The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), says voluntary national and local reviews helped countries to assess the progress made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.

Morsi said Voluntary National and Local Reviews, also called VNRs and VLRs, mobilised stakeholders also on the challenges that need to be addressed.

 

The deputy executive secretary said the reviews were powerful tools to promote sustainable development in Africa.

 

“What VNRs and VLRs are revealing now, is that a concerted re-focus on our sustainable development goals is needed in order to meet the aspirations of the two agenda.”

 

She, however, said Africa had countless examples of adaptable and effective measures to take to progress toward the SDGs and African Union Agenda 2063, amid its challenges.

 

“We will delve into greater detail on these trends and importantly the responses to them at national and local levels. 

 

“This sharing of best practices and peer dialogue on VNRs and VLRs is revealed as one of the key added values of this workshop.

 

”As it falls directly at the mid-way point between starting the National Review process, and the presentation of VNRs at the High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development in July,” she said.

 

The commission congratulated the countries currently undertaking the voluntary national reviews, and also the cities and municipalities undertaking local reviews across the continent.

 

According to Morsi, UNECA is pleased to continue to support VLRs across the region and harness the regional VLR Guidelines.

 

The guidelines was developed in cooperation with UN-Habitat and United Cities and Local Governments of Africa.

 

“Your earnest reflection on your VNR and VLR processes are critical to help us collectively identify how we can push our sustainable development forward. 

 

“As usual, we will count on your engagement with one another and your critical feedback,” she said.