Sustainability in Local Public Finances - SLPF

The "Sustainability in Local Public Finances" project is a collaborative initiative aimed at integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the public financial management systems of four major European cities: Bordeaux, Barcelona, Hamburg and Amsterdam. Specifically, the project focuses on developing the foundations for "SDG Budgeting" in local governance systems.

Funded by the EU’s Technical Support Instrument, it provides assessments, tools, KPIs, and training, with expected results including, status quo analyses, action plans, stronger capacities, and practical methods for sustainable public financial management.

Context

The SLPF project supports cities in aligning local public finances with the UN 2030 Agenda and EU priorities such as the Green Deal, Digital Transformation, and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. It addresses fragmented policy frameworks, limited awareness and capacity, inefficient resource allocation, and the lack of systematic SDG integration in local budgeting. By strengthening governance, tools, and capacities, the project tackles interconnected challenges that hinder coherence between local, national, and EU efforts. Key obstacles include institutional inertia, competing priorities, and adapting global goals to diverse local contexts while ensuring sustainable and scalable reforms.

Support delivered

The SLPF project, funded by the EU’s Technical Support Instrument and implemented by the provider, supports Bordeaux, Barcelona, Hamburg, and Amsterdam (2024–2026) in integrating SDGs into local public finances. Activities are carried out in five phases: inception and assessment reports, co-created SDG budgeting methodologies, KPIs and action plans, a Bordeaux climate financing tool, training programs, civil servant exchanges, and dissemination workshops. A final Brussels conference and report ensure capacity building, alignment with EU priorities, and knowledge transfer across Europe.

Results achieved

The SLPF project is delivering city-specific and joint reports assessing SDG budgeting practices, while developing tailored methodologies, KPIs, and action plans for Bordeaux, Barcelona, Hamburg, and Amsterdam. A climate financing tool is being piloted in Bordeaux, and capacity-building workshops and civil servant exchanges are strengthening the skills of 200–300 local officials. These activities are expected to improve budgeting coherence, transparency, and resource allocation, laying the groundwork for institutionalized SDG-oriented financial management that will benefit around 5 million residents and serve as a transferable model for other EU municipalities.