Architecture for review and follow-up of the SDGs: Options for the High-Level Political Forum

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) proposes a multi-level architecture for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) to review and follow up on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The authors suggest a bottom-up approach consisting of national conversations every five years, regional peer reviews to facilitate learning among similar states, and a global assessment with both national and thematic tracks to chart global progress and ensure UN system coherence.

• The proposed review architecture consists of three integrated components: inclusive national conversations every five years, regional aggregation and peer review, and a global assessment of progress. The national level involves participatory discussions leading to a government synthesis report, while the regional level focuses on learning among countries in similar circumstances. The global level includes a national review track and a thematic discussion track focusing on clusters of goals and targets.
• The HLPF's operational structure involves two distinct configurations: an annual eight-day session including a three-day ministerial segment under ECOSOC auspices, and a meeting of Heads of State or Government every four years under General Assembly auspices. The annual ministerial meetings are intended to produce a "negotiated ministerial declaration," while the quadrennial meetings of Heads of State produce a "concise negotiated political declaration."
• National reviews should be state-led but participatory, potentially utilizing four types of reports: data compilations from UN agencies and IFIs, a government report, a national stakeholder report, and a final government report on review results and follow-up. The authors suggest a five-year cycle for these reviews, which would result in approximately 40 national reviews per year within the HLPF.
• Regional peer review is identified as a critical mechanism for aggregating national reviews and sharing best practices. The authors suggest several existing bodies that could contribute, including the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), ECLAC, the Arab Forum on Sustainable Development (AFSD), and UNECE.
• At the global level, the HLPF could manage national reviews through three non-exclusive options: discussing regional reports with a UN DESA synthesis, conducting parallel working-level reviews of all national reports, or holding ministerial presentations of selected reports from all UN geographic regions.
• The authors emphasize that review mechanisms should prioritize learning over sanctioning, as states are more likely to change policy based on successful behavior than fear of criticism. They argue for a distinction between "effort" (government policies) and "impact" (outcomes), noting that while the attribution of specific outcomes is difficult, assessing progress is essential for facilitating learning.

APA

Halle, M., & Wolfe, R. (2015). Architecture for review and follow-up of the SDGs: Options for the High-Level Political Forum. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/architecture-review-follow-up-sdg-options-hlpf.pdf

Chicago

Halle, Mark, and Robert Wolfe. Architecture for review and follow-up of the SDGs: Options for the High-Level Political Forum. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2015. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/architecture-review-follow-up-sdg-options-hlpf.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Halle |first1=Mark |last2=Wolfe |first2=Robert |title=Architecture for review and follow-up of the SDGs: Options for the High-Level Political Forum |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=April 2015 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/architecture-review-follow-up-sdg-options-hlpf.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{halle2015architecture, author = {Halle, Mark and Wolfe, Robert}, title = {{Architecture for review and follow-up of the SDGs: Options for the High-Level Political Forum}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2015}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/architecture-review-follow-up-sdg-options-hlpf.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }