Where are the locals? An Exploratory Study on the Challenges of the Localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the Subnational level in Cambodia

Abstract

Achieving the Agenda 2030 requires the adoption and implementation of the goals at all levels of the government from the national to subnational level. Cambodia, as a member state of the UN, under the Cambodia Sustainable Development Goals (CSDG) Framework has also made a commitment to localise the SDGs to the subnational level. However, after the adoption of the CSDG framework in 2018, the progress of the SDGs in Cambodia has been slow with some goals being off-track or regressed. Furthermore, a 2023 snapshot report by the ADB found that the subnational level has limited involvement in SDG activities. For this reason, this study aims to explore why it is challenging for Cambodia to localise the SDGs to the subnational level by looking at SDG localisation as a political process through the lens of legitimacy, responsibilities, and accountability. The findings from the policy document review and 7 semi-structured interviews suggest that it is challenging for the country to localise the SDGs because the perceived legitimacy of the goals did not transfer to the subnational level, thus hindering the allocation of SDG responsibilities within the functional assignment set by the national level. The SDG responsibilities of the subnational government are further hampered by the lack of human resources, technical capacity, and sufficient financial resources. Moreover, the absence of political accountability and trust in political institutions at the subnational level makes compliance with the SDGs go unchecked and limits the legitimacy of the SDGs. The limited legitimation attempts at only the national level also resulted in low public awareness of the goals to hold the SNAs accountable for their SDG responsibilities.

Popular Abstract

Achieving the Agenda 2030 requires the adoption and implementation of the goals at all levels of the government from the national to subnational level. Cambodia, as a member state of the UN, under the Cambodia Sustainable Development Goals (CSDG) Framework has also made a commitment to localise the SDGs to the subnational level. However, after the adoption of the CSDG framework in 2018, the progress of the SDGs in Cambodia has been slow with some goals being off-track or regressed. Furthermore, a 2023 snapshot report by the ADB found that the subnational level has limited involvement in SDG activities. For this reason, this study aims to explore why it is challenging for Cambodia to localise the SDGs to the subnational level by looking at SDG localisation as a political process through the lens of legitimacy, responsibilities, and accountability. The findings from the policy document review and 7 semi-structured interviews suggest that it is challenging for the country to localise the SDGs because the perceived legitimacy of the goals did not transfer to the subnational level, thus hindering the allocation of SDG responsibilities within the functional assignment set by the national level. The SDG responsibilities of the subnational government are further hampered by the lack of human resources, technical capacity, and sufficient financial resources. Moreover, the absence of political accountability and trust in political institutions at the subnational level makes compliance with the SDGs go unchecked and limits the legitimacy of the SDGs. The limited legitimation attempts at only the national level also resulted in low public awareness of the goals to hold the SNAs accountable for their SDG responsibilities.

• author: Vanly, Keomuda
• supervisor: Magdalena Bexell
• organization: Graduate School
• alternative title: The Challenges of the Localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the Subnational level in Cambodia
• course: SIMZ31 20251
• year: 2025
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Social Sciences
• keywords: Sustainable development goals, localisation, accountability, legitimacy, responsibility, Cambodia
• language: English
• id: 9199564
• date added to LUP: 2025-06-25 13:58:23
• date last changed: 2025-06-25 13:58:23