The European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW), running from the 18^th of September until the 8^th of October, is a collaborative initiative across Europe, designed to promote activities that foster sustainable development and provide a platform to showcase these efforts.

Belgium's National Focal Point for the ESDW is provided by the Federal Institute for Sustainable Development (FISD), Belgium's federal organisation dedicated to federal sustainable development policies and expertise-sharing with other actors. Doing this, it also works to increasingly integrate the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into all federal policies.

It simultaneously aims to involve businesses, NGOs, citizens, and other stakeholders in the pursuit of the SDGs. One of its key approaches here is the SDG Forum, the largest event on SDGs in the Benelux, which is co-organised by the FISD and brings together various stakeholders to share knowledge, foster cooperation, and inspire action towards achieving the SDGs.

The FISD has likewise been a proud promotor of the ESDW for many years, with a steady increase in registered Belgian activities each year. At the same time, the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG) annually hosts the Sustainable Municipality Week, running from the 18^th of September until the 25^th of September and thus creating a regional sub-initiative of the ESDW. During the Week of the Sustainable Municipality, local governments in the region of Flanders are invited to raise the SDG-flag at their town halls and put local SDG heroes: citizens, schools, companies, and other organisations, into the spotlights.

Join us for this year’s European Sustainable Development Week and help us promote sustainable development in Belgium and beyond! Visit our Belgian website for more information and to register your event. If you represent a Flemish local government, please take a look at the VVSG website as well.