Libraries in Voluntary National Reviews of SDG Implementation (2022)

Abstract

This week at the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York, 45 Member States are presenting their Voluntary National Reviews of implementation of the 2030 Agenda – the UN’s roadmap for sustainable development from 2016 to 2030. These reviews are a key part of the mechanisms within the Agenda to ensure its effectiveness, both through encouraging countries to set out their progress and receive questions from their peers and civil society internationally, and by providing an opportunity for collective reflection domestically.

When done well, they are built on a wide-ranging review of the current situation, in turn based on widespread consultation with all actors involved in realising sustainable development, including of course libraries. They can also identify useful steps for the future, again potentially relating to libraries. IFLA has previously analysed published Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), starting with an overview of those published in 2016-2020, followed by a 2021 update. This article extends this work into 2022.