ABSTRACT
Subnational initiatives refer to actions and programmes taken by actors to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level. These initiatives can involve various local actors, including traditional communities and organized civil society. In the context of SDG negotiations, however, they primarily focus on formal institutions of government, such as cities, provinces or states, and other subnational authorities. As local governments tend to have direct control over many areas crucial to SDG implementation, they are positioned as key players in translating global goals into local action and achieving tangible results on the ground. Yet, subnational initiatives face varying challenges and opportunities depending on the local context, and local actors have a hard time recognizing how their local practices translate to the SDG global framework. Voluntary review mechanisms might be useful to interrogate the width of how subnational initiatives have been carried out.
