Sustainable urbanization and policy choices for localization of the Sustainable Development Goals

2020 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20F20814
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: 蟹江 憲史 慶應義塾大学, 政策・メディア研究科(藤沢), 教授 (90326463)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KANDPAL RICHA 慶應義塾大学, 環境情報学部, 外国人特別研究員
• Project Period (FY): 2020-11-13 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Governance / transformation / Institutional frameworks / Local governments / SDG localization / Stakeholder engagement / Urban development

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

The research is focused on analysing how the institutions and governance capacity shape the choices and implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) localization strategies. The plan for FY1 was to conduct literature reviews and create a knowledge base towards the main challenges and the processes being adopted for SDG localization. Accordingly, a detailed literature review was conducted through publications on governance theories like transition governance, network governance, experimentalist governance, etc. relevant for the SDGs. In addition to that, an appraisal of the Voluntary National Review (VNR) 2020 by the Government of India was done. The institutional and policy reforms being introduced by the Government of India towards SDG implementation at the local and regional level have been analysed. This has been done in the context of reforming the existing development mechanisms towards an integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management system.
An abstract on the opportunities and challenges of a model of cooperative and competitive federalism for effective SDG localization has been accepted at the 2021 Bratislava Conference on Earth System Governance. The Paper for the same will be submitted by August 2021, and the conference presentation will be made in September 2021. A presentation on the JSPS research proposal and methodology was also made, and a news article featuring the presentation was published by the UNU-IAS website.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

The work done till now has been through secondary data review of publications on SDG localization at the international, national and sub-national levels. With the help of the research grant, books from the Sustainable Development Goals Series (Springer) have been used for a major part of the literature review conducted till now. Participation (virtual) in the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2021 has helped in developing a regional perspective on the progress in implementation of SDGs.
As the focus of the research is on sustainable urbanization, the development planning mechanisms in India have been reviewed. The key points for investigation at sub-national level have been identified as stakeholder engagement, policy implementation mechanisms, data systems, financing strategies and cases of innovative mechanisms for SDG implementation. The institutional and policy reforms by the Government of India are being analysed to clarify the current status of transition of planning institutions in India towards effective governance for SDG implementation at the local and regional level. The composite index developed in India for the measurement of performance towards each SDG has been studied for an understanding of the indicators used (focus on SDG 11), and as a step towards developing policy discussion.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

Currently, the research is focused on developing qualitative and quantitative comparisons between the institutional and policy reforms at the national and sub-national levels in India, and the sub-national performance towards SDG 11 (measured by the composite index). The inferences from this step will be compiled into a research publication. In addition to this, a theoretical construct will be developed on how the relevant policies and missions of the Indian government respond to the SDG localization imperative. This will help in developing policy proposals on the role of formal institutions and efficient forms of policy-making for SDG localization. A challenge is being faced in terms of primary surveys due to the travel restrictions in the current pandemic situation. As a result, virtual alternatives will be explored for conducting experts’ interview surveys. The progress of SDGs localization in Indonesia is being reviewed, as well as available data on stakeholder engagement by local bodies in Indonesia will be assessed for a comparative analysis with that in India. The findings will be consolidated into a policy proposal towards strategies for aligning the urban and regional development mechanisms with SDG localization.