As part of its follow-up and review mechanisms, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages member states to "conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven" (paragraph 79, #asd79). These national reviews are expected to serve as a basis for the regular reviews by the high-level political forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), meeting under the auspices of ECOSOC. As stipulated in paragraph 84 (#asd84) of the 2030 Agenda, regular reviews by the HLPF are to be voluntary, state-led, undertaken by both developed and developing countries, and involve multiple stakeholders.

The voluntary national reviews (VNRs) aim to facilitate the sharing of experiences, including successes, challenges and lessons learned, with a view to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The VNRs also seek to strengthen policies and institutions of governments and to mobilize multi-stakeholder support and partnerships for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

#VNR


Description

Name1 Voluntary National Review
Domain #cofog0132 - Overall planning and statistical services (CS) is the sector where the VNR originates, yet Voluntary National Reviews had better involve many functions of government and stakeholders across many economic activities.
Target Outcome Improved national implementations and peer learning.Paragraph 80 (#asd80) states: Follow-up and review at the regional and sub-regional levels can, as appropriate, provide useful opportunities for peer learning, including through voluntary reviews, sharing of best practices and discussion on shared targets. We welcome in this respect the cooperation of regional and sub-regional commissions and organizations. Inclusive regional processes will draw on national-level reviews and contribute to follow-up and review at the global level, including at the High Level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF).
Social actors and roles
Trigger or preceding interaction Implementation of the country action plan, #NFUR00 - National follow up and review - #asd79 and stakeholder reviews.
Interfaces and services services
Inputs and outputs i/o
Stores and tools

An online review platform is dedicated to compiling information from countries participating in the voluntary national reviews of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

It includes a Proposal for voluntary common reporting guidelines(pdf) (for voluntary national reviews at the high-level political forum). A section by section description of the guidelines is available in the Actant dictionary: #crg4VNR - Common reporting guidelines for voluntary national reviews.

Other characteristics
Part of 2030 Agenda(j) (per country) and 2030 Agenda Review Framework
Parts Domestic or local thematic reviews.
Succeeding Interactions Follow-up including changes to the national action plans.
Alternatives Not doing review (and missing opportunities for improving the action plan)
Action Realm Monitoring & Evaluation
Risks risks
Further reading https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf (check VNRs)