Cultural dimensions and SDG localization in developing countries: a cross-country analysis of India and Sierra Leone

Introduction The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a universal framework for addressing interconnected global challenges. However, effective localization is often hindered by a lack of alignment with diverse local contexts. This study examines the critical, yet underappreciated, role of cultural dimensions in shaping the legitimacy, engagement, and sustainability of SDG adaptation, particularly in the Global South.Material and Method A comparative case study of India and Sierra Leone was conducted, selected for their contrasting governance structures (federal versus post-conflict community-based) and development trajectories. The analysis employed Hofstede’s cultural dimensions as an analytical lens alongside qualitative content analysis of over 100 academic publications, national policy reports, and institutional datasets. This mixed-methods approach identified key cultural variables influencing SDG implementation.Results Findings reveal that cultural factors, specifically power distance, collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation, profoundly affect policy legitimacy, stakeholder engagement, and program acceptance. In India, digital governance and federal decentralization contend with challenges of uneven participation and regional disparities. In Sierra Leone, despite financial and donor-dependence constraints, traditional governance structures and collective resilience enhance program integration. Crucially, interventions demonstrating cultural congruence with traditional authority systems, spiritual values, and community norms show higher adoption rates and more sustainable impact in both contexts.Conclusion The study concludes that effective SDG localization requires moving beyond technical and financial solutions to explicitly integrate cultural analysis. It proposes a culturally informed, governance-aware framework for SDG adaptation. This approach, which incorporates local epistemologies into international agendas, can enhance the legitimacy, local ownership, and long-term sustainability of development initiatives, contributing significantly to the discourse on contextual sustainability.