Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals: A Content Analysis of Local Government Policies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

The content analysis reveals a strong alignment between the functions of Local Government (LG) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The assessment, grounded in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act (KPLGA) 2019 and corroborated by official records and service delivery practices, demonstrates that LGs play a central role in localizing global development agendas. Each service area, agriculture, livestock, health, education, water and sanitation, environmental management, and local economic development, shows explicit correspondence with relevant SDGs, reflecting policy–practice coherence. LG interventions in agriculture, livestock, and disaster management contribute to SDGs 1 and 2 by supporting livelihoods, enhancing food security, and strengthening community resilience. The health sector exhibits alignment with SDG 3 through the management of Basic Health Units and district-level planning frameworks that integrate provincial policies with local needs. Education services directly support SDG 4, with decentralized mechanisms ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. Similarly, LG responsibilities in water supply and sanitation demonstrate strong adherence to SDG 6 by ensuring access to clean water and improved sanitation. Environmental management activities align with SDGs 13 and 15 through climate resilience, afforestation, and biodiversity initiatives. Overall, the analysis confirms that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s LG structure effectively integrates global sustainability priorities into local planning and implementation, ensuring that development interventions are both contextually relevant and globally coherent.