Victoria Falls — Review of the implementation of the 2030 and 2063 Agendas played a central role in the African Regional Forum in Victoria Falls this week. As noted by representatives from Voluntary Local Reviews of progress at national and sub-national levels are critical in ensuring ownership, accountability and commitment of all stakeholders as sub-national governments are most immediately and directly responsible for the actual implementation of programmes and strategies to achieve the targets of Agenda 2030. SDGs must be brought closer to the people, for instance working with cities.
"Mayors have recognized and acknowledge the importance of VLRs, recognizing ECA's ongoing support to some cities and encouraging the expansion of support to more cities to undertake their VLRs, said ECA's Thokozile Ruzvidzo adding, "member states recognize voluntary local reviews as key in ensuring accountability, transparency and public ownership in the implementation of Agendas 2030 and Agenda2063."
To accelerate implementation, however, the Forum agreed that local and regional governments should be fully engaged in the Africa Regional Forums on Sustainable Development. Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR) should also be integrated into the Voluntary National Reviews, based on reliable and consistent local statistics. The local level reviews would improve accountability, transparency and public ownership of the implementation of the 2030 and 2063 Agendas.
Strong partnerships and coordination with local stakeholders was emphasized with a special focus on vulnerable groups, media and existing traditional communication channels. Transforming governance systems through effective devolution of responsibilities and resources was also raised, as well as peer reviews among local authorities to improve implementation, follow up and review of the 2030 and 2063 Agendas.
The UN system present at the Forum was called on to develop a common template for Voluntary Local Reviews for ease of integration and standardization of procedures and design a template for peer-reviewed Voluntary Local Reviews in Africa that are aligned to complement Voluntary National Reviews to better standardize key principles.
The Forum emphasized the need to institutionalize the engagement of youth as key stakeholders for the conduct of Voluntary Local Reviews including through youth and child parliaments and councils. It was also agreed that Member States should integrate, with the assistance of the ECA, local development and urban issues in national development, national budgetary instrument and key economic sector policies.
