REPORT | Data-Driven Voluntary National Reviews - Strengthening national statistical systems for better SDG reporting

This report analyses existing VNR processes and discusses the opportunity and options to introduce the concept of “data-driven VNRs” as a more intentional approach to engage NSOs and the wider NSS in the VNR process, enrich SDG reporting, and strengthen the enabling environment for evidence-informed policy making and programming for the SDGs and beyond.

After a decade of implementing the sustainable development goals (SDGs), countries all over the world continue to face significant data shortfalls across a range of SDG goals and targets. Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) for the SDGs have become an established mechanism to assess progress, exchange best practices, and identify new strategies and solutions to advance SDG implementation across countries. 

However, despite the importance of data and statistics to the VNR process, the full potential of national statistical offices (NSOs), to support the implementation of the SDGs through the provision of data has not yet been reached. 

This report analyses existing VNR processes and discusses the concept of "data-driven VNRs" as a more intentional approach to engage NSOs and other national producers of data and statistics in the VNR process, enrich SDG reporting, and strengthen the enabling environment for evidence-informed policy making and programming for the SDGs and beyond.

Access the PARIS21 report here. 

_{The Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21) aims to improve the production, quality, availability, and use of statistics for informed decision making for sustainable development. It was established in 1999 by the United Nations, the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank as a response to the need for accurate and reliable data to achieve and track progress toward development goals.}