The 3rd Voluntary National Review 2024

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development with its
associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a global initiative to eradicate Poverty,
protect the Planet and People, and ensure universal Peace and Prosperity by 2030 through
global solidarity and Partnerships. Comprising 17 ambitious, transformative, and universal
Goals, these SDGs consist of 169 targets and 232 indicators, providing a comprehensive
framework to guide national and local development strategies.

The core principles of the SDGs emphasize the necessity of simultaneous progress in health,
education, inequality reduction, economic growth, climate change mitigation, and the
preservation of oceans and forests across the three dimensions of Economic Growth, Social
Inclusion and Economic Growth. In this context, the SDGs emphasize sustainability as a central
theme, recognizing the imperative of integrating environmental, social, and economic
considerations.

The United Nations Member States governments are expected to take ownership and establish
national frameworks for achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Recognizing this, the
Government of Uganda, under the leadership of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has,

• developed a coordination framework in 2016 to guide the implementation of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda,
• submitted two Voluntary National Review (VNR) reports in 2016 and 2020, demonstrating its commitment to the SDGs,
• developed SDG Localization Guidelines and adopted the Voluntary Local Reviews,
• engaged civil society, youth, private sector, development partners under different umbrella platforms on the SDGs,
• mainstreamed the SDGs into the Comprehensive National Development Plans,
• developed SDG Progress Reports including the 2021 Progress Report and the 2023 Midterm SDG Progress Review Report.

In September 2023, Uganda’s delegation led by the Rt. Hon Prime Minister participated in the
United Nations SDG Summit and submitted Uganda’s SDG National Commitments and SDG
acceleration and transformation plan that had been developed and approved by Uganda’s
Cabinet in response to the UN Secretary General’s call for a rescue plan, outlining its focus for
the next seven years up to 2030. These commitments will serve as a guiding framework for
inclusive and sustainable development. These Commitments include;

• Building resilience and Leaving No One Behind through the inclusive Parish Development Model,
• Accelerating inclusive actions for SDG Financing, Trade and Investments,
• Accelerating inclusive actions to leverage the advantages of Science, Technology, and
• Innovations,
• Accelerating inclusive economic and social development through climate change adaptation and mitigation,
• Accelerating Efforts to harness the full potential of data to improve the lives of all Ugandans and
• Accelerating the Strengthening of SDG Coordination and service delivery mechanisms.

1.2  The 12th Session of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF)
In July 2024, the 12th session of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) will convene in New
York as the primary UN platform for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development. The HLPF serves as a crucial forum for providing political
leadership, guidance, and recommendations to integrate the Economic, Social, and
Environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Under the auspices of the United
Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC), the HLPF will take place from July 8 to
July 17, 2024 under the theme “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in
times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative
solutions.” During this period, the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) will play a pivotal role in
facilitating the exchange of experiences, including successes, challenges, and lessons learned,
to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. These reviews aim to strengthen
government policies and institutions while mobilizing multi-stakeholder support and partnerships
for SDG implementation.

Among the 44 selected countries, Uganda will feature in the ministerial segment of the forum
and present her third Voluntary National Review (VNR) Report at the HLPF in July 2024, a
process that will enable the country identify special challenges, share best practices and
benchmark solutions for the accelerated delivery on the SDGs through rigorous review of the
local, national, regional and global dimensions on the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient
and innovative solutions regarding the SDGs.

1.3  SDGs for an In-depth Review at the 12th Session of the HLPF in 2024.
This year’s HLPF will focus on the following goals.

1. Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
3. Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
4. Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
5. Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

Additionally, Uganda’s third VNR 2024 will review all the 17 SDGs and the 2023 SDG National
Commitments made at the UN Summit in September 2023.

1.4  Objectives of VNR 2024
The main objective is to provide Uganda’s progress on SDGs and Government’s commitment to
accelerating delivery on the 2030 Agenda. Specifically, the VNR ;

1. Will provide an in-depth analysis of progress of SDGs
2. Will showcase Uganda’s actions and initiatives that address the Leaving No One Behind gaps and inclusive sustainable development.