SDGs Tracker Project: Analysing Countries’ Voluntary National Reviews, Sara Elhussein

Sara Elhussein
SDGs Tracker Project
WASD
UK

Abstract: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for transparent, inclusive, and measurable national progress toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the heart of this accountability framework are Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), which offer a self-assessment of progress made by UN member states. This research introduces the SDGs Tracker Project, a pioneering large-scale analytical effort that examines VNRs from all UN member states, aiming for global coverage. Employing a hybrid methodology that combines AI-assisted analysis with manual expert review, the project evaluates each country’s performance across the 17 SDGs using a standardised 0-5 scoring system and a seven-pillar assessment framework: national progress overview, goal-specific evaluation, scoring, major challenges, data availability, key lessons, and figures. The study also assesses the reliability of AI-generated outputs by systematically comparing them with manually conducted evaluations, revealing the limitations of automated analysis and reinforcing the essential role of expert judgement in ensuring contextual accuracy. The findings indicate uneven progress across countries, reflecting a mixed global landscape in SDG implementation. While many nations report notable achievements in health (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), and infrastructure (SDG 9), widespread challenges persist in reducing inequality (SDG 10), addressing climate change (SDG 13), and strengthening data systems (SDG 17.18). Disparities in reporting quality, limited disaggregated data, and weak institutional coordination continue to hinder effective implementation. The project underscores the need for stronger integration of the SDGs into national policy frameworks, enhanced data transparency, and inclusive, localised action to ensure meaningful progress. This research contributes to global SDG accountability by offering a harmonised, evidence-based tool for assessing and accelerating national commitments to the 2030 Agenda.