KATHMANDU, March 14: Representatives of major development partners and the United Nations (UN) agencies in Nepal lauded Chandragiri Municipality's practice to localize the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs). 

The municipality has been incorporating and implementing its policies in its plan, taking up SDGs as the main basis for making education, health, gender equality, drinking water and sanitation, safe, beautiful and accessible to all. Representatives of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN HABITAT), the European Union, the World Bank, the United States Development Agency (USAID) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) said the municipality's efforts for sustainable, inclusive and resilient economic and social development to achieve the SDGs were laudable and suggested to continue those efforts. 

In a meeting with the representatives of these agencies on Wednesday, the municipality delivered a presentation about the contents included in its policies and plans and the works being carried out to achieve the SDGs. 

It may be noted that Chandragiri Municipality was selected for the 'City for Women' project under the SDGs. 

Chandragiri Mayor Ghanashyam Giri shared that the municipality has already prepared a draft of the local volunteer review report and has been giving equal priority to the conservation of public land, education, health and social development.

"The municipality has adopted the policy of ‘one ward, one garden’ and ‘one ward, one open space’. Gender equality and participation of all classes and communities have been ensured in the selection and implementation of plans at the community level. 

Deputy Mayor Basanti Shrestha shared that the municipality has been giving priority to localizing sustainable development and adopted women, children, tribals, Dalits, disabled and senior citizen friendly policies. 

Chief Administrative Officer Hemraj Aryal made a presentation about the efforts being made by the municipality in the economic and social sectors to achieve the SDGs of the municipality. 

European Union Nepal representative Eloisa Astidullo enquired about gender equality and inclusion in the local planning process and suggested focusing on the economic and social empowerment of women and marginalized communities. 

Dr Odicea Angelo Barrios, representative of UN Habitat Asia Pacific Regional Office, Japan, appreciated the practices adopted by the municipality to localize the SDGs such as education, health, gender equality, drinking water and sanitation, safe, beautiful and accessible cities. 

USAID Nepal representative David Mann pointed out the need for collective efforts to achieve the SDGs and suggested to protect open areas, meaningful participation of minorities, marginalized and vulnerable communities in decision-making and make the local development process inclusive. 

 
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