The SDG Voices campaign, led by the City of Ghent, challenged cities in Belgium to encourage and mobilize Belgians to implement the SDGs in their daily lives. The campaign involved 23 different Ghent city services and departments. Nearly 6,000 citizens in six cities participated physically. Citizens participated in SDG challenges which included shifting to biking as a carbon neutral transportation mechanism, showcasing theatre performances on gender equality, and conducting school debates on sustainability.
The campaign brought together stakeholders such as Ghent knowledge institutions, NGOs, The Shift, Gent en Garde, Football Club KAA Gent, while paving the way for new partnerships with organizations such as the Flemish Association of Cities and Municipalities, University and Academy Ghent, and CSR Europe. The City of Ghent’s initiative is having a multiplier effect on more citizens’ and organizations’ dedication to the SDGs. The city administration has integrated the SDGs in the preparation of the long-term city planning, while partners of the initiative have embraced the SDGs in their new strategies.