Supporting Materials

The Guidelines for Voluntary Local Reviews vol. 1, produced by UCLG and UN-Habitat, aim at showcasing the value of local reporting as much more than a part of the reporting process. These Guidelines provide LRGs with an overview of the current approaches to the VLR exercise. They do so by studying the key elements underpinning the VLR process: a) what institutions and actors are actually being involved in a VLR?; b) where is the VLR process located institutionally in the broader scheme of multilevel governance?; c) what contents are VLRs including, and why?; and d) how are VLRs being made, with what resources and what goals?

The Guidelines for Voluntary Local Reviews vol. 2, also produced by UCLG and UN-Habitat, explore the link between VLRs and Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), a connection that remains largely preliminary and informal, but is essential for achieving the SDGs by 2030. The guidelines demonstrate how VLRs and the global movement around them have revamped multi-level dialogue, increasing the demand for an effective multi-level cooperation and reinforcing the centrality and effectiveness of SDG localization. This volume also showcases growing evidence of the impact of VLRs/VSRs on VNRs and the national monitoring process.

The Guidelines for Voluntary Subnational Reviews, produced by UCLG, provide guidelines for those local and regional government associations that are willing to embark on the project of developing their own VSRs in a way that serves as input for their national VNRs, with the aim of helping to strengthen the localization of the SDGs. It provides the tools necessary to further enhance the potential of VSRs as instruments with which to increase LRG ownership of the 2030 Agenda and other global commitments and to strengthen multi-level and multi-stakeholder dialogue. The Guidelines are meant to be flexible so that each local and regional government association can adapt them to its own needs, objectives, resources and capabilities.

The Action-Oriented Voluntary Local Reviews. A methodology for the partners of UN-Habitat aims to strengthen the anchoring of VLRs within SDG localization and local decision-making processes as well as to the UN’s overall support at country level. The methodology outlines the process for conducting impactful, action-oriented VLRs, sharing valuable lessons learned and available support. The methodology is developed by UN-Habitat in partnership with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and in close coordination with a wide a variety of international partners.

UN DESA’s Global guiding elements for the Voluntary Local Reviews draw from the Secretary-General’s common voluntary guidelines for the VNRs, providing a checklist of issues that could be reflected in the process. The guiding elements aim at providing a low-threshold entry point to VLRs by showcasing a check list of issues that could be addressed. They aim at providing a framework that, building on the SDGs as the common language among all levels of government, enhances the dialogue between VNRs and VLRs and relevant actors at all levels.