Progressing National SDGs Implementation: An Independent Assessment of the Voluntary National Review Reports Submitted to the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2018
An Independent Assessment of the Voluntary National Reviews Submitted to the United Nations in 2018
Key Messages
- Countries are more consistently following guidelines for Voluntary National Review (VNR) reports and providing information on most aspects of 2030 Agenda implementation.
- Reporting suggests that leaving no one behind is becoming a defining consideration in implementing the SDGs. However, except for leaving no one behind, VNRs continue to pay limited attention to the transformative principles of the 2030 Agenda.
- While there is evidence of increased engagement with civil society organizations, results are mixed. It is particularly concerning that countries remain silent on closing civic space globally and ongoing attacks on human rights defenders and environmentalists.
“Progressing National SDG Implementation” is the third in a regular series of reports commissioned by civil society. It documents and analyses the 46 English, French, Spanish and Arabic Voluntary National Review (VNR) reports submitted in 2018 to the UN’s High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
The report identifies ten key pillars we believe are essential to the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also recognizes emerging good practice and sets out a range of conclusions and recommendations with respect to how countries can both improve their implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and use the HLPF as an opportunity for mutual peer learning, knowledge exchange and support. Importantly, the review also provides a comparative assessment of how VNR reporting is evolving over time through a comparison of analysis of the VNRs in 2016 and 2017 with findings for 2018.
You might also be interested in
A Busy 2021 Negotiations Calendar Bodes Well for the Environment
The roster of multilateral events for this year is filling up quickly. Our experts reveal why this leaves them cautiously optimistic.
The Pandemic helps focus on Global Sustainability Goals
Scientist Richard Florizone sees “growing calls across the world for a green recovery” from the pandemic. Economic stimulus will have to be sustainable, he says.
Report shows Winnipeg’s weak points magnified through COVID pandemic
A community indicator report released last week showed that while many of Winnipeg’s sectors seem to be improving, inequalities that were present before the pandemic began in March have since worsened.
Supporting the Implementation of New WTO Rules on Fisheries Subsidies
This brief explores how technical assistance and capacity building can support developing countries in implementing new WTO rules on fisheries subsidies.