Across Asia and the Pacific, cities are at the frontline of the region’s most pressing challenges, from climate risks and infrastructure stress to widening social inequalities. Home to more than half of the world’s urban population, the region’s ability to deliver on sustainable development will depend less on the ambition of global commitments and more on how effectively cities can act on them.

In this context, local leadership has emerged as one of the most decisive, yet consistently underinvested, drivers of urban transformation. While national governments provide policy direction, it is mayors and local administrations who make daily decisions on land use, waste management, mobility, housing, and basic services. Where local leadership is empowered, coordinated, and connected, cities move faster and deliver results. Where it is not, even well-designed national strategies struggle to translate into tangible outcomes.

From global goals to local delivery

Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals is not simply a matter of applying national frameworks at the city level. It requires political leadership, institutional coordination, and the ability to navigate trade-offs between economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Mayors are uniquely positioned to convene stakeholders, respond to community needs, and pilot innovative solutions, particularly in fast-growing urban areas.

Yet this potential is unevenly realized across the region. Small and medium-sized cities, which are absorbing much of Asia-Pacific’s urban population growth, often operate with constrained fiscal space, limited technical staff, and uneven access to data, finance, and learning networks. As a result, local capacities in areas such as climate-resilient planning, digital transformation, waste management, and sustainable mobility vary widely. These gaps directly affect the pace and quality of the localization of the sustainable development goals, particularly for women, informal workers, and persons with disabilities who are often most exposed to service shortfalls and climate risks.

What actually strengthens local leadership

Experience across the region suggests that strengthening local leadership is not about one-off training or generic toolkits. What makes a difference is sustained, practical support that combines peer learning, exposure to good practices, and opportunities to translate ideas into implementable initiatives. Platforms that allow mayors to learn from one another, reflect on common challenges, and test solutions in their own contexts are especially effective in accelerating progress.

One illustration of this approach is the Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy, co-organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and partners including the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). Rather than focusing on theory alone, the Academy emphasizes applied leadership, cross-sector thinking, and regional exchange, enabling mayors to design concrete initiatives aligned with their cities’ priorities.

Local solutions with regional relevance

The initiatives developed by the 2025 cohort reflect both the diversity of urban contexts in the region and a set of shared priorities. In Del Carmen, Philippines, climate-resilient housing for vulnerable families demonstrates how disaster recovery can be combined with community participation and local materials. Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia’s zero-waste transition highlights the role of public awareness and digital tools in strengthening waste management systems. Inaruwa, Nepal’s decentralized waste approach integrates composting and biogas while creating opportunities for women and informal workers. Banda Aceh, Indonesia’s flood resilience measures blend grey and green infrastructure, while Malé, Maldives’ mobility plan aims to advance electric transport and safer, more inclusive urban movement.

Individually, these initiatives respond to local challenges. Collectively, they point to a broader lesson: when mayors are equipped with the right knowledge, networks, and institutional backing, they can deliver solutions that advance climate action, circular economy principles, and inclusive urban development at scale.

Building on these lessons, applications are now open for the 2026 cohort of the Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy, which will continue to support newly elected mayors through regional peer learning, applied leadership development, and strengthened approaches to support the implementation of the sustainable development goals across the region.

Looking ahead: investing in leadership ecosystems

The lessons emerging from these experiences underscore a wider regional imperative. Investing in local leadership is not a “soft” intervention. It is a strategic one. As climate impacts intensify and urban demands grow, Asia-Pacific cities will need more than isolated projects or short-term support. They will require durable leadership ecosystems, including sustained peer networks, access to data and finance, and stronger links between local, national, and regional policy processes.

As cities continue to shape the region’s development trajectory, strengthening the capacity and connectivity of mayors will be central to accelerating the localization of the sustainable development goals and ensuring that urban transformation leaves no one behind. The question is no longer whether local leadership matters, but whether it is being supported at the scale and pace the region now demands.