On 8 September, the Global Cities Hub was invited to take part in the 9th OECD Roundtable on Cities and Regions for the SDGs, held in Berlin and co-organised by the OECD and Germany. The Roundtable brought together cities, regions, States, international organisations, academia, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss the impact of decentralised development co-operation (DDC) and reflect on the outcomes of the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF).
- Decentralised development co-operation: beyond financial transfers
One of the key moments of the Roundtable was the launch of the new OECD report The Impact of Decentralised Development Co-operation: Driving Local Governance and the SDGs.
The report provides new evidence on the scale and impact of DDC (i.e. development co-operation led by local and regional governments (LRGs)). The figures are significant: DDC more than doubled between 2013 and 2024, from USD 1.8 billion to USD 3.6 billion (and this figure is most probably underestimated, due to the lack of available data). This growth stands in contrast to the broader trend in development co-operation: total ODA (official development assistance) fell by 23.1% in 2025, the largest annual contraction recorded in the history of ODA.
The OECD report also points to an important characteristic of DDC: its benefits are not necessarily confined to the recipient side. Knowledge, expertise and innovation can flow in both directions. “Recipient LRGs” report improvements in areas such as planning, accountability and public service delivery, while “Donor LRGs” identify benefits including new knowledge, policy innovation and stronger co-ordination across levels of government. This reinforces the idea of DDC as a partnership based not only on financial transfers, but also on mutual learning, technical expertise and long-term institutional relationships. In many cases, these non-financial dimensions are precisely what make co-operation between cities and regions distinctive.
The discussion in Berlin also highlighted the importance of creating the right enabling environment. National governments have an important role to play in providing clear policy and legal frameworks, stable funding arrangements and better reporting systems, while preserving the ability of cities and regions to define their own priorities and partnerships.
At the same time, LRGs engaging in DDC need to demonstrate more clearly the value and impact of international co-operation, including its benefits at home, from institutional learning and innovation to stronger relationships, peace and democratic resilience.
In a context of increasing pressure on development co-operation budgets, DDC can complement national and multilateral efforts by bringing the expertise, proximity and practical experience of cities and regions into international development partnerships.
- Taking stock of the 2026 HLPF: recognition, but an unfinished institutional question
The Roundtable also provided an opportunity to reflect on the 2026 HLPF, which reviewed several SDGs, including SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) which is highly relevant to LRGs. Numerous LRGs attended the HLPF, with several events and discussions focusing on the localisation of SDGs, multi-level governance, the need for States to support their LRGs to reach the SDGs. Several national delegations included LRGs and for the 1. year, according to UCLG, the majority of Voluntary National Reviews included LRGs in the preparation process.
The 2026 HLPF demonstrated that there is growing recognition of the importance of LRGs for sustainable development. However, the aspiration for a more formal and permanent mechanism for LRGs’ engagement in the HLPF and ECOSOC architecture has not yet been realised. Indeed, an attempt to institutionalize the LRGs’ forum failed this summer, due to States’ opposition.
- Moving forward: the UN Forum of Mayors
Against this backdrop, the Forum des maires de l'ONU represents an important and established entry point for cities into the UN multilateral system. Over successive editions, the Forum has provided a space where mayors can discuss common challenges, exchange practices and formulate recommendations relevant to the international agenda. Its potential goes beyond an annual exchange of experiences. The Forum can also serve as a space where mayors help articulate common priorities, identify emerging challenges and contribute to international discussions that ultimately shape the conditions for sustainable development at local level.
The Global Cities Hub works with mayors, national governments and UN entities to strengthen the role of cities and regions in multilateral processes and to make the UN Forum of Mayors a meaningful space for city diplomacy. The 6th UN Forum of Mayors, taking place in Geneva on 12–13 October 2026 under the theme “ Des villes au service d’un avenir durable ”, will provide another opportunity to connect the international and local dimensions of the SDGs. Aligned with the outcomes and priorities of the 2026 HLPF, the Forum will focus in particular on the local implementation of SDG 11, while also looking at innovation and creativity in urban development.
As the international community moves towards the final years of the 2030 Agenda, and begins to look beyond it, ensuring that LRGs have meaningful opportunities to contribute to global discussions will remain essential. The experience of both DDC and SDG localisation points in the same direction: global ambitions are more likely to translate into lasting results when LRGs are recognised not only as implementers, but as partners in shaping solutions.
📸 OECD / GIZ
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