Case study: Georgia and international advocacy for SDGs 
Advocacy opportunities with Financing for Development
National- and local-level advocacy for SDGs
While being a global agenda, Agenda 2030 and the SDGs apply differently to every country depending on their context and gaps or challenges in implementation. For this reason, national and local level advocacy by CSOs become especially important in ensuring efficient progress on SDGs.
All countries have a focal point within their state structure that is in charge of coordinating the implementation and policy-making on the SDGs. The focal points are advised to undertake their SDG implementation and policy-making in consultation with and the participation of all sections of society at the national level.1If assigned, the focal point of each country is listed under the country’s specific webpage at the VNR database. When you select your country on this page, click on it. The new webpage opened will have a section that lists the focal point of the country. Unfortunately, many countries are not using this kind of participatory approach in monitoring and implementing their SDG commitments. It is part of the advocacy work of the CSOs to pressure the state to adopt a more meaningfully participatory, inclusive, and well-resourced approach.2A well-resourced approach is important because CSOs often have limited financial, human, and technical resources in many countries. Governments at all levels – national, sub-national, and local – are responsible for ensuring that resources are available to facilitate meaningful participation by CSOs in SDG monitoring and implementation processes.
In some countries, officially established structures exist. These are where all relevant stakeholders of the SDG process can come together, including civil society and all relevant state institutions. In these structures, these stakeholder groups work together towards SDG implementation and related policy-making, as well as preparation of the VNR reports. The participation of CSOs should not be just limited to planning of SDG implementation and policy-making. CSOs should also be involved in implementation, services, access to resources allocated for the SDGs, data collection and analysis, and monitoring and evaluation.
Regardless of whether or not this kind of official process around SDG monitoring and implementation exists, civil society organisations can form their own platforms and groups to advocate together for effective implementation of SDGs at the national and local levels. They can prepare alternative reports, raise awareness, and spread information on Agenda 2030 and the SDGs, and advocate with decision-makers on all levels. If organised across different civil society sectors, such platforms can also aid cross-sectoral cooperation within the civil society organisations of the country, and allow them to have a stronger voice.3The Civil Society Working Group for the 2030 Agenda – Brazil is one of the strong examples of this kind of cross-discipline organising and mobilising for Agenda 2030 accountability. In their own words, “The Civil Society Working Group for the 2030 Agenda (GTSC A2030, in Portuguese) is a coalition of fifty-one non-governmental organisations, social movements, forums, networks, universities and foundations. The group advocates at local and international levels to promote sustainable development, to fight inequalities and injustices and to strengthen universal, indivisible and interdependent rights while defending the participation of civil society in all decision-making spaces.” The Working Group has produced a strong VNR report for Brazil’s VNR in HLPF 2020, and the summary of its alternative VNR report is available in English.
To advocate for SDGs at the national level requires some form of contact with the governing structures. However, the format of this engagement may vary from country to country. CSOs can utilise direct advocacy with decision makers or increasing the awareness within society and media to create pressure.
One good aspect of Agenda 2030 advocacy is that there are many entry points at the national level that CSOs can work through. These are all possible entry points: the focal point for SDGs within the country, related ministries (e.g. development, planning, sustainability, as well as ministries related to the CSOs area of expertise), statistical offices that work on the indicators, parliamentary committees on SDGs or related areas, and/or UN country offices.
Especially in countries where national advocacy routes are closed or not accessible to civil society, advocacy and work at local levels with local governance bodies may be more accessible for civil society. In some localities, official avenues for engagement may be underway already. In others it may fall on the shoulders of civil society to raise awareness around Agenda 2030 and the SDGs, and their relevance to human rights advocacy.
Case study: Georgia and international advocacy for SDGs Advocacy opportunities with Financing for Development
Footnotes
- 1If assigned, the focal point of each country is listed under the country’s specific webpage at the VNR database. When you select your country on this page, click on it. The new webpage opened will have a section that lists the focal point of the country.
- 2A well-resourced approach is important because CSOs often have limited financial, human, and technical resources in many countries. Governments at all levels – national, sub-national, and local – are responsible for ensuring that resources are available to facilitate meaningful participation by CSOs in SDG monitoring and implementation processes.
- 3The Civil Society Working Group for the 2030 Agenda – Brazil is one of the strong examples of this kind of cross-discipline organising and mobilising for Agenda 2030 accountability. In their own words, “The Civil Society Working Group for the 2030 Agenda (GTSC A2030, in Portuguese) is a coalition of fifty-one non-governmental organisations, social movements, forums, networks, universities and foundations. The group advocates at local and international levels to promote sustainable development, to fight inequalities and injustices and to strengthen universal, indivisible and interdependent rights while defending the participation of civil society in all decision-making spaces.” The Working Group has produced a strong VNR report for Brazil’s VNR in HLPF 2020, and the summary of its alternative VNR report is available in English.