In 2025, Suva made history by becoming the first city in a Pacific Small Island Developing State to produce a Voluntary Local Review of the Sustainable Development Goals. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the way Pacific cities translate global commitments into local action, highlighting the potential of urban centers to drive sustainable development in their communities.
For small island cities confronting climate risks, rapid urban growth, and social inequality, Suva’s Voluntary Local Review goes beyond reporting. It demonstrates how local governments can lead sustainable development through evidence-based decision-making, community engagement, and accountable governance that aligns with local priorities.
The accomplishment was supported by the Joint SDG Fund–backed initiative Accelerating Multi-Level Action for SDG Localization in Fiji, which strengthens connections between national and local decision-making. Suva’s review highlights progress across eight priority SDGs, noting improvements in sanitation, public transportation, and urban services, while also identifying ongoing challenges in healthcare access, gender equality, and climate action. The review includes practical recommendations, such as establishing a dedicated SDG Implementation Committee to enhance coordination and accountability at the city level.
The process reflects a locally led approach, with city-level data, stakeholder consultations, and community perspectives shaping the analysis. This approach illustrates how global frameworks like the SDGs can be adapted to local realities and integrated into everyday planning and investment decisions.
Running from October 2024 to October 2025, the project is led by UNESCAP in partnership with UN-Habitat, under the guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and municipal councils. Suva’s milestone is already inspiring broader change across Fiji, with Lautoka City Council and Labasa Town Council developing their own reviews and a national SDG localization training programme being implemented across all 13 local councils. Local governments are gaining the data, tools, and institutional capacity needed to align development planning with the SDGs.
As the first Pacific Small Island Developing State city to undertake a Voluntary Local Review, Suva is establishing a new model for SDG localization in the region. Its experience underscores that sustainable development begins locally when cities are empowered to translate global goals into meaningful impacts for their communities.
