Pacific VNR Connect- Marshall Islands CSO Perspective

 Pacific VNR Connect – Marshall Islands CSO Perspective

 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon (Fiji and RMI time) each day from the 27-29 January, 2021
In-person at the MICNGOs Secretariat and virtually via Zoom.

Background
The Voluntary National Review (VNR) is a yearly exercise whereby countries review their ‘national development goals and targets; assess  and strengthen the adequacy of national policies and institutions; and mobilize multi-stakeholder support for the achievement of the Global Goals, enhancing awareness around the SDGs.’[1] The VNR which normally takes place during the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development is envisioned to be voluntary, state-led, undertaken by both developed and developing countries, and provide a platform for partnerships, including through the participation of major groups and other relevant stakeholders including Non Government Organisation. ‘The VNRs enable the sharing of successful experiences, challenges faced and lessons learned; more meaningful when it is inclusive, participatory, and transparent including a thorough review process at both national and sub-national levels.’[2] According to the VNR Guidelines should:

• Be open, inclusive, participatory, support reporting by all relevant stakeholders
• Be people-oriented, gender-sensitive, respect human rights, and have a particular focus on the poorest, most vulnerable
• Maintain a longer-term orientation, identify achievements, challenges, gaps, and critical success factors
• Help to mobilize the necessary means of implementation and partnership.

 
 
In the Pacific, Samoa (participated twice 2016 and 2020), Australia, Kiribati (2018), East Timor, Fiji, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, Vanuatu,(2019), Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, (2020) have all participated in the VNR. Marshall Islands will be partipating in the VNR in July, 2021.
 
The theme of the 2021 High-level Political Forum (HLPF) is “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: Building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”.  In line with its theme, the 2021 HLPF will review SDGs 1 on no poverty, 2 on zero hunger, 3 on good health and well-being, 8 on decent work and economic growth, 10 on reduced inequalities, 12 on responsible consumption and production, 13 on climate action, 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions, and 17 on partnerships in depth all in the context of COVID 19.  
 
In the case of the Marshall Islands there VNR will be aligned with there National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2020-2030. Which has contextualized the SDGs to the local level. Through the NSP the government has established a National SDGs Committee, where MICNGOs along with the Government and other stakeholders sit. Also when the Government volunteered for the VNR it also began funding MICNGOs. Which saw the establishement of the SDG Unit with 3 staff. The role that MICNGOs is playing is that of playing a complimentary role to the Government very importantly providing data to substainiate the VNR report.
 
PIANGO and our National Liason Unit’s (NLU’s) continue to be involved in the SDGs,  focusing on NLU’s effective participation alongside their governments in the spirit of the principles of development effectiveness. PIANGO also provides capacity strengthening, support for national CSO contribution, contribution, assistance in preparing and presenting official interventions allowing for participation in the HLPF.
 
However, the impact of COVID 19 will hinder some of the support.  Therefore PIANGO with the support of its partners intends to hold a virtual Pacific VNR Connect – A focus on the Marshall Islands.
 
Rationale
The purpose of the VNR Connect is to strengthen collaboration between MICNGOs with its constituents, government and relevant stakeholders to further digress on the National plans and how it is linked to the VNR. VNR Connect intends to enhance the understanding of the SDGs and the VNR process for Marshallese CSOs through peer to peer learning.
 
The event will also provide a platform for exchanges and sharing of experiences from resource personnel at the global and regional level – connecting ion virtually.
 
The Objectives of this event is to ;
 

1. Assist MICNGOs in coming together collectively to be able to agree to standard process and outcome for the VNR and come up with HLPF 2021 plan.
2. Support MICNGOs to contructively contribute to the Marshall Islands VNR through the data collected so far through the MICNGOs SDG team from the ground.
3. MICNGOs to have better understanding and clarity of the VNR processes and activities leading to and during the HLPF.
4. To capacity strengthen the Marshall Islands CSOs by Action For Sustainable Development (A4SD) on its SDGs scoreboard.

 
 
Expected Outcomes
Expected outcomes are:

• MICNGOs having an action plan towards the HLPF,
• Enhance their understanding of their National plan and how it is linked to the SDGs and VNR
• Strengethened collaboration amongst NGOs and government
• Report on the proceedings plus plan of action.

 
 
Methodology
 
The modality used for the Pacific VNR Connect will be: 
 

1. Through Talanoa;

1. Hear the local (community stories)
2. Exchange and discuss the best ways means to be able to amplify local stories to global levels.
3. Hear the stories from the past HLPF experiences and lessons learned from PIANGO other PIANGO NLUs having participated already.
4. A capacity strengthening training on the SDG Scoreboard by Action For Sustainable Development (A4SD).
5. Preview the A4SD draft Toolkit on National SDGs Monitoring for 2021

 
 
Participants
 
By invitation:

1. MICNGOs and its members;
2. PIANGO NLUs;
3. PIANGO Partners; and 
4. PIANGO Secretariat.

 
Further Information and Registration
 
The Pacific VNR Connect will take place in both a “set-location” and “virtual” modality from 27-29 January 2021.