ABSTRACT

Voluntary Local Reviews are a flexible and voluntary form of reporting progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local level. Voluntary Local Reviews are the local equivalent of Voluntary National Reviews at national level. However, in contrast to Voluntary National Reviews, Voluntary Local Reviews are not officially included in the United Nations’ governance architecture of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The general idea of Voluntary Local Reviews is to deliver progress towards the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs and to stimulate policy integration at local level, within cities, local and regional governments. Although Voluntary Local Reviews are challenged by a lack of standardized reporting guidelines, as well as the absence of a supra-local institution and peer-review system that gives them legitimacy, they also provide opportunities for peer-learning, capacity-building and international engagement.