This article presents the relationship between the Strategy of Non-Formal Development Education of the city of Valencia and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The content of the Strategy is based on three fundamental axes: 1) a territorial approach in the neighbourhood or district; 2) the importance of coordination between municipal actors and NGDOS to develop educational proposals and 3) a series of priority themes and methodologies. The correspondence of the Strategy with the SDGS has been interpreted using an analytical framework designed for transformative innovation. This interpretation distinguishes between SDGS that define socio-technical systems or areas of application; those that define directionality and those that indicate context conditions. This interpretation can contribute to increase the reflection on the transformatory potential of educational actions in a synergic way, avoiding compartmentalized perspectives. On the other hand, it highlights the importance of networks and coordination between actors in the city and its neighbourhoods. These are the spaces that need to be transformed and from which transformations can start.

This study focuses on international development aid policies implemented by municipalities. By proposing a theoretical framework and addressing the Spanish context, it first explores the added value and the challenges involved with this kind of decentralised aid. Second, it discusses the implications in terms of the competencies required by social workers in order to leverage the potential of these aid policies. The research draws on the qualitative analysis of documents, interviews and discussion groups. It concludes that international social workers need knowledge, values and skills in widely different aspects in order to overcome the challenges entailed in aid from municipalities.