The SDGs Go project (Sustainable Development Goals and Governance: A Common European Framework) aims to strengthen governance for the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the context of territorial development. In response to the slowdown in SDG progress since 2020, the initiative focuses on better integrating the goals into local governance and aligning them with national, European, and global priorities.
The project brings together seven territorial partners supported by a research institute, spanning across four geographical areas of the Interreg Europe (IE) programme. Participants include both more and less developed regions with varying levels of maturity in sustainable governance systems. Nevertheless, all partners share a common goal: to improve sustainable development governance and serve as examples for others.
In a context where local and regional authorities are on the front lines of climate action, the project seeks to enhance peer exchange, collaboration, cohesion, and the dissemination of best practices — encouraging continuous improvement in sustainability and resilience.
SDGs Go aims to strengthen the capacity of local governments to manage SDG-related policies, making governance more inclusive, transparent, sustainable, and effective. The project acknowledges the diversity of capacities and contexts among regional authorities and addresses this by developing tailored, multi-level governance agreements and engaging stakeholders meaningfully.
Key Activities of SDGs Go:
Policy alignment: conducting baseline research and self-assessments to integrate SDGs into local strategies;
Knowledge exchange: fostering peer learning and the implementation of best practices;
Capacity building: developing effective structures for SDG implementation;
Stakeholder engagement: adapting tools and methods to the specific needs of each partner.
The project ultimately aims to enhance the governance of territorial policies in support of the SDGs, ensuring sustainable and inclusive development across European regions.
Project Lead: Kateryna Zablotska
Contact email: katia.zablotska@city-institute.org