Promote champions to maximize efforts slide x Local and regional governments in those countries where the MDGs were pursued should build on networks and organizations that were involved in the MDG process, as well as on the Agenda 21 programme and sustainable development strategies. At the same time, they should also use the SDGs as a fresh start to engage with a broader cross-section of actors, such as the private sector and community organizations, and to launch new forms of collaboration and participation. Public awareness-raising campaigns should focus on the message that the SDGs are relevant to ordinary people all over the world. The SDGs cover issues that are directly relevant to citizens’ daily lives, including vital challenges such as poverty, gender inequality, climate change and insecurity, as well as public goods like education, health, water, energy, air quality, housing and the conservation of natural resources. Activities that can be undertaken to raise awareness among the population should make the SDGs engaging and harness the power of local culture. Such activities could include concerts, bike rides, campaign buses, fairs, events showcasing success stories, award ceremonies, and collaboration with well-known figures (e.g.: actors, musicians, sportspeople, writers, and photographers) or foundations that can act as ambassadors for the SDGs. The planning of activities should include a gender perspective to ensure that women and girls are not excluded. Subnational governments should reach out to the traditional media, for example through training and activities for journalists, and use their social media channels to communicate the SDGs directly to citizens. Additional: Case Study - Valencia Icons: 10 min, Group 1, 2 Presentation slides: x The new government of the region of Valencia (Spain), formed in July 2015, understands the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as "a new opportunity, perhaps the last, to transform the world” and, for this reason, considers necessary a firm commitment to bring the region in line with this Agenda. The challenge of localizing the agenda is tackled through three strategic vectors, namely information, awareness and commitment, that are broken down into 3 operational levels of activity: the municipal/regional level, the national level and the global level. Several activities are promoted to develop vectors. The provision of information aims at generating reflection among the public and political officials on why compliance with
Promote champions to maximize efforts slide x Local and regional governments in those countries where the MDGs were pursued should build on networks and organizations that were involved in the MDG process, as well as on the Agenda 21 programme and sustainable development strategies. At the same time, they should also use the SDGs as a fresh start to engage with a broader cross-section of actors, such as the private sector and community organizations, and to launch new forms of collaboration and participation. Public awareness-raising campaigns should focus on the message that the SDGs are relevant to ordinary people all over the world. The SDGs cover issues that are directly relevant to citizens’ daily lives, including vital challenges such as poverty, gender inequality, climate change and insecurity, as well as public goods like education, health, water, energy, air quality, housing and the conservation of natural resources. Activities that can be undertaken to raise awareness among the population should make the SDGs engaging and harness the power of local culture. Such activities could include concerts, bike rides, campaign buses, fairs, events showcasing success stories, award ceremonies, and collaboration with well-known figures (e.g.: actors, musicians, sportspeople, writers, and photographers) or foundations that can act as ambassadors for the SDGs. The planning of activities should include a gender perspective to ensure that women and girls are not excluded. Subnational governments should reach out to the traditional media, for example through training and activities for journalists, and use their social media channels to communicate the SDGs directly to citizens. Additional: Case Study - Valencia Icons: 10 min, Group 1, 2 Presentation slides: x The new government of the region of Valencia (Spain), formed in July 2015, understands the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as "a new opportunity, perhaps the last, to transform the world” and, for this reason, considers necessary a firm commitment to bring the region in line with this Agenda. The challenge of localizing the agenda is tackled through three strategic vectors, namely information, awareness and commitment, that are broken down into 3 operational levels of activity: the municipal/regional level, the national level and the global level. Several activities are promoted to develop vectors. The provision of information aims at generating reflection among the public and political officials on why compliance with