PLATFORMA (I)

This programme is part of the European network PLATFORMA, through which European municipalities, regions and their associations work together on international cooperation, decentralisation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On behalf of the Netherlands, VNG International is one of the network’s active partners.

Overall Objective:

• Strengthening the contribution by European local and regional governments to European development policy and global development agenda;
• Increasing the efficiency of decentralised cooperation through supporting exchanges and peer-learning among EU local and regional government cooperation actors and with their peers in partner countries;
• Increasing awareness of European citizens and local and regional governments on concrete contribution of local and regional governments to development cooperation;
• Strengthening the internal governance and capacity of PLATFORMA.

Specific activies VNG International

• Policy analysis – contribution to PLATFORMA policy work
• National focal point work – Frequent contact with Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and permanent representation of The Netherlands at the EU on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related policy work
• Global agenda input – input to the Global Taskforce for Local and Regional Governments with regard to SDG activities of Dutch municipalities, at home and in partner countries (as showcased in publication ‘The SDGs: Global Commitment, International Cooperation, Local Action’).
• SDG cluster – meetings with PLATFORMA partners on the SDGs, aimed at far reaching knowledge exchange and coordination, on SDG implementation, reporting and learning.
• SDG events – events at national level on SDGs and international cooperation
• Dialogue and exchange – exchange of experience on SDGs

Types of services provided

• Policy work
•  Contributions to PLATORMA position papers on various aspects related to the SDGs
• Annual presence (political and technical) at the UN’s High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, where progress on the SDGs is discussed, active contribution in Local and Regional Government’s Forum (SDG good practices from Dutch municipalities and from VNG International projects) and side events on SDG reporting (e.g. sessions on Voluntary Local Reviews)

SDG knowledge exchange

• Publications:
  o The SDGs: Global Commitment, International Cooperation, Local Action (EN)
  o The SDGs: How to get started? (EN FR)
  o The SDGs: guidelines for municipal councillors (EN)
  o The SDGs: guidelines for integrating the SDGs in municipal plans (EN FR ES)
•  SDG welcome package for Mayors and councillors (both digital and physical) (EN FR ES)
• Local SDG indicator set, applicable in international context (ready in Spring 2021)
• SDG videos for local government audience (EN FR ES subtitles)
  SDG events/dialogue and exchange
• Organisation of annual SDG meeting for >100 Dutch Global Goals municipalities, with international speakers and workshops, incl. workshops on SDG indicators
• Organisation of annual SDG ‘flag day’ on the 25th of September, leading to more and more Global Goals municipalities
• Regional meetings on various aspects of the SDGs

Staff
Peter Knip, Arthur Wiggers, Jessie Post, Stan Abma, Mohamoud Hasan, Mirjam de Mooij, Esmeralda van der Plas

Budget available for staff time
132.100