Press Release

Amid pressing crises, UN convenes global workshop to foster collaboration and action for SDG implementation

04 December 2023

From the Caribbean, Belize will present its Voluntary National Review (VNR) of national implementation of the SDGs in 2024.

Against the backdrop of global crises, the recently concluded 2023 SDG Summit and the ongoing COP28 deliberations, government officials from around the world have begun the first Global Workshop for the 2024 Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 4-5 December 2023. The Workshop is organized by  the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and hosted by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

This significant event provides a platform for countries preparing their VNRs at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July 2024. It serves as an important space for sharing experiences and knowledge among countries, as well as addressing specific issues and challenges to the VNR preparation.

This event also raises awareness among government officials on the importance of monitoring progress and integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into national plans and policies. Officials from finance ministries, statistical offices, planning and sectoral and other ministries and institutions engaged in the VNR at national level are participating in the Global Workshop.

44 countries to assess their progress

This year, 44 countries, both developed and developing, will present their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) of national implementation of the SDGs. The VNRs seek to strengthen policies and institutions of governments and to mobilize multi-stakeholder support and engagement for the implementation of the SDGs.

The 2024 VNR countries are: Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belize, Brazil, Chad, Colombia, Congo (Republic of the), Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Georgia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federal States of), Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Palau, Peru, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, State of Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

For more information on the VNRs: https://hlpf.un.org/vnrs

About the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)

The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is the central global forum to provide political leadership, guidance, and recommendations on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were unanimously adopted by world leaders in September 2015. The Forum provides an opportunity for countries, civil society organizations and businesses to highlight the efforts they are taking to achieve the SDGs and to engage in mutual learning through the exchange of ideas and best practices.

For more information: https://hlpf.un.org/2024

Media contact:

Paul Simon| UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs | T: +1 (917) 367-5027| E: simonp@un.org

UN entities involved in this initiative

RCO
United Nations Resident Coordinator Office
UN DESA
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
UN
United Nations

Goals we are supporting through this initiative