Izmir has finished an intensive training program about SDG’s, VLR’s and international reporting in the line of framework Izmir VLR 2021 Report last Monday. The three days long trainings attracted great attention from public institutions, NGO’s and private sector representatives.

As it is known, 17 goals were set forth by 193 member countries of the United Nations to eliminate poverty, protect the planet Earth and ensure that all people live in peace and prosperity by the end of 2030 in January 2016.

National and Local Voluntary Review Reports are prepared in order to measure to what extent these objectives are realized at national and local level. The country has been preparing reports at national level in this field since 2016, and no reporting has yet been made at the local level.

Although VNR reports so precious and meaningful for monitoring the global and national progress on SDG’s, when take a glance briefly to population rates in cities and rural areas on the Earth, unfortunately we see that these reports are not enough to take whole picture of Sustainable Development.

According to the report of the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Affairs Office, migration from rural areas to cities in the world will continue to increase until 2050. Until this date, 2.5 billion more people will be added to the city population. The ratio of people living in cities, which is 55% today, to the world population will reach 60% in 2030 and 68% in 2050. Because of this dramatic estimation about next years of the world, there will be rising need more than ever for local status reports which includes city-based approach about Sustainable Development Goals.

As a result of that need Voluntary Local Review (VLR) reports has publishing by different cities around the world in city base. The main approach of VLR reports to transfer all SDGs from International and National stage to city based one and localize them all. There are almost 50 VLR report written and published around the world already today but when we thought there are 2.469.501 cities on the Earth although these 50 reports very precious but it is easily seen that not enough for saving our planet yet.

From this point of view, Izmir VLR 2021 report will be a valuable contribution the city reports pool. Within an inclusive methodology and principle of transparency Izmir VLR 2021 report aims to extensive participation from stakeholders such as public, civil society and private sectors all processes while building an urban alliance for common purposes around the city at the same time.

Izmir VLR 2021 report that will be prepared with the support of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Izmir Economic Development Coordination Board and Izmir Sustainable Urban Development Network with the contribution of İzmir City Council; will be first in many ways but maybe its most remarkable feature is being first in Turkey, East Europe, West and middle Asia and Middle East.

Moreover, Izmir will be Europe’s 16. and Mediterranean’s 3. city which published VLR report. Furthermore, Izmir VLR 2021 report will encourage other cities in Europe, Mediterranean and Middle East to prepare and publish their own VLR reports.

Read here the training program from May.