Why this compendium
Over the past years, countries around the world, including Arab countries, have gained considerable knowledge and expertise, and have drawn valuable lessons from experiences in VNRs. There has been several international initiatives to document those experiences and prepare manuals and reference materials, such as reports and databases by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) aimed at compiling experiences in specific elements of the VNRs.
However, most of these published documents are not available in Arabic and do not adequately cover the experiences of Arab countries. They are also usually based on desk research that does not involve the participation of countries.
Against this backdrop, the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) launched a workstream to compile good VNR practices from Arab countries and document them in an electronic database, with the aim of disseminating good practices acquired from previous cycles to inform and guide countries preparing VNRs in the future.
Focal points in official institutions responsible for following up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the Arab countries have played a key role in providing the information on good practices detailed herein.
What is a good VNR practice?
A good practice is an approach, procedure or tool used by a Government at any stage of the VNR (conducting the review, preparing the content of its report, presenting its findings during the HLPF, or following up on its outcome post-VNR), which has achieved a tangible benefit and is in compliance with the guidelines for follow-up and review processes set forth in paragraph 74 of the 2030 Agenda.
The guidelines state that the follow-up and review shall be guided by the following principles:
• They will be people-centred and gender sensitive, and respect human rights.
• They will leave no one behind, with a particular focus on the poorest and most vulnerable.
• They will respect the universal, integrated and interrelated nature of the SDGs and the three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental).
• They will help to mobilize the necessary means of implementation and partnerships.
• They will support participatory and transparent reporting.
• They will minimize the reporting burden on national administrations.
• They will be rigorous and based on evidence.