Conclusions

The critical role of subnational governments (SNGs) for the achievement of national Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) priorities is widely accepted now. However, the enabling environment (the legal, fiscal, and political space for them to act in line with identified local needs and priorities aligned with the SDG agendas) is often missing or underdeveloped. Improving decentralization and local governance arrangements is therefore an essential and indispensable part of making the localization of SDGs a reality. Development partners such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) need to continue their support to help the developing and emerging economies of Asia and the Pacific improve multi-level governance arrangements, digitalize their economies, increase domestic resource mobilization, and access knowledge and “learning beyond training.”