As delivered

Excellencies, distinguished Mayors and Governors, colleagues and friends,

It is actually fascinating to see here, and to look at the names-very different names than we usually see. These are the names of towns and regions that represent the conversation we are having today. And we’ll witness the

power of local action today, from small towns to major cities, as local and regional governments, together with their partners, turn global goals into real progress.

Thank you for your leadership and commitment to the SDGs. We know this work takes innovation, integration, and constant effort to deliver better public services with limited resources, while ensuring no one is left behind.

At a time when traditional multilateralism is under strain, the local dimension has been gaining unprecedented strength.

Year after year at this Forum, we see cities and regions stepping up. You are not only keeping the promise of the 2030 Agenda alive– you are showing the world how to get it done.

This is demonstrated by the 370 Local Voluntary and 45 Subnational Reviews that cities and regions have prepared. We, the United Nations Development Programme, is proud to have supported some of these reviews, such as in the city of Baguio in the Philippines.

Colleagues,

With less than 2,000 days left to reach the SDGs, we must scale up local solutions and accelerate their impact like never before. Every action matters, from affordable housing that shelters families with dignity, to nature-based solutions that restore our environment; from inclusive public services, to sustainable mobility that connects people and opportunities.

Local and regional governments are at the heart of this transformation. Your ability to innovate, adapt, and lead is not just important; it is indispensable.

Today’s discussions made it clear: the six SDG transitions are not abstract concepts; they are already put into place. Cities are demonstrating how these pathways can work, inspiring action across levels of government. As an example, UNDP has supported the city of Bogota in implementing the Home Care System contributing to SDG 5.4.1 on unpaid domestic work and bringing help to women taking care of dependents with disabilities including training opportunities.

But to sustain this momentum, we need more than commitment. We need investment, because ambition without resources will not deliver results.

Scaling up local SDG financing is urgent. That means unlocking domestic revenues, de-risking private capital, promoting local economic development ecosystems, and empowering local governments to plan, invest, and deliver. Financing local futures means financing our collective future.

I’m delighted that last week, two weeks ago in Seville, the Compromiso de Sevilla has recognized the need to finance local governments.

Today’s choices will live far beyond 2030. By including youth voices and intergenerational perspectives in local planning, we help build communities that truly serve those who will inherit them.

UNDP remains strongly committed to local action, rooted in strong local governance, inclusive prosperity, resilience, and peace, as well as in local financing strategies. Through our network of UNDP country offices working in over 170 countries with other UN agencies and resident coordinators, we will continue partnering with local and regional governments to create solutions, align financing, and scale what works, leaving no town, district, or person behind.

Thank you for your leadership, your innovation, and your hope. Together, we can prove that multilateralism grounded in local realities is not only possible; it is already unfolding.