SDG-implementation at national level: What's the point of national reports?

The experience of Voluntary National Reviews and of Civil Society shadow (or spotlight) reporting. How it is key for meaningful participation and accountability?
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SDG Wheel
SDG Wheel
SIDE EVENT DURING THE HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2018
WEWORK GRAND CENTRAL, 4TH FLOOR, ROOM 4A, 450 LEXINGTON AVE , NEW YORK 10017
ORGANIZED BY SOCIAL WATCH IN CO-OPERATION WITH ALLIANCE SUD, ARAB NGO NETWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL POLICY FORUM

The national voluntary reporting to the High Level Political Forum of ECOSOC is a practice that has gained traction, as dozens of governments are volunteering each year to participate and contribute their VNRs. A number of CSOs have prepared their own shadow or spotlight reports to follow-up on their governments efforts to implement the 2030-Agenda. Rising inequalities and the need to substantially change policies to achieve the SDGs is a common theme in many of them. Is there a meaningful dialogue between the official and the alternative reports? What is the value of the whole exercise?

The event aims to:

  • share experiences of CSO shadow reports on national implementation; and
  • engage government and CSO-representatives in a discussion on national implementation, CSO participation and accountability

Speakers:

  • Roberto Bissio (Social Watch)
  • Clarisse Sonon (Social Watch-Benin)
  • Ziad Abdel Samad (Arab NGO Network for Development, Lebanon)
  • Iara Pietricovsky (INESC, Brazil)
  • Mark Herkenrath (Alliance Sud, Switzerland)
  • Rene Raja (Social Watch - Philippines)

Comments by:

  • Sakiko Fukuda-Parr (New School)
  • Ambassador Michael Gerber, Swiss Special Envoy for Global Sustainable Development

Download the invitation to this event here (pdf, 70 KB).