Nepal presented its Voluntary National Review (VNR) regarding the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, currently in session under the auspices of the United National Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc) in New York, on Monday.  

National Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Min Bahadur Shrestha presented the VNR as the leader of the Nepali delegation at the HLPF’s ministerial segment, which opened on Monday, said Nepal’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York in a press statement. 

Vice-Chairman Shrestha stated that the country’s expected high economic growth of seven percent in fiscal year 2016-17 may be the beginning of a key turnaround for Nepal’s development, the statement added. “Shrestha also highlighted Nepal’s ambitious and rights-based constitution as the overarching guide to sustainable development, and underlined the importance of forging strong partnerships at the national, regional and international levels and among multiple stakeholders for its implementation.”

In this regard, Shrestha said, SDGs are being integrated into national plans and programmes. 

The HLPF is the central platform of the United Nations for providing political leadership, guidance and recommendations for the implementation and follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda. “Despite gaps and challenges, Nepal wishes to swiftly complete the unfinished agenda of MDGs, and step up its efforts to achieve the SDGs, building on the encouraging gains made so far,” said Shrestha. “He also updated the forum about Nepal’s plans across different goals and targets and informed that SDG codes are assigned to all programmes under the national budget, among other things.”

VNR is a mechanism through which member states showcase their progress in achieving SDGs, as well as the gaps and challenges facing them. This is the second HLPF after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in 2015.