10 May 2018
21 Countries (to date) Planning to Present VNRs at HLPF 2019
Photo by IISD | Lynn Wagner
story highlights

When the HLPF is meeting under the auspices of ECOSOC, it carries out regular reviews that are voluntary and state-led, involving ministerial and other relevant high-level participants.

Member States prepare these Voluntary National Reviews, which are mandated to be "regular and inclusive," review progress at the national and sub-national levels, and be country-led and country-driven.

To date, 21 governments have announced their intention to present VNRs in July 2019.

10 May 2018: As 47 countries prepare to present their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to the July 2018 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2018), 21 countries have already announced their intention to present VNRs during HLPF 2019.

The countries planning to present their VNRs in 2019 are as follows: Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Croatia, Eritrea, Fiji, Iceland, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mongolia, Nauru, Palau, Philippines, Serbia, South Africa, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, UK and Vanuatu.

The 47 countries expected to present VNRs in July 2018 are: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Cabo Verde, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Namibia, Niger, Paraguay, Poland, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, State of Palestine, Sudan, Switzerland, Togo, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uruguay, and Vietnam.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development specifies that Member States should “conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven.” These reviews are supposed to draw on contributions from indigenous peoples, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders, “in line with national circumstances, policies and priorities.”National parliaments and other institutions “can also support these processes.”

The 2030 Agenda also indicates, in paragraph 84, that when the HLPF is meeting under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it shall carry out regular reviews that are voluntary and state-led, involving ministerial and other relevant high-level participants, and involve developed and developing countries. The reviews are also to “provide a platform for partnerships, including through the participation of major groups and other relevant stakeholders.”

HLPF 2019 is scheduled to address the theme, ‘Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality’. It will conduct an in-depth review of SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), in addition to SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals) which is reviewed each year. [UN VNR webpage]


related events


related posts