The government of Rwanda on Thursday, July 13, presented an in-depth review of the implementation progress of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under the Voluntary National Review (VNR) mechanism.

The country’s second Voluntary National Review was presented at a high-level political forum on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in New York.

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Rwanda first volunteered to self-assess its progress in implementing the SDGs under the VNR mechanism in 2019.

Held under the theme: "Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels,” VNR 2023 aimed at showcasing how countries are progressing in the implementation of SDGs in the aftermath of the pandemic.

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The Minister of State in charge of Economic Planning, Claudine Uwera, said Rwanda’s fifth population and housing census of 2022 showed an increase in the life expectancy of Rwandans, reflecting the general improvement in the lives of Rwandans across various areas.

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"Although the Covid-19 pandemic adversely impacted Rwanda’s economy, interventions coordinated by the government working with citizens, private sector and partners minimized the impact and supported continued recovery,” Uwase said.

"Going forward, there is a continued need for mobilization of resources and strengthening efforts in partnership with all stakeholders to fully achieve the SDGs.”

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The 2023 VNR focuses on five SDG goals: clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; industry, innovation and infrastructure; sustainable cities and communities; and partnerships to achieve the goal.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the SDGs are integrated into the country’s long-term development aspirations such as Vision 2050. They are tracked and measured through the implementation of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) at central and decentralized levels.