UN Resident Coordinator – Opening Remarks Workshop on SDG Localization, Voluntary Local Reviews, and Infrastructure Asset Management

Good morning, excellencies, colleagues, partners, and friends, 

Thank you to the National Planning Commission (NPC), South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the broader UN country team in South Africa as well as the Government of Italy and Government of South Africa. 

This remarkable partnership and collective leadership from the impressive array of municipal officials reflect the whole-of-government and whole-of-economy/society approach that is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2063 and the National Development Plan. 

This year, as South Africa presides the G20 and the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, we are reminded of the enduring power of multilateralism and collective action.  

For the first time, the G20 is being led by an African country and championing an African agenda including on urban delivery and local government transformation. 

After eight decades pushing for peace, human rights, and sustainable development, the UN (which is all of us) is faced with a looming deadline for the SDGs with only with only five years left to 2030. 

With only about a third of the SDG targets on track globally and in South Africa, our mission is more urgent than ever: to deliver on the promise of leaving no one behind on a safe and healthy planet with shared prosperity and rights realized.  

The UN Secretary-General has called for “urgency, ambition, and action” – fixing the global governance and financing for development systems and pushing local action. 

Let us answer that call by building strong partnerships and fostering a culture of shared responsibility especially where it matters most – on the ground. 

Ladies and gentlemen,  

Over the next few days, we will engage in a rich exchange of ideas, experiences, and practical tools aimed at strengthening the capacity of national and local government officials and relevant actors to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa. 

This workshop will deepen our understanding of SDG localisation, build technical capacity for Voluntary Local Reviews, and introduce infrastructure asset management as a critical enabler of service delivery. 

We aim to equip municipalities with tools and action plans for effective asset management. 

The SDGs are not abstract global aspirations; they are deeply local in nature.  

Whether we are talking about access to clean water, quality education, economic opportunities, decent jobs, or resilient infrastructure, the realisation of these goals depends on the ability of local governments to deliver services effectively and equitably.  

That is why accompanying effective planning, policy making, budgeting, and delivery at the local level including building the capacity of local and municipal officials is central to the UN’s support to South Africa.  

It is also why we are proud to be working in close partnership with our friends from COGTA, SALGA, the National Planning Commission, Human Settlements, several Regional Governments, National House of Traditional and Koi-San Leaders, and other stakeholders to advance this agenda. 

South Africa has already taken important steps in this direction.  

The District Development Model, introduced in 2019, provides a framework for integrated planning and implementation across all spheres of government.  

Recent Voluntary Local Reviews in municipalities like Tshwane, Buffalo City, Johannesburg, Ethekwini, and Umhlathuze have shown the power of local ownership, inclusive processes, and data-driven decision-making. 

As South Africa enters the second year of its 7th democratic administration, improving service delivery and building a capable, ethical and developmental state that delivers effectively at all levels is a national priority.  

Much of South Africa’s infrastructure is ageing or under-maintained.  

Effective asset management ensures every rand invested delivers better services, buildingresilience, and quality of life. 

Our own UN Country Analysis and the recent Voluntary National Review make clear that infrastructure inefficiencies continue to hinder growth, productivity, and social inclusion.  

The Sustainable Development Goals framework recognises that resilient, well-managed infrastructure is the backbone of sustainable development.  

As highlighted in the latest United Nations guidance and the 2025 SDG Report, effective asset management is not only about building new infrastructure, but also about maintaining and optimising what we already have.  

This is crucial for delivering quality services, driving economic growth, and ensuring no one is left behind.  

With less than a third of SDG targets on track globally, and with infrastructure inefficiencies still hindering progress here in South Africa, our collective challenge—and opportunity—is clear: to invest wisely, manage assets proactively, and build the local capacity needed for lasting impact.