2018 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development: Armenia

The Republic of Armenia is presenting its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development this July.

The VNR presents the progress and experience gained by the Republic of Armenia in so far during the nationalization and implementation process of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. It also aims to deliver and reflect on political, legal, practical and behavioral advantages, as well as obstacles and challenges in Armenia`s daily life regarding the implementation of the SDGs. Undoubtedly, the process confirms the crosscutting and broad ranging nature of the exercise that most probably will go beyond 2030 and require concerted efforts and commitment at both national and international levels.

The VNR is reflecting on the evolution of the build-up in Armenia towards the implementation of the SDGs since 2015.

The main messages of the VNR are as follows:

• The Government of the Republic of Armenia reconfirms its adherence to the implementation of the SDGs agreed at the UN milestone summit in 2015 when the international community collectively pledged that No one will be left behind
• The Government of the Republic of Armenia approaches the implementation of the UN SDGs as one of the important instruments of delivering the all-encompassing internal reforms initiated in Armenia
• Since 2015, the country has actively worked on creating the necessary infrastructure for the implementation of the SDGs as a matter of institutional and systemic approach towards the SDGs implementation (National Council of Sustainable Development under the Prime Minister of the RA, SDG Nationalization Inter-agency task force, Armenia National SDG Innovation Lab - an innovation platform to support the UN SDGs implementation at country level. This is the first in a kind innovation model in the world where the National Government and the UN are joining forces to establish a joint platform to support the acceleration and implementation of the SDGs in a country.). Global metadata of relevant documentation on all indicators has been developed by the National Statistical Service which will help to assess current state of affairs with regard to the SDGs.
• Within the process of SDGs implementation in Armenia the country actively and successfully cooperates with our international partners, the United Nations, first and foremost (MAPS Mission, Armenia National SDG Innovation Lab, UN Global Pulse), as well as a wide range of international development organizations, leading technological and innovation centers across the world (Stanford University Changes Lab, Columbia University SIPA, etc.) to attract the best available experience and expertise, as well as new and innovative instruments of financing the SDGs implementation.

The VNR structurally reflects:

• the rationale for making it part and an important instrument of the internal reforms initiated in Armenia;
• the adoption of the necessary decisions and development of the necessary infrastructure for the efficient implementation of the SDGs in Armenia;
• the success story of the cooperation with the United Nations and other international partners in developing the most relevant and state-of-the-art instruments and innovation platforms for the implementation of the SDGs;
• the initial work already accomplished by the Government towards determining the state of play vis-à-vis SDGs, targets and indicators, nationalization of the SDGs and adoption of a national roadmap for the SDGs implementation in Armenia.

The VNR makes a reference to the topic of this year’s HLPF and to the set of specific goals to be reviewed in depth, namely Goals 6, 7, 11, 12, 15, and 17. Reference to the remaining set of the SDGs is also covered in the report. 

This first review of the implementation of the SDGs is a starting point for regular, inclusive and continuous process that will guide our future activities in this regard. Among other things, it should also strengthen the cooperation between all stakeholders of the process and improve the accountability of the state institutions towards the Armenian society.