Tracking SDG progress the Bhopal way

Context:

Bhopal has become the first city in India to join the growing global movement on localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) following the release of its Voluntary Local Review (VLR).

India’s Progress

• Centre Efforts: NITI Aayog presented India’s second VNR (Voluntary National Review) in 2020. Also, Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) published a National Indicator Framework (NIF) for the review and monitoring of the SDGs.
• State efforts: At least 23 States and Union Territories have prepared a vision document based on SDGs. Almost all of them have initiated steps to localise the SDGs. 
• Cities efforts: Cities are the most important stakeholders in Agenda 2030 as at least 65% of the 169 targets could not possibly be achieved without their engagement. It is desirable to align a city’s VLR to the State-level action plan (where available) and the country’s VNR.

The Bhopal plan

• Collaboration: Bhopal’s VLR (Voluntary Local review) is the result of a collaboration between the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, Un-Habitat and a collective of over 23 local stakeholders. It has mapped 56 developmental projects to the SDGs across the pillars, of people, planet and prosperity. 
• Objective: The objectives of building basic infrastructure and resilience emerge as a priority for the city from the number of projects mapped to the SDGs.
• Performance: The in-depth quantitative assessment of city-level indicators under SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) records Bhopal’s stellar performance in solid waste management practices, public transportation, and open spaces per capita.