CIFAL Durban Organizes the Seminar “Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa”

29 July 2017, Durban, South Africa – The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by 193 countries as a new global agenda on 25 September 2015 and came into force officially on 01 January 2016. The SDGs are a set of goals towards ending poverty, ensuring prosperity and protecting the planet. The 17 goals and 169 targets matter to local governments. In particular, they are applicable across all clusters, units and departments of the eThekwini Municipality in South Africa.

The International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in Durban (CIFAL Durban), the eThekwini Municipal Academy and the Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE) hosted the Seminar “Localizing the SDGs”, bringing together 45 managers and city officials to discuss how to advance the SDGs and implement actions to raise awareness about the global goals and targets.

CIFAL Director and Head of the eThekwini Municipal Academy Dr. Mpilo Ngubane provided an overview on the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, its origin and process, as well as on the 17 SDGs. He stressed that creating awareness on the SDGs is the first step to begin the implementation process within the eThekwini Municipality.

Ms. Helen North, Provincial Head for Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) shared insights on localizing and incorporating the SGDs and targets into national and local strategies, plans, budgets, and data systems, while generating an inclusive implementation process.

The seminar served as a platform to create awareness and to build capacity on how these goals can be achieved locally. It served as a catalyst to localize, contextualize and outline steps to mainstream the SDGs into the Municipality’s actions. 

Photo 1: Participants of the Seminar “Localizing the SDGs”

Photo 2: Dr. Mpilo Ngubane, CIFAL Durban Director and Head of the eThekwini Municipal Academy

Photo 3: Ms. Helen North, Provincial Head for Statistics South Africa (Stats SA)