As part of a peer-learning process to enhance the use of voluntary national reviews (VNRs) as a vehicle for mutual exchange and learning, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Indonesia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Thailand jointly organized a side event in the margins of the 2025 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The event served as an opportunity to reflect on key learnings and innovative practices.

According to the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) summary, countries present VNRs to the UN to report on their efforts and progress towards achieving the SDGs. VNRs are thus key elements of follow-up and review under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the ten years since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, 190 countries and the EU have presented more than 400 VNRs, many reporting three times or more. “Aside from assessing progress,” ENB notes, “VNRs are also an excellent tool for countries to learn from each other and inspire cooperation and partnerships towards more ambitious implementation.”

During the side event, Hannah Janetschek, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), described VNRs as “tools for effective SDG implementation” and “a great success story.”

Mika Poutala, Finland’s Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity, highlighted that for his country, peer-learning fostered cooperation with civil servants and stakeholder networks from other parts of the world. He said Finland’s sustainable development efforts are led by a high-level commission that convenes stakeholders, coordinates activities and reporting from different government departments, and maintains dialogue with parliamentarians. He emphasized youth’s participation in the VNR and the HLPF and youth leadership at the sustainable development commission.

Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Advisor to the President on SDGs, Nigeria, said peer-learning facilitated the sharing of innovative ideas on carrying out the VNR, including methodologies and mechanisms for inclusion.

Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany, said the peer-learning process aimed to inspire greater ambition in the context of inadequate progress towards the SDGs and intensifying climate change impacts.

Pungkas Bahjuri Ali, Senior Advisor to the Minister for Social Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of National Development Planning, Indonesia, said the peer-learning facilitated innovations in VNR preparation, such as:

• better data integration, including provincial data;
• the use of an SDG metadata registry;
• engagement of Indonesia’s supreme audit institution; and
• the institutionalization of SDG budgeting at multiple administrative levels.

Paisan Rupanichkij, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Thailand, said the peer-learning provided an opportunity to foster a whole-of-government approach and reported that Thailand is using “unofficial” VNRs in the years between official reporting to maintain momentum and keep implementing agencies engaged.

Bety Cutzal Sirin, Director of Public Management, Technical Director of the Voluntary National Reports, Guatemala, highlighted innovations, including: a cities café; a territorial conference; integration with territorial planning; and social auditing.

Reflecting on the presentations, Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), said VNRs have evolved into “a platform that can drive mutual learning to adapt solutions while avoiding common pitfalls” and noted progress towards the inclusion of whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches for SDG implementation.

During discussion, participants reflected on experiences with VNRs in different countries, noting the challenges of maintaining momentum, ensuring adequate inclusion, and supporting stakeholders for continued engagement. 

Themed, ‘Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) 10 Years on – Our Common Journey,’ the side event took place at UN Headquarters in New York, US, on 21 July 2025. [ENB Coverage]