Sri Lanka’s Second Voluntary National Review (VNR) on SDG Implementation – Northern Province Consultation

Sri Lanka’s Second Voluntary National Review (VNR) on SDG Implementation – Northern Province Consultation
A multi-stakeholder consultative workshop was successfully conducted to assess the progress, gaps, and challenges as well as to identify opportunities and strategies to strengthen the enabling environment for SDG implementation in the Northern Province. The discussion focused on policy and planning processes, monitoring and review mechanisms as well as financing and partnerships for SDGs in the Northern Province. 
Participants commented on the current status with regard to livelihoods, social protection flows, micro-financing opportunities, women-headed households, health and education services, public utilities and infrastructure, biodiversity conservation, marine ecosystem and inland water body conservation, climate change mitigation, security, law enforcement, and justice mechanisms.
A large number of public authorities, civil society and community-based organizations, chambers of commerce, and academics from Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, and Jaffna districts participated in the discussions. The workshop was convened and conducted by the Sustainable Development Council in collaboration with the Northern Province Chief Secretary’s Secretariat and was supported by the UNDP Sri Lanka Capacity Development for Local Government Programme.