11 January 2016: Ten UN Member States have volunteered to participate in the first National Reviews of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, according to a listing made available by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The national reviews will take place as part of the 2016 session of the High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF), convening from 11-20 July 2016.

The Member States who have volunteered, as of 11 January 2016, are: Estonia, Finland, Germany, Madagascar, Morocco, Norway, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Venezuela. For each of these countries, the DESA website provides information on: focal points, national reports, statements and voluntary commitments and partnerships.

In the 2030 Agenda, Member States agreed that the HLPF “will have a central role in overseeing a network of follow-up and review processes” of the Agenda at the global level, and that the HLPF, under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), shall carry out regular reviews that should: be voluntary, while encouraging reporting; include developed and developing countries as well as relevant UN entities and other stakeholders; be State-led, involving ministerial and other relevant high-level participants; and provide a platform for partnerships, including through the participation of major groups and other relevant stakeholders. [HLPF 2016 Website] [IISD RS Story on Follow-up and Review Consultation]