KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Jamaica has been lauded for undertaking a voluntary national review (VNR) to support local implementation of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This praise comes from Economic Affairs Officer, UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Anya Thomas, who said Jamaica will be reporting on its progress to the organisation’s High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in 2018.

She was speaking during the recent four-day Vulnerability Resilience Country Profile (VRCP) Workshop hosted by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) at Hotel Four Seasons in St Andrew.

VNRs aim to accelerate the 2030 Agenda’s implementation by facilitating the sharing of experiences, including successes, challenges and lessons learned by UN Member States.

They also seek to strengthen Governments’ policies and institutions and mobilise multi-stakeholder support and partnerships for the SDGs’ implementation.

The HLPF is the UN’s central platform for follow-up and review of the Agenda and SDGs.

Thomas noted that Jamaica will be the second CARICOM Member State to report to the HLPF; Belize is the other.

She congratulated Jamaica for its leadership displayed so far in planning for the SDG’s implementation and its willingness to engage the VRCP methodology to support ongoing planning processes.

Thomas also gave the UNDESA undertaking to support Jamaica’s implementation of the SDGs.

The 2030 Agenda sets out 17 SDGs and their 169 targets which comprise a comprehensive plan of action to eradicate poverty and ensure sustainable development.

The VRCP facilitates a robust planning process that is evidence-based and supported by data underpinning monitoring and evaluation at the national, regional and global levels.

Information from the UN indicates that the 2030 Agenda encourages Member States to “conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven” as part of its follow-up and review mechanisms. These national reviews are expected to serve as a basis for the regular reviews by the HLPF.

Governments are expected to take ownership of and establish national frameworks for the achievement of the SDGs.

Countries have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review of the progress made in the goals’ implementation, which will require quality, accessible and timely data collection.

Jamaica’s National Development Plan, Vision 2030, is the country’s strategic road map to guide the achievement of its goal of sustainable development and prosperity within 13 years.

Vision 2030 Jamaica is consistent with the UN’s inclusive development paradigm that integrates the standards and principles of human rights – participation, non-discrimination and accountability.

The Plan seeks to reposition and transform Jamaica as the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.

The VRCP was first introduced in Jamaica as a pilot in 2014. Jamaica is one of three Caribbean countries benefitting from this initiative; the others are Barbados and Saint Lucia.