Background
At the mid-way point for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, many of the SDGs are moderately to severely off track to meet the Global Goals by 2030.
The current HLPF is a pre-summit for preparing the SDG Summit in September 2023, which is expected to provide a renewed commitment and push towards achieving the SDGs by 2030. The engagement of local governments and local communities in SDG implementation is critical in relation to all SDGs, including the reduction of inequalities; access to clean water and sanitation and to clean and affordable energy; as well as for sustainable urban planning and affordable housing. Local and sub-national governments must be empowered and supported to bring SDG implementation to the ground level.
National governments are increasingly utilizing Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) not only to highlight national level efforts, advances and challenges in SDG implementation, but to also capture the efforts of local and regional governments and other local stakeholders in support of SDG implementation. As part of their efforts to localize the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, local and regional governments are increasingly engaging in subnational reviews of their SDG implementation, also called Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs). While VLRs are not mandated by the 2030 Agenda, the process of preparing them provides multiple benefits to the entities engaging in them and to SDG implementation at large, including by contributing to the collection and analysis of timely, accurate and disaggregated data on SDG implementation and on the furthest behind at the local level; bringing stakeholders closer to decision-making processes; strengthening multilevel governance; and fostering integration of the SDGs into local planning. The practice of preparing VLRs is being taken up not only by capital and large cities, but also by a growing number of smaller cities, provinces, and districts, including in rural areas.
Complementary to the VNRs and VLRs, Voluntary Subnational Reviews (VSRs), which are led by local and regional governments’ associations, advance an innovative approach to SDG monitoring and reporting. This innovative approach differs from Voluntary Local Reviews in that VSRs provide country-wide analyses of subnational efforts and challenges to localize the SDGs.
VNRs, VLRs and VSRs provide opportunities for multilevel governance and dialogue on critical sustainable development issues, including decentralization and service delivery, as well as on challenges faced by local governments, such as complex emergencies. They can further support policy shifts and alignment of development policies and strategies at national and local level with the 2030 Agenda. VLRs and VSRs are also increasingly acknowledged as key accelerators of SDG localization: they use evidence they are able to measure, and which at the same time is meaningful for long term planning and strategies
The present VNR/VLR Lab, which will include contributions from both national and local Governments and other relevant actors, will provide participants the opportunity to reflect upon the ways in which VNRs and VLRs can be used to enhance multilevel governance and to accelerate SDG implementation at national and local levels. Key questions for discussion will include:
- What experiences, challenges and innovative approaches can be shared in terms of:
- how local governments have used VLRs to advance implementation of specific SDGs, while also “doing no harm” in relation to other SDGs and leaving no one behind
- how local governments have used VLRs and VSRs to put in place procedural approaches for achieving sustainable development, including in planning and budgeting, stakeholder engagement and leaving no one behind, governance arrangements and structures
- How national governments have supported VLRs and VSRs and the value in advancing SDG implementation at national level
- How have VNR, VLR and VSR processes contributed to strengthen multilevel dialogue in terms of SDG implementation, with a specific look to the VLR-VSR-VNR connection
Programme Agenda
Opening
- Mr. Amson Sibanda, Chief, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, DESA
- Mr. Raf Tuts, Director of Global Solutions Division, UN-Habitat
1:10-1:40
Multi-level governance for SDG implementation: the role of VNRs and VLRs
- Moderator: Ms. Carol Pollack, Inter-Regional Adviser for Implementation and Review of the SDGs, UNDESA
- Ms. Irais Barreto Canales, Head of Global Economic Intelligence Unit, Ministry of Economy; Executive Secretary, National Council of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Mexico
- Ms. Anni Sinnemäki, Deputy Mayor, Helsinki, Finland
- Mr. Toshihiko Ota, Mayor, Toyota City, Japan
- Ms. Yumi Otsuka, Chief Sustainability Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation
- Mr. Raymond Saner, Professor, International Relations & International Management, University of Basle, Switzerland; Director, Centre for Socio-Economic Development
1:40-1:55
Q & A
1:55-2:00
Closing of the VNR Lab
Announcements
The session video is available for viewing on this page. For session summaries, presentations, and survey results, please view the "documentation" tab.
Presentations
Summaries
Concept Note
