APLA Holds the “Sustainable Development Goals Day for Localization”

As part of its ongoing efforts to advance sustainable development and strengthen the role of Palestinian local authorities in achieving the 2030 Agenda, APLA organized the event “Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Day: Towards Localization”, with the participation of 180 representatives from member municipalities and partner institutions working in the local governance sector. The event, held with the support of the Local Governance Reform Program implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), coincided with the SDG Summit in New York, which launched a new phase of accelerated global progress toward achieving the SDGs.

APLA President Abdul Karim Zubeidi, in his opening remarks, emphasized the importance of institutionalizing “SDG Day in Palestinian Local Governments” as an annual national event, engaging local and international partners to reaffirm the commitment of Palestinian municipalities to advancing the SDGs. He stated: “The Sustainable Development Goals are not just a set of targets, but a promise to future generations. We must continue to engage our communities, listen to their needs, and ensure their participation in decision-making processes to guarantee that no one is left behind.”

Representing the Ministry of Local Government, Assistant Deputy for Local Government Affairs Khaled Ishtayeh expressed the ministry’s pride in this event, describing it as an interactive platform that demonstrates Palestine’s active role in localizing the SDGs. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continue working toward sustainable development “despite the unique conditions imposed by the Israeli occupation and its restrictions on geography and resources.”

Khaled Abu Khaled, Director General of Records and Statistical Monitoring at the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), highlighted the importance of partnerships in achieving the SDGs. He praised the collaboration between PCBS and APLA, noting that their joint project will provide data for 52 local authorities across the West Bank, covering key SDG indicators to support Palestine’s forthcoming national Voluntary Review.

From GIZ, the Director of the Local Governance Reform Program underscored the significance of SDG localization for the German government, reaffirming GIZ’s commitment to raising awareness on the 2030 global development agenda and translating it into local policies and strategies through collaboration with APLA, the Ministry of Local Government, PCBS, and other stakeholders.

In a video message, Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), emphasized that the message delivered by the local and regional government delegation at the UN SDG Summit was clear: “We need a new type of investment, capacity-building, and recognition of the expanding roles of local governments.” She praised APLA’s leadership in this direction and expressed UCLG’s pride in accrediting APLA’s staff as certified trainers within its global learning programs.

APLA Executive Director Eng. Abdallah Anati presented the union’s vision for SDG localization, emphasizing APLA’s commitment to empowering municipalities across Palestine and recognizing their critical role in addressing local challenges and opportunities. He announced that this event marks the official launch of the SDG localization process, aiming to place the SDGs at the heart of local development and to translate them into concrete actions that improve the quality of life for Palestinian citizens.

The SDG Day also featured an interactive session titled “SDG Challenge: Understanding the Localization Process”, designed to test participants’ knowledge of the global agenda and deepen their understanding of its contents. Participants engaged in interactive booths, awareness games, and competitions developed to promote greater awareness and engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals and their localization in Palestine.

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