Topic outline

  • This course series is designed to equip learners with the essential knowledge and skills needed to support preparations of the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) for the High-level Political Forum (HLPF).  

    The series covers several core areas, starting with enhancing the ability to conduct evidence-based reviews of SDG progress, and utilizing data analysis and insights to inform future policies and actions. It also delves into integrated assessments and highlights the critical role of VNRs in this process. Emphasis is placed on the importance of partnerships and stakeholder engagement to ensure inclusive and participatory approaches in VNR preparations.  

    Additionally, the series aims to empower participants to advocate for agrifood system transformations as a powerful catalyst for accelerating the implementation of the SDGs.

    This series consists of the following courses:


    Course

    The 2030 Agenda Follow-up and review – Introduction

    This is an introduction to a series of five courses designed to equip learners with the knowledge and skills needed to support preparations for the national, regional, and global follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda, with a focus on the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and the High-level Political Forum (HLPF). 

    10 m

    Course

    Voluntary National Reviews and the High-level Political Forum

    This course focuses on the role of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) in the 2030 Agenda follow-up and review process. It aims to provide a quick review of what VNRs do and do not tell us, and what can and needs to be improved. 

    20 m

    Course

    Initial preparation and organization of Voluntary National Reviews

    This course focuses on the main steps to undertake when preparing Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to ensure a clear understanding of how to effectively prepare the reviews.

    20 m

    Course

    Stakeholder engagement

    This course focuses on stakeholder engagement and how to strengthen multistakeholder participation and inclusion in the 2030 Agenda Follow-up and Review processes.

    25 m

    Course

    Voluntary National Reviews assessment and analysis

    This course focuses on how to assess and analyse the progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards 2030, what are the existing frameworks to support policy analysis, identification of drivers and challenges to progress or lack of it, enabling and policy environments, and steps for the future. 

    30 m

    Course

    Voluntary National Review submission and post-VNR action

    This course focuses on the Voluntary (VNR) submission and why the review of the state of implementation of the 2030 Agenda needs to be forward-looking and identify next steps and post-VNR follow-up action points.

    1 h


    The series of courses concludes with a final test. A digital badge certificate is issued upon successful completion of a final exam that comprises of questions based on the content of all five courses of the series.

    Depending on the interest of learners, the self-paced course series can be completed as a whole, or as individual courses, taken independently.

    Throughout the course series, references are made to specific courses or lessons where certain subjects are covered more extensively. Each course is complemented by exercises and links to additional material, instructive videos and websites for further reading.