(09 April 2021) – In a recent report, the German international cooperation agency (GIZ) demonstrates that territorial approaches provide the right operational framework for interventions involving multiple sectors and stakeholders, and are often tailored to local conditions.
Perspectives and approaches that put territories at the centre of development have returned to become important in international debate and policy to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Among the reasons for the renewed emphasis is the need to improve the effectiveness of sectoral approaches, to localise sustainable development, to better manage myriad and complex challenges now facing communities around the world and to take action for inclusive and equitable development.
The report, ‘Territorial Approaches for Sustainable Development’, is based on 14 case studies in Africa, Asia and South America but can also apply to Europe.
The territorial approaches of the case studies include: local economic development to reduce poverty; integrated natural resource management; improved food systems; inclusive access to public and private human services; community-led strategies for strengthening rights; and strategies and programmes to address protracted crises.