Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of Nepal handed over Peoples' Perspectives and Recommendations on Voluntary National Review (VNR) 2020
On behalf of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of Nepal, Nepal SDGs Forum handed over civil society perspectives and recommendations for Voluntary National Review (VNR) 2020 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to National Planning Commission (NPC) today, 10 June 2020. Vice-Vice Chairperson of NPC Hon. Prof. Dr. Puspa Raj Kadel and Member of NPC Hon. Mr. Min Bahadur Shahi received the report.
Earlier, the recommendations were virtually presented to the NPC on 7 June 2020 in the presence of the Vice Chairperson of NPC Prof. Dr. Puspa Raj Kadel, Member of NPC Mr. Min Bahadur Shahi, Program Director of NPC Dr. Narayan Prasad Poudel, and development expert and Government's VNR report coordinator Mr Gyan Chandra Acharya. Conveners, co-conveners, major groups, advisors and other stakeholders associated with Nepal SDGs Forum participated in this virtual meeting.
Many individuals and organizations contributed directly and indirectly to this report. This document is an outcome of the various subnational and national levels of discussions and consultations held by various CSOs mainly the conveners, co-conveners and thematically focused contributors. Many organizations focused on various goals, indicators and themes have contributed to developing this national report. As the national secretariat of Nepal SDGs Forum, NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN) coordinated and facilitated these processes, compiled information through consultations, written inputs, online questionnaire, etc.
The annual VNR process comprises the mechanism through which progress against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is reviewed at both national and international levels. The review is intended to track progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda, including the SDGs and targets, identify gaps and utilize the lessons for actions. The VNR aims to capture the universal and integrated nature of SDGs and all dimensions of sustainable development.
The submitted document highlights the need for reassessment of SDGs in the context of Covid-19, points out the lack of baseline and disaggregated data in order to ensure leaving no one behind, emphasizes qualitative changes, points out the inadequate awareness, localization and institutional capacity building for the implementation of SDGs, and also underscores the need for coordination, collaboration, harmonization and resource mobilization for SDGs. The civil society submission analyzed the gaps and challenges on SDGs and made 36 recommendations.
This submission to NPC was a summary of challenges and recommendations necessary for accelerating the SDGs. However, the detailed report on civil society perspectives and analyses of the SDGs is underway and will be published by the end of June 2020.
10 June 2020
On Behalf of Nepal SDGs Forum
Jit Ram Lama
President
NGO Federation of Nepal
