Opening Remarks – ECOSOC Partnership Forum Side Event
“Harnessing Multilevel Partnerships for the SDG Transitions”
February 5, 2025, 13:15 – 14:30
UN Headquarters, Conference Room 11
Excellencies,
Distinguished colleagues,
Dear friends,
It is a privilege to address this ECOSOC Partnership Forum,
a space that embodies the commitment to multilevel and multistakeholder collaboration.
The membership of United Cities and Local Governments, the guardian of the century old municipal movement,
is committed today,
more than ever before,
to a networked approach for solutions and policy development for our shared future.
As we navigate the final stretch to 2030,
it is clear that delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals requires coordinated action across levels of government and sectors of society.
No single entity nor sphere of government can tackle
the complex and interconnected challenges we face
—whether conflict, social inequalities, or climate change—alone.
The Pact for the Future underscores the central role of partnerships to deliver on existing commitments and address new and emerging challenges.
It highlights the importance of collaboration between all spheres of government
and the need to engage local and regional governments to advance the 2030 Agenda.
As the level of government closest to our communities,
we are committed to using our role to create policies that connect the local needs with the global agendas,
addressing current issues while considering future generations.
Only with strong conviction and participation of communities, involving cities of all sizes,
will we be able to promote a peaceful sustainable future for all.
This is why we continue to advocate for the formal recognition of the role of our self-organized constituency in the multilateral system,
ensuring that we have the means to fully participate in shaping global agendas.
The inclusive nature of the ECOSOC Partnership Forum provides a crucial space to reinforce this approach, fostering dialogue and strengthening cooperation for faster progress toward 2030.
Over the last year,
the Secretary-General’s Advisory Group on Local and Regional Governments,
facilitated by UCLG and the Global Taskforce of local and regional governments,
and UN-Habitat,
has put forward key recommendations to strengthen the engagement of Local and Regional Governments in the multilateral system.
As committed partners in delivering the 2030 Agenda,
we stand ready to play our role
– accelerating the SDGs from our cities and territories,
and joining forces to implement the Pact for the Future,
as the way forward to realize a new multilateral system based on governing in partnership
and leaving no one and no place behind.
The 4th Conference on Finance for Development and the 2nd World Social Summit present a unique opportunity to collectively work towards a new and inclusive universal social covenant,
and to achieve the financial architecture reform necessary to make it happen.
To turn this vision into reality,
we need to pair political commitments with bold action and localized investment.
At the last G20,
UCLG launched a Local Social Covenant,
a multistakeholder coalition aimed at reducing poverty and social inequality through localized solutions for the key challenges of our communities
– from housing to climate justice,
from conflict prevention to food systems.
We are also using local action that is mobilizing millions of dollars to impact millions of lives through our Cities Countdown to 2030.
This initiative,
launched at the Summit of the Future,
builds on the UN six transitions to deliver the SDGs through market ready projects,
aiming to pull investment while providing concrete evidence on the impact of local action.
Let’s seize the moment ahead of us to ensure that partnerships are at the center of our discussions as a driver of
sustainable, inclusive,
and resilient societies.
So our voices, experiences,
and solutions are not just heard
but fully integrated into the global agendas.
Thank you.
