Voluntary National Reviews

Voluntary National Reviews are a core element of the follow-up and review process for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as mandated by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (para. 79). These reports are the basis for the annual review in the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Every year, about 30 to 40 countries submit reports and make short presentations to facilitate mutual learning. The contents are summarized in an annual synthesis report prepared by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. As of 2023, 189 member states had submitted at least one Voluntary National Review and many countries submitted two or more. The United States and Myanmar were among the few countries which had not participated in this reporting exercise (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2023).