Context
The voluntary review mechanism for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development monitors progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the national, regional and global levels. The primary responsibility for review lies with the member states. Governments are encouraged to conduct regular and inclusive reviews, drawing on contributions from civil society, the private sector and the academic community. As the outcome, a national report will be submitted to the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Within the HLPF framework, member states will receive recommendations for follow-up and integration into their national processes for the 2030 Agenda implementation, with a particular focus on reporting on progress in achieving the goals.
For the countries involved, the review process ties up substantial resources and makes heavy demands on national planning and management systems. The United Nations Secretary-General has proposed that all UN Member States should, if possible, participate in the voluntary review at the global level within the HLPF framework on two occasions before 2030. At the same time, the UN Economic Commissions are setting up regional review processes. In short, the review process confronts stakeholders with national, regional and international challenges.
The national review processes are not yet properly established and there is very little experience to draw on. Transnational dialogue at the working level is also very limited, which means that the desired follow-up and review process for reporting on the 2030 Agenda is not yet fully operational.
Objective
The project aims to strengthen national processes for the monitoring and review of progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda through transnational dialogue, culminating in comprehensive reports to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
Approach
Partners for Review will bring together government representatives and stakeholders from civil society, the private sector and academia, who will reflect on and discuss experiences of the review processes and share them with other interested countries. Stakeholder groups which have already participated in a national review will engage in networking with stakeholders lacking this experience, the aim being to facilitate peer learning and dialogue. In learning and dialogue networks, stakeholders will work together to analyse and exchange practical experience gained in a national context. Policy recommendations will also be made, focusing on the development of the review processes both at the national level and within the HLPF framework.
The project engages in two areas of action:
- It establishes a transnational dialogue for Partners for Review. A methodological approach will be developed; the transnational dialogue will be initiated, coordinated and followed up on.
- It addresses the tasks of knowledge management and information sharing by collecting and collating strategies and lessons learned. This supports the development of the national review processes relating to the 2030 Agenda implementation.