Progressing national SDGs implementation; An independent assessment of the VNR reports submitted to the UN HLPF in 2017

Guidance and systemization of experiences

This review documents and analyses the 42 English, French and Spanish VNR reports submitted in 2017 to the HLPF, as well as a sample of civil society reports also produced in 2017 for the HLPF. It is the Second Edition in annual series commissioned by civil society organizations. The review of VNR reports includes recommendations for improving the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the VNR process and reports, and strengthening the accountability mechanisms around the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The review identifies best practices in implementation of the 2030 Agenda with a view to providing recommendations on how governments, civil society organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders can improve their efforts. It also provides recommendations on how countries can improve their VNR reporting to the HLPF by meeting and building on the Secretary General’s common reporting guidelines for VNRs at the HLPF. The review reveals that the majority of countries reporting in 2017 appear to have established foundational elements for implementation. The review sets out what governments reported in terms of awareness raising, incorporation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs into national policies and plans, development of institutional mechanisms for implementation, national plans, consultation with local stakeholders, partnership development, and monitoring and evaluation of progress. However, the VNR reports remain patchy. Furthermore, the level of engagement by governments on these different pillars of 2030 Agenda implementation is not uniform either within or across countries. Much can be learnt and applied from emerging standard practice and best practice to date by different countries. Best practices identified from the VNR reports are highlighted throughout this review. The VNR reports show that greater efforts are needed to ensure a high-level of implementation across all pillars of implementation within countries and by all countries to meet the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda, and realise the SDGs.

• Developed by Action for Sustainable Development, Bond, the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, the International Forum of National NGO Platforms, Together 2030 and WWF-UK
• Published In 2018
• Posted by Fabienne Perucca
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