The Transparency, Accountability, and Participation (TAP) Network and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have partnered to develop a resource on implementing and monitoring SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) in a country after it has presented a Voluntary National Review (VNR). The initiative follows requests from governments and others for guidance on the post-VNR period.

The resource is expected to be published in mid-2020. It will focus on best practices and challenges, as well as opportunities for countries repeatedly conducting VNRs. 

As a first step to developing the resource, TAP and UNDP have invited input through an online survey to collect experiences and lessons learned on post-VNR activities related to SDG 16. The survey titled, ‘Strengthening Post-VNR Best Practices on SDG16,’ targets stakeholders including governments, youth, civil society, businesses, national statistics offices (NSOs), human rights institutions, and UN agencies. It asks respondents, inter alia:

• whether the latest VNR from the national government included recommendations or next steps on SDG 16;
• what actions the government has taken to implement SDG 16 and related principles since delivering its last VNR, and progress and challenges in this regard;
• whether and how the government has engaged other stakeholders in the activities following up on the VNR;
• how the VNR and related process have supported action to implement SDG 16; 
• how the government is preparing to report on SDG 16 in a subsequent VNR; and
• what kind of support the government and other stakeholders need to follow up on the previous VNR

An online consultation is scheduled for 10 March 2020, to be followed by additional consultations in the lead-up to the July 2020 session of the UN High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF). Country-specific workshops will take place in a select number of countries which have submitted or plan to submit a subsequent VNR. [SDG Knowledge Hub sources]