Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) are meant to catalyze sustained implementation of the 2030 Agenda—not end with a presentation at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). Yet civil society experience shows that follow-up mechanisms often weaken once the reporting phase is over.
This interactive side event, convened in the framework of the ECOSOC Partnership Forum 2026, brings together civil society representatives from different regions who were actively engaged in their countries’ 2025 VNRs. One year after the review, speakers will reflect on what happened next:
Which follow-up mechanisms endured—or disappeared?
How were VNR findings integrated into policy and practice?
What role did civil society play in sustaining momentum?
The discussion will highlight concrete examples of post-VNR practices, including continued multi-stakeholder dialogue, independent monitoring, links with Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), and pathways from review to implementation.
Objectives
Exchange experiences of stakeholder engagement in post-VNR follow-up and implementation
Identify good practices and lessons learned across regions
Discuss how inclusive monitoring mechanisms can be institutionalized
Explore links between VNRs, shadow or spotlight reports, and VLRs
Guiding Questions
What formal or informal mechanisms were established after the VNR to continue dialogue and monitoring (e.g. technical committees or working groups with civil society input)?
How have civil society organizations maintained visibility and engagement after the HLPF presentation?
Has the VNR process strengthened advocacy with governments or opened new spaces for dialogue and influence?
What were the key successes, challenges, or missed opportunities in the follow-up phase?
How can lessons from one VNR cycle inform the next, especially in contexts of shrinking civic space?
How have VLRs supported local-level implementation? If no VLR was conducted, could it have addressed gaps in VNR follow-up?
What recommendations would you give to countries preparing for their second or third VNR regarding post-VNR engagement?
Proposed Agenda (60 minutes)
00:00 – 00:05 | Opening & Welcome
Introduction of the theme, objectives, and speakers
00:05 – 00:35 | Panel: Regional Experiences of Post-VNR Follow-up
3–4 speakers (5–7 minutes each)
Africa – Mary Awelana Addah, Co-Chair, Ghana COs Platform on SDGs and Executive Director, Transparency International, Ghana
Asia-Pacific – Akbar Mehfuz Alam, CSO working group, Sightsavers, India
Europe – Marie-Luise Abshagen, Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung, Germany
Latin America & Caribbean – TBC
00:35 – 00:50 | Open Discussion / Q&A
Interactive exchange with participants
00:50 – 00:55 | Key Takeaways & Recommendations
Emerging lessons on sustaining engagement, national follow-up frameworks, and links to VLRs
00:55 – 01:00 | Closing Remarks
Wrap-up and next steps (e.g. summary note, future peer exchange)
Who Should Attend
Civil society organizations, Major Groups and other Stakeholders, government representatives, UN entities, and all partners interested in strengthening accountability and implementation beyond the VNR reporting cycle.