A five-pillar framework for integrated assessment of SDG progress

Objective

To provide a more integrated assessment of SDG progress through a pillar-based approach aligned with the Economic Modernisation Vision (2022–2033), which is the overarching development framework of Jordan.

Overview

The 2026 VNR moves beyond a goal-by-goal presentation by reporting progress across all 17 SDGs through five pillars aligned with the country’s main national development framework to promote a more integrated analysis of sustainable development. The pillars are: pillar I on “human capital, inclusion and social protection” (covering SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10); pillar II on “natural resources, resilience and climate action” (covering SDGs 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 and 15); pillar III on “economic modernisation, productivity and jobs” (covering SDGs 8 and 9); pillar IV on “governance, digital transformation and enabling systems” (covering SDGs 16 and 17); and pillar IV on “infrastructure, connectivity and spatial development” (covering SDG 11).
While the overall analytical structure is broadly consistent across the five pillars, the depth of the analysis varies across the SDGs. It is generally more in-depth for SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17, which are under review in 2026.
Each pillar starts with a rationale explaining the grouping of SDGs and their interlinkages, and an overview of progress. The subsequent SDG-level sections mainly review national efforts, including relevant policies, strategies, legislation, institutions and programmes. They highlight key achievements, present boxes showcasing notable initiatives, innovations, reforms and good practices, and identify remaining challenges and priorities for future action. Data are selectively used as evidence to support the analysis.¹
A distinctive feature of the second pillar is its use of the water-energy-food-environment (WEFE) nexus as an analytical lens for discussing SDGs 12 to15, highlighting the interlinkages between climate action, sustainable consumption and production, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.
The second and fifth pillars additionally include a dedicated pillar-level "Path to 2030" section, but with a different focus in each pillar. In the second pillar, the section synthesizes cross-cutting priorities across multiple environmental SDGs, whereas in the fifth pillar, it largely serves as a forward-looking summary of priorities and directions for sustainable urban development.
The five-pillar analysis concludes with two subsections: “Mainstreaming: leave no one behind, gender, climate and digital transformation” and “Cross-pillar interlinkages and synergies”.
•    The first reviews how the four cross-cutting themes (leave no one behind, gender equality, climate change and digital transformation) are mainstreamed across the five pillars and the SDG analysis, highlighting their role as enablers of progress across the SDGs.
•    The second focuses on the relationships between the five pillars and shows how they reinforce one another. It identifies four cross-pillar linkages that are particularly important for national SDG progress leading up to 2030, namely: social protection and human capital development, supporting labour market participation and reducing inequalities; renewable energy investments, strengthening water security and supporting development outcomes; governance quality and digital transformation, enabling investment, implementation and service delivery; and urban infrastructure and spatial development, promoting geographic equity and balanced development.

 

¹The “Annexes” part provides the indicator-level evidence base for the VNR, covering the SDG indicators for which national data are available.