A greater effort is required from countries to present quality Voluntary National Reviews

This year, the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) theme is “Building back better from the coronavirus disease while advancing towards the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development”. The event will take place between 5 and 15 July. Seven Latin American and Caribbean countries will present their Voluntary National Reviews on the progress to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. 

Cepei, Action for Sustainable Development, SDG Lab at UN, and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), organized a webinar where they addressed the main themes and activities of the HLPF 2022. Discussions focused on resilient recovery from COVID-19 and how countries will report their progress towards the 2030 Agenda. As well as the SDGs under thematic review and their current status —education, gender equality, life below water, life on land, and partnerships for the Goals—; and the need to present quality Voluntary National Reviews.

“This year, 25% of reporting countries will present their first reports. In Latin America and the Caribbean, Dominica, Grenada, and Suriname will be presenting their first VNRs. These figures show that great efforts are still required from countries to present Voluntary National Reviews that respond to sustainable development challenges. These efforts must be more integrated and systematic since they are at the heart of the VNRs”, stated Javier Surasky, Program Officer, Governance and Finance for Sustainable Development at Cepei.