Strengthening the role of VLRs: connecting local and national reviews through the UN Forum of Mayors

How can Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) move beyond a single reporting exercise and serve as a continuous tool throughout the policy cycle, supporting investment and multilevel governance? In other words: the VLRs as a process.

This question was at the heart of a traditional event organised by the Global Cities Hub, UNECE, UN-Habitat and the Swiss Confederation on 13 October, alongside the 6th UN Forum of Mayors in Geneva. Mayors and other city representatives, national governments, UN bodies and city networks came together to explore a question that becomes increasingly relevant as cities complete their first, or even several, VLRs: what comes next, and what is the path towards implementation?

Voluntary Local Reviews are an important instrument for tracking the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), helping local and regional governments translate the international framework into action on the ground. Over the past decade, an increasing number of VLRs have helped cities demonstrate political commitment to sustainable development, strengthen data and accountability, and increase their national and international visibility. Some are also used as funding tools or to provide an overview of the investments needed for implementation. VLRs can also serve as a structured planning tool and a way to discuss both horizontally with peers but also vertically with the central government, namely connecting to governments’ Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), as mentioned by the representatives of Switzerland and Azerbaijan on the panel.

Experiences from mayors and municipal leaders from Hulu Selangor, Baku, Windhoek and Bristol, as well as city representatives from Al Madinah, Cancún and Strasbourg, illustrated how cities are approaching VLRs in different contexts. The debate quickly extended beyond the panellists, with mayors and other participants taking the floor to share their own experiences and perspectives on how to sustain momentum beyond the VLR process and translate its findings into continued action and impact.

The highly interactive session led to a clear call from participants: VLRs should be given a more prominent place in the official programme of future editions of the UN Forum of Mayors. A more structured discussion as part of the official plenary programme, supported by interpretation, would allow more mayors to participate and could help strengthen links between VLRs and VNRs, through which national governments report on progress towards the SDGs. This could help connect local experiences more closely to national SDG processes. The two-day UN Forum of Mayors was immediately followed by the UNECE Committee on Housing, Urban Development and Land Management, where VLRs were also addressed. This back-to-back format enabled the discussion on VLRs to continue across both settings, providing continuity that could also be relevant for future editions. Building on the interest expressed during the event, the Global Cities Hub is committed to exploring ways to further integrate VLR review and follow-up into the UN Forum of Mayors’ official programme.