Connecting the Dots: Integrating VLRs and VNRs for SDG Reporting
Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2026 Friday, 27 February 2026
A Voluntary Local Review (VLR) is a process through which sub-national governments undertake a voluntary review of their progress towards delivering the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Localising the SDGs or translating the Global Goals into relevant, actionable and attainable priorities at the local level is a vital first step in leveraging action for addressing the multiple interlinked crises and promoting sustainable urban development. The Asia-Pacific Regional VLR Guidelines propose the concept of VLR-VNR integration, i.e., the vertical integration of the two processes around the follow-up and review of the SDGs.
The session will be a dialogue between local and national government representatives, NGOs and UN agencies featuring experiences from cities, implementing agencies, and development partners to identify pathways for institutional integration of VLRs in VNR processes at the national level. It will focus on harmonisation among local and national government agencies for better alignment and integration between VLRs and VNRs. It will explore how Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) can systematically inform and strengthen Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to accelerate SDG localisation and advance multi-level governance that supports the global stock-take of SDG goals.
The session will be led by CDKN Asia in partnership with ICLEI South Asia, UNESCAP, and Male City Council. It will showcase the challenges and opportunities of local governments to develop VLRs that are backed by data and driven by national, local and community priorities. It will highlight the need for national government encouragement for preparation of such VLRs and their possible contributions to national SDG reporting frameworks under ESCAP’s VNR framework.
Agenda:
Timing (ICT) | Programme |
10:30 – 10:35 | Introductory Address Shehnaaz Moosa, Director, CDKN Global |
10:35 – 10:40 | Welcome Address and Moderator’s Note Sara Libera Zanetti, Sustainable Urban Development Advisor, UNESCAP |
10:40 – 11:15 | Panel Discussion on VLR-VNR Integration Speakers: Hon’ble Adam Azim, Mayor, Male City Council, Maldives Representative from Indian city Representative from Fiji Bedoshruti Sadhukhan, Programme Coordinator CDKN Asia and Associate Director, ICLEI South Asia |
11:15 – 11:30 | Question & Answer Session |
For any questions or clarification regarding the session, please write to Bedoshruti Sadhukhan at shruti.sadhukhan@iclei.org