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FAO and the 2030 Agenda Follow-Up and Review

2030 Agenda follow-up and review

As the lead UN agency responsible for food security and the custodian of 21 SDG indicators, as well as a contributor to further five, FAO plays an active role in the national, regional, and global follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda.

At the global level, FAO participates in the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF), which serves as the main platform for reviewing SDG progress. At the regional level, FAO contributes to the Regional Fora for Sustainable Development (RF4SD) which convene key stakeholders to discuss both achievements and challenges. At the national level, FAO provides support for Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), which allow countries to review their SDG progress, share lessons learned and identify opportunities for improvement.

The Office of Sustainable Development Goals guides FAO’s participation in these processes and has developed a toolkit of resources for countries and regions in their preparation, engagement and follow-up actions at all levels.

 

2026 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)

The 2026 HLPF, under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council, will be held from 7-15 July, in New York, convening under the theme “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all”.

It will conduct an in-depth review of:

 SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

 SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

 SDG 9  - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
 SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
 SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

FAO is actively engaged in the preparatory process for the 2026 HLPF, providing technical inputs and participating in discussions in the various forums and meetings, as well as supporting coordination at the highest levels for its success. Throughout its engagement, FAO emphasizes the centrality of agrifood systems transformation for the achievement of all SDGs, showcasing innovative solutions and policy recommendations.

 

 

Preparatory Milestones

Leading up to the HLPF, FAO participates in global milestones that shape the Forum's agenda and provide technical inputs for the analysis of the SDGs under review. These include the ECOSOC Partnership Forum, ECOSOC Coordination Segment, Expert Group Meetings (EGMs) on the SDGs under review as well as further specialized Forums and Summits, among others. These events, along with inputs from the Regional Fora for Sustainable Development (RFSD), ensure the HLPF is informed by diverse perspectives and actionable insights.


2026 ECOSOC Partnership Forum and Coordination Forum

27 – 29 January 2026

Expert Group Meeting on SDG 11

20 – 21 January 2026

Expert Group Meeting on SDG 6

26 January 2026 

Commission for Social Development

2–10 February 2026

Expert Group Meeting on SDG 9

23 - 24 February 2026

Expert Group Meeting on SDG 7

25 - 26 March 2026

ECOSOC Youth Forum

14 – 16 April 2026

2026 Financing for Development Forum

20 – 24 April 2026

Multistakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals

6 – 7 May 2026

ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment

17–19 June 2026

Regional Fora for Sustainable Development

The HLPF is informed by the outcomes of five Regional Fora for Sustainable Development (RFSD), which are convened by the five UN Regional Commissions. These fora serve as platforms for sharing regional experiences, progress, and challenges, while identifying concrete policy solutions for the SDGs under review. 

Read more about FAO engagement in each of the Regional Fora for Sustainable Development:

 
Voluntary National Reviews and Voluntary Local Reviews

Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) are central mechanisms for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

VNRs are voluntary reports carried out annually by UN Member States and presented at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the main global platform for reviewing SDG progress. VLRs allow cities, municipalities and regional governments to review their own progress towards the SDGs, reinforcing SDG implementation at all levels of governance.

FAO provides support to Members and other actors for VNR and VLR preparation and has developed tailored resources to support the follow-up and review process of the 2030 Agenda at national and local levels from the perspective of agrifood systems transformation. Read more about these resources here. 

 

Read more about FAO's engagement in previous HLPF cycles
FAO at HLPF 2025

The 2025 Session of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was held from Monday, 14 July, to Wednesday, 23 July 2025.

Insight
FAO at HLPF 2024

The 2024 Session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was held from Monday, 8 July, to Wednesday, 17 July 2024

2024 Expert Group Meeting on SDG 2

The 2024 HLPF conducted an in-depth review of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). In collaboration with UN DESA’s Division for Sustainable Development Goals, FAO organized an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) in March 2024 to take stock of where we are in terms of progress towards the SDG targets, to consider interlinkages with other SDGs and opportunities to leverage synergies and minimize trade-offs; to share knowledge about success stories, good practices and challenges; to identify particular areas of concern; and to suggest ways forward in terms of policies, partnerships and coordinated actions at all levels.  Read more about the outcomes of the 2024 Expert Group Meeting for SDG 2 here.