What are the Voluntary National Reviews (still) not telling us?

This paper is the fifth in a series of annual analyses of voluntary national reviews (VNRs) conducted by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) and examines the VNR reports presented at the 2021 High Level Political Forum (HLPF). It consists of an introductory chapter with general conclusions and recommendations for consideration by governments and other stakeholders participating in future VNRs; and follows with a short series of authored thematic chapters. The document revisits issues addressed in the previous editions, such as the pledge to leave no one behind, inequalities, gender equality, COVID-19 and pandemic preparedness, and SDG 17, but also adds a new chapter on the environment. In doing so it identifies issues that are absent or under-reported in the VNRs while critical for the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The overall conclusion is that while there are important improvements and positive developments in the VNRs over time, there remains a significant gap between the ambitions of the 2030 agenda and the policies, strategies and actions reported in the VNRs. The deep transformative change that is envisioned in the agenda and required to meet the SDGs is not evident in the VNRs.