Since 2019, the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and the League of Arab States have been organizing a series of regional workshops focused on Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). The workshops provide a platform for dialogue and peer learning to enhance VNR processes in Arab states.
Each workshop takes stock of the experiences of Arab countries that presented VNRs in the earlier cycle and inform the preparatory process for countries planning to present a VNR in the following cycle. Each workshop also focuses on an area of priority to the Arab states that is relevant to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and follow-up and review processes.
A Community of Practice (CoP) on VNRs in the Arab region was established during the 1st regional workshop and serves as an informal platform to engage members in continuous and focused knowledge sharing and experience exchange on various VNR topics.
The 5th Workshop on Voluntary National Reviews in the Arab Region will take stock of the experiences of Arab states that presented a VNR in 2021 and inform the preparatory process for countries planning to present a VNR in 2022. It will also discuss approaches for driving evidence-based, inclusive, and actionable VNRs in the region by focusing on the issues of SDG data, evaluation for more effective VNRs, and the engagement of Supreme Audit Institutes.
More details are available in the information note.
League of Arab States, Cairo, Egypt
