bar chart below visualizes the quantity of references between all municipal strategic objectives of the IMSS and the SDGs. In total 1352 references have been identified.

Moreover, the targets contribute to attaining 96 of the 169 Agenda 2030 targets. While most objectives can be located within the generic fields of action of a municipality, all municipalities similarly deal with objectives and measures that expand the view to the Global South. Although these objectives are implemented by local actors, they have positive effects in other regions of the world. Concrete contributions are made in order to achieve SDG 10 "Reduced Inequalities", SDG 12 "Responsible Consumption and Production" and SDG 17 "Partnerships for the Goals". Twelve municipalities developed specified objectives that address fair procurement or fair consumption, thereby contributing to the achievement of SDG 12. All municipalities address relevant partnerships in their sustainability strategies. Overall, 10 twinnings and at least 14 project partnerships with municipalities and actors from the Global South are planned. Currently, the municipalities are adopting and implementing the IMSS. In a first step objectives and measures are now integrated into municipal budget.

Enabling factors and constraints

Enabling factors:

- Committed and engaged steering committee and core group members
- Structures and processes adaptable to local needs
- Interlinkage of bottom-up and top-down approaches
- Integration of civil society and municipal citizens via sustainability conferences

Constraints:

- Limited time resources of honorary members of the steering committees
- Dependence on local windows of opportunity and election periods

Sustainability and replicability

The continuous improvement process as well as the core team and committee structure to develop the IMSS can easily be adapted to cater for specific local needs. Currently, many municipalities all across Germany are adapting the IMSS model to develop their own strategy and localize the SDGs in their municipalities. Furthermore, a follow-up-project is currently pipelined. It is planned to develop 15 new IMSS in North-Rhine Westphalian municipalities and to assist the model municipalities in the further implementation of their adopted strategies. The follow-up will also include mechanisms of peer-learning between the municipalities as well as best practice sharing.

Conclusions

The project enabled municipalities to make a wide array of activities for development part of their everyday routine and monitor the results of these activities on a regular basis. Moreover, even after the projectsÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ finalization, it continually induces tangible contributions towards implementing the Agenda 2030 at the local level. It enables sustainable and integrated local development that combines social, economic and environmental objectives, advocates an enhanced engagement for sustainable development, and promotes cross-sectoral thinking and action within the municipality. However, it must be noticed that most of the projectsÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ beneficial outcomes will only materialize during the next decade, as the model municipalities implement the action-plans of their IMSS.

SDGS & Targets

Goal 15

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Goal 7

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Goal 9

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Goal 4

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Goal 8

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Goal 6

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Goal 2

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Goal 10

Reduce inequality within and among countries

Goal 11

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Goal 5

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Goal 16

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels