“Road to New York”: How the United Nations System Supported an Inclusive and Localized Process for Senegal’s 2026 Voluntary National Review

A few days before presenting its third Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, Senegal—through the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Planning and the Directorate General for Planning and Economic Policies (DGPPE)—can look back on a remarkable process built on dialogue, inclusion and the participation of all sustainable development stakeholders.

Throughout this journey to New York, the United Nations in Senegal has supported the Government through technical, methodological and financial assistance aimed at strengthening the inclusiveness of the process, improving SDG data availability and promoting the localization of Agenda 2030 monitoring.

This support helped make the 2026 VNR a national accountability exercise grounded in evidence, citizen participation and the principle of “Leaving No One Behind.”

VNR 2026 by the Numbers

Source: Senegal’s Third Voluntary National Review Report

• More than 1,800 participants mobilized through the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) process in the City of Pikine.
• 2,400 households surveyed to assess SDG progress at the local level.
• 92.99% of SDG indicators monitored through the national harmonized framework.
• 69.74% of SDG indicators reported in accordance with the global SDG methodology.
• More than 100,000 Equal Opportunity Cards produced for persons with disabilities.
• First-ever comprehensive Voluntary Local Review (VLR) conducted in Pikine as a contribution to the national VNR.

A Process Driven by the Principle of “Leaving No One Behind”

At the heart of the United Nations’ support was a clear ambition: ensuring that every voice counts and that groups traditionally underrepresented in planning processes could contribute to assessing Senegal’s progress toward the SDGs.

The process engaged the UN Economists Group in Senegal, sectoral ministries, local authorities, civil society organizations, the private sector, trade unions, universities, research centers, youth organizations, women’s associations, older persons’ organizations and organizations of persons with disabilities.

One of the highlights was the organization of a workshop specifically dedicated to persons with disabilities, with support from Sightsavers and the United Nations System in Senegal. Bringing together persons representing all forms of disability in a fully accessible environment, the workshop enabled participants to directly contribute to the assessment of Senegal’s progress toward the SDGs.

The United Nations System also supported a two-day workshop with civil society organizations, with support from UNFPA, leading to the finalization and validation of the civil society shadow report and ensuring that citizens’ perspectives and recommendations were reflected in the national process.

SDG Localization: One of Senegal’s Key Strengths

One of the defining features of the 2026 VNR has been its strong focus on SDG localization.

With support from UN-Habitat, Senegal strengthened the integration of local authorities into the monitoring of Agenda 2030 through Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs). The City of Pikine was selected as a pilot municipality to test a local approach to SDG monitoring and develop an ambitious territorial roadmap.

The process mobilized elected local officials, decentralized government services, regional development agencies, community-based organizations, youth, women, persons with disabilities and actors from the informal sector.

In total, 1,843 people participated in territorial consultations conducted as part of Pikine’s VLR. Supported by UN-Habitat, the process also relied on a survey of 2,400 households and the Subnational SDG Index developed by the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD) to identify key local development gaps.

This experience also enabled Senegal to bring the voice of local territories into regional and international platforms, notably at the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) in Addis Ababa, where Senegal and the City of Pikine presented their progress on SDG localization.

The Importance of Data for Genuine Inclusion

Leaving no one behind also requires the ability to identify the most vulnerable populations.

Beyond stakeholder consultations, the United Nations System supported the strengthening of the national SDG monitoring and evaluation framework. This assistance contributed to improving the availability and use of disaggregated data, making it possible to better identify those left behind and document territorial, gender and disability-related inequalities.

According to the 2026 VNR, nearly 93% of SDG indicators are now tracked within Senegal’s national harmonized framework, while 69.74% are reported according to internationally agreed methodologies. These achievements constitute a major asset for evidence-based policymaking.

A Partnership for the 2030 Agenda

Coordinated by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Cooperation, with support from the United Nations System, the preparation of the 2026 VNR illustrates the power of partnerships for sustainable development.

The United Nations System also supported the production and use of gender-responsive statistics through initiatives such as UN Women’s Women Count Programme. These efforts improved data availability on gender-based violence, women’s economic empowerment and the distribution of unpaid domestic work, strengthening the monitoring of SDG 5 on Gender Equality.

Innovations Driving SDG Acceleration

The 2026 VNR process also highlighted several innovations contributing to the acceleration of SDG implementation.

These include the Subnational SDG Index developed by ANSD, the Voluntary Local Reviews supported by UN-Habitat, and the Investor Map, designed to guide private investment toward sustainable development priorities.

Together, these tools strengthen public policy planning, SDG localization and the mobilization of financing for Agenda 2030.

Road to New York: The Next Steps for Senegal’s 2026 VNR

Senegal’s journey toward the United Nations High-Level Political Forum continues on the international stage.

On 30 June 2026, Senegal participated in the virtual technical meeting of the Africa Day at the HLPF, alongside other African countries presenting Voluntary National Reviews this year. The meeting provided an opportunity to share Senegal’s experience in stakeholder inclusion, SDG localization and institutional coordination.

A Journey Beyond Reporting

As Senegal heads toward New York, the country is demonstrating that a Voluntary National Review can be much more than a reporting exercise.

It can become a powerful tool for dialogue, mobilization and transformation, grounded in reliable data, strong partnerships and active citizen participation.

The experience of the 2026 VNR shows that accelerating progress toward the SDGs requires simultaneous action on three key fronts:

• Inclusion of the most vulnerable populations;
• Localization of sustainable development policies and actions;
• Strengthening data systems to monitor both progress and inequalities.

This is the experience Senegal will bring to New York: an Agenda 2030 shaped by territories, citizens and strengthened partnerships.

The road to New York continues.

Key Dates | Road to New York