The seminar titled “The Global North-Global South City Dialogue” explored the feasibility of jointly producing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Voluntary City Reports for both Dhaka and Manchester and submitting them to the United Nations (UN). DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islalm and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham attended the program as Guest of Honours. The dialogue also examined how BRAC University and the University of Manchester could support Dhaka and Manchester city authorities in producing the reports. Additionally, the dialogue informed the Honourable Mayors of Dhaka and Manchester about the successful knowledge partnership between the two universities.
The UN SDGs Voluntary City Reports will assess the extent to which the cities have achieved the SDGs. These reports will help better understand the ways in which city governments can contribute to the socio-economic development of the citizens. Joint production and submission of the reports by Dhaka and Manchester will strengthen Global North-Global South solidarity and indicate to the possible areas of collaboration. This initiative can potentially become the first example of city-to-city SDGs collaboration in the world.
