TOWARDS THE LOCALIZATION OF THE SDGs
3.1
Creating ownership: participation of local and regional governments in the preparation of the VNRs
Between 2016 and 2020, 205 VNRs will have been submitted by 168 countries. In 2020, 47 countries have committed to present their VNR: 26 are doing it for the first time, 20 for the second time and one country (Benin) for the third time.1 As highlighted by Table 3.1, LRG participation in the reporting process
has evolved. Compared to previous years, the participation of LRGs in the preparation of VNRs for 2020 has made significant progress: in 55% of the countries, LRGs have been asked to make contributions or have been included in the consultation process (although in some cases the consultation has been rather limited).
Table 3.1
LRG participation in the preparation of the VNRs 2016-2020, by year (1) 2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
TOTAL
Total countries reporting (per year)
22
100%
43
100%
46
100%
47
100%
47
100%
205
100%
Mid/high consultation of LRGs
10
45%
17
40%
21
46%
18
38%
26
55%
92
45%
Weak consultation of LRGs
6
27%
10
23%
7
15%
11
23%
5
11%
39
19%
No consultation of LRGs
6
27%
14
33%
13
28%
10
21%
5
11%
48
23%
2
5%
4
9%
5
11%
8
17%
19
9%
1
2%
3
6%
3
6%
7
3%
No elected LRGs (2) No information available (3)
Source: VNRs and surveys answered by LRGs. In total, 168 countries reported between 2016 and 2020. 1. This table includes revised data for previous years based on information available up to 28 June 2020. Explanation of the categories: 1) Mid/high consultation of LRGs: either through their representative LGAs or through a representative delegation of elected officers, LRGs were invited to participate in the consultation at the national and regional levels (conferences, surveys, meetings); 2) Weak consultation of LRGs: only isolated representatives, but no LGAs or representative delegates participated in the meetings, or the LGAs were only invited to an informative meeting; 3) No consultation of LRGs: there was no invitation or involvement in the consultation process, even though the LGAs were informed of the need to prepare VNRs. 2. No local self-government (“No elected LRGs”) in the countries reporting in 2020: Barbados, Brunei Darussalam, Liberia, Micronesia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, and the Syrian Arab Republic. 3. The VNRs that were not published before 28 June 2020 are: Austria, Libya, Micronesia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago. Of these, LGAs from Austria, Nepal, Slovenia and Trinidad and Tobago responded to the 2020 GTF survey providing concrete information about their involvement in the process.
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