As part of its monitoring and review mechanisms, the 2030 Agenda encourages member states to conduct periodic and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and subnational levels, which are led by countries. The presentations of these national reviews are an essential part of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). As specified in the 2030 Agenda, the voluntary national reviews (VNR) presented during the HLPF are led by member states, carried out by both developed and developing countries, and provide a platform for partnerships, including through participation and interaction with major groups and other relevant actors and stakeholders.

The objective of the VNR is then to facilitate the exchange of experiences among peers, including successes, challenges and lessons learned, with a view to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The VNR is also a valuable mechanism to coordinate and strengthen the policies and institutions of governments and mobilize multi-stakeholder support and build partnerships for the implementation of the SDGs.