Lviv, Ukraine, 14-15 October 2025 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine organized a conference entitled “Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals: Expanding Equal Economic Opportunities for Women and Men, Access to Finance, and Green Economic Growth.” The event was held under the Empowered Partnership for Sustainable Recovery (EPSR) project, funded by the Government of Sweden, represented by the Swedish Development Agency (Sida), and implemented by UNDP Ukraine. 

The Sustainable Development Goals are a universal action plan to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all people. In 2015, all 193 UN member states adopted this plan, which is based on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that clearly define the world we want to live in and apply to all countries without exception. 

Ukraine joined the global process of ensuring sustainable development and, during 2016-2017, adapted the SDGs to the Ukrainian context. In 2019, the President of Ukraine signed a decree on Ukraine's Sustainable Development Goals for the period up to 2030, with corresponding national development targets, monitoring indicators, and benchmarks. 

The conference brought together more than 50 attendees in Lviv, representing regional state administrations and local self-government bodies from 13 oblasts participating in the EPSR project. Over two days, experts and practitioners shared their experiences localizing the SDGs, including successful examples from the Lviv, Ternopil, Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, and Rivne oblasts. Special attention was paid to the gender approach in the development of strategic community documents and the concept of “green” transformation. 

Maryna Shevchenko, Head of the Unit of the Reintegration Institutional Support of the Department for Regional Policy and Reintegration of Territories Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, noted: "For us, localizing the Sustainable Development Goals is not just about adapting global tasks, but a practical tool for planning development and implementing positive changes in the lives of Ukrainian communities. We want every SDG-related initiative to meet people's needs, open new opportunities, and unite all residents around common decisions. This is especially important in the context of Ukraine's recovery, when we are planning not only reconstruction but also the creation of a better future for all." 

Mustafa Sait-Ametov, Head of the UNDP Local Economic Development Programme in Ukraine, emphasized: "Even in the midst of a full-scale war, Ukraine remains committed to the principles of sustainable development. UNDP supports the process of localizing the Goals by building and empowering partnerships between local governments, civil society, and the private sector. With our support, these partnerships implement local initiatives and test practical solutions that advance global goals while responding to communities' real needs and priorities. This approach encourages collaboration among all participants in the process and creates a foundation for Ukraine's sustainable recovery." 

Conference attendees participated in interactive exercises focused on practical issues, including: how to align SDGs with local development and recovery priorities, how to integrate local inclusive economic development initiatives into strategic community documents, and how to account for functional territorial types in localizing the SDGs. A separate section was devoted to studying advanced European experiences localizing the SDGs. 

Media enquiries: 

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications. Email: yuliia.samus@undp.org