The Reflections series synthesizes lessons from past evaluations to support organizational learning about what works and what doesn't. This paper examines past evaluations to provide five lessons on SDG localization through local knowledge:

1. Achievement of the SDGs at local level requires policy coordination and alignment across different levels of governance. More successful initiatives balanced the strengthening of local government capacity with support to local-national dialogue and cooperation.
2. Engaging relevant stakeholders and including diverse perspectives in the SDG localization process helps to ensure SDG integration and local ownership. Engagement strategies worked best where they included structured mechanisms and empowerment processes, to allow the voices of populations likely to be left behind to be part of the dialogue.
3. Enhancing local government capacity and accountability has been a key enabler of advancing SDG achievement at local level. Initiatives were more successful where capacity-building was systematic, targeted and helped local governments to improve transparency and citizen trust.
4. The generation and use of SDG data increases the capacity to enable SDG localization at local and national levels. Local-level actors were best able to make use of data, or internalize data for planning purposes, where development support was sustained and coherent, not fragmented or infrequent.
5. Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) are a promising approach for accelerating progress on SDG localization. Support for VLRs also helps to facilitate vertical integration by ensuring that national SDG priorities are responsive to local needs.