Various Voluntary Regional Reviews (VRRs) are already underway

Following the recent ORU Fogar Annual Assembly held in Azuay, where it was reaffirmed that the preparation of Voluntary Regional Reviews (VRRs) is an absolute priority and a key area of focus for the organization in 2027, several regions have already requested technical support from the Secretariat to launch this territorial assessment exercise.

The process will be carried out in strict accordance with the technical roadmap and methodological framework established by the United Nations. The initiative responds to the need to provide regional governments with measurement tools comparable to those available to national governments, enabling them to properly assess their situation, align themselves with global standards, conduct self-assessments, and present themselves internationally as institutions aligned with United Nations guidelines. These reports will comprehensively assess all targets and indicators of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mancomunidad de los Andes leads the new reviews in the Americas

The first to get to work has been Mancomunidad de los Andes (Peru). While several regions in Latin America and territories such as Córdoba in Argentina, Azuay, Manabí and Pichincha in Ecuador, and Pará in Brazil already have their own reports, this step positions the Peruvian entity as a pioneer in developing its first regional review in the country.

This exercise will allow Mancomunidad de los Andes to accurately assess the situation in each of the regions that make up the entity: Apurímac, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Ica, Junín and Cusco. Given the challenges this entity is facing in key areas such as SDG 1, no poverty, and SDG 2, zero hunger, the review can be a highly useful instrument.

Historic Commitment to Subnational Assessment in Africa

Beyond Latin America, and as part of an initiative promoted by ORU Fogar, the African continent is making unprecedented progress through the preparation of several voluntary reviews.

The pioneering and most advanced process in the region is that of Beni Mellal-Khénifra (Morocco). Alongside this effort, reviews are being prepared in parallel in the Senegalese departments of Podor and Dagana, the Ivorian regions of Sud-Comoé and Gontougo, the Ouest region of Cameroon, and the Mopti region of Mali.

This initiative represents a strong commitment by ORU Fogar to assessing the situation in African countries, in contexts where indicators started from very low levels. As a result, the real difficulties involved in improving these indicators are already becoming evident on the ground, despite the intensive and sustained efforts being made by regional councils.

A Structured Roadmap with Defined Deadlines

To consolidate this commitment to transparent governance, the localization of the 2030 Agenda, and accountability at the global level, the preparation of these agreed reports is guided by a rigorous technical roadmap and a precise timeline. This timeline is structured around four key phases: the collection and structuring of SDG indicators during September and October; the technical, political and evaluative analysis in November; the validation of the document in December; and, finally, the official presentation and potential public launch of the report in January.

With the momentum of regions across both continents and the continued support of the ORU Fogar Secretariat, a network of intermediate governments committed to transparent governance, the localization of the 2030 Agenda, and accountability at the global level is being further consolidated.