With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, member states committed to engage in systematic follow-up and review (FUR) of the 2030 Agenda through a robust, voluntary, effective, participatory, transparent and integrated framework. Out of adopted FUR mechanisms, the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) are a key national mechanism that allows countries to review the progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda by monitoring progress in SDGs, targets and indicators. It also addresses the principles of the 2030 Agenda, such as the integrated approach to development, the rights-based approach, and leaving no one behind.
Since 2016, 170 States have submitted their VNRs to the HLPF and many have done so two or more times. To date, 19 countries from the Arab region prepared and submitted their VNRs [1], including three which have carried out a VNR twice.
Furthermore, five Arab countries (Tunisia, Iraq, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) intend to present national reviews in 2021.
In view of the importance of the regional dimension, and at the request of Arab States for a space for dialogue, knowledge sharing and peer learning, a series of VNR-focused activities were launched jointly by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), and the League of Arab States (LAS).
For further details, please refer to the information note.
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[1] These are: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates
League of Arab States, Cairo, Egypt
