Overall objectives of the contract are:
- Strengthening the contribution by European local and regional governments to European development policy and global development agenda;
- Increasing the efficiency of decentralised cooperation through supporting exchanges and peer-learning among EU local and regional government cooperation actors and with their peers in partner countries;
- Increasing awareness of European citizens and local and regional governments on concrete contribution of local and regional governments to development cooperation;
- Strengthening the internal governance and capacity of PLATFORMA.

Specific activities VNG International
- Policy analysis - contribution to PLATFORMA policy work
- National focal point work - Frequent contact with Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and permanent representation of The Netherlands at the EU on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related policy work
- Global agenda input - input to the Global Taskforce for Local and Regional Governments with regard to SDG activities of Dutch municipalities, at home and in partner countries (as showcased in publication 'The SDGs: Global Commitment, International Cooperation, Local Action').
- SDG cluster - meetings with PLATFORMA partners on the SDGs, aimed at far reaching knowledge exchange and coordination, on SDG implementation, reporting and learning.
- SDG events - events at national level on SDGs and international cooperation
- Dialogue and exchange - exchange of experience on SDGs