On the margins of the 2026 Partnership Forum, ECE-RCEM, together with Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) and Together 2030, convened a side event focused on a frequently overlooked phase of the SDG review cycle: what happens after the Voluntary National Review (VNR).
While stakeholder engagement during VNR preparation has received increasing attention, far less focus is placed on post-VNR follow-up and the extent to which civil society continues to be involved once the review concludes. The side event brought together civil society representatives from Ghana, India, and Germany, all of whom were directly engaged in their countries’ 2025 VNR processes, to reflect on progress, challenges, and emerging practices.
Ghana: Structured Follow-Up and Institutional Anchoring
Mary Awelana Addah, Co-Chair, Ghana COs Platform on SDGs and Executive Director, Transparency International, Ghana shared Ghana’s experience, highlighting several encouraging developments following the VNR. These include the adoption of an implementation work plan, increased budget allocations—particularly in health and education—and proactive media engagement aimed at raising public awareness of the SDGs. A key enabling factor for follow-up, she emphasized, is the SDG Implementation Coordinating Committee, which includes formal civil society representation and provides an institutional entry point for continued engagement beyond the review year.
India: Constituency-Based Advocacy and Policy Gains
Akbar Mehfuz Alam, CSO working group, Sightsavers, India presented India’s experience, emphasizing a constituency-based approach that actively involved disability organizations, farmers’ groups, and youth constituencies. This approach has led to tangible policy outcomes, including the integration of 13 disability-inclusive indicators into the national SDG framework and the introduction of SDG-linked budgeting in several states. At the same time, he underlined the need for stronger facilitation by UN Country Offices to support alliance-building among civil society actors and sustain engagement after the VNR.
Germany: Strong Participation, Weak Political Follow-Through
Marie-Luise Abshagen, Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung, Germany offered a more critical perspective from Germany. While stakeholder engagement during the VNR process itself was assessed as relatively strong, she noted that the SDGs are currently not a political priority. Reduced development funding, unclear institutional responsibilities for follow-up, and the absence of a coherent post-VNR mechanism were highlighted as key challenges. Nevertheless, civil society remains active—particularly in linking SDG implementation discussions with debates on the post-2030 agenda.
Key Takeaways
Across all three country contexts, the discussion underscored that meaningful stakeholder engagement must extend beyond the VNR moment. Institutionalized mechanisms, political commitment, access to information, and sustained civil society coordination are critical to ensuring that VNRs translate into concrete implementation and accountability.
Watch the full recording of the side event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z5vArXQeaA
