About the project

Partner: General Economics Division, Planning Commission, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Project Lead: Dr M Abu Eusuf, Executive Director, RAPID
Project duration: February 2024 – Ongoing.

The Voluntary National Review (VNR) 2025 aims to assess the country’s progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), building on lessons from previous reviews and aligning with evolving national priorities. This comprehensive report emphasizes transparency, inclusive participation, and data-driven insights, incorporating feedback from government agencies, civil society, the private sector, and marginalized communities. The VNR 2025 explores the institutional, policy, and financial frameworks guiding SDG implementation, while identifying key challenges and opportunities for improvement. Special attention is given to five priority SDGs—health, gender equality, decent work, marine conservation, and partnerships—under a "Leave No One Behind" approach. The report also captures the voices of vulnerable groups, highlights recent governance reforms, and outlines strategic actions to accelerate progress amid changing global dynamics. It serves as a roadmap for inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development in Bangladesh.

Project activities

Meeting on Outline of Voluntary National Review (VNR) Report 2025

On 23 April 2025, a meeting was held at the GED to finalise the annotated outline of the VNR Report. Dr M Abu Eusuf, RAPID Executive Director, presented the draft outline in the presence of representatives from the Chief Advisor’s Office (CAO), GED, BBS, UNRCO, UNDP, and CPD. Dr Monzur Hossain, Member (Secretary), General Economics Division Bangladesh Planning Commission, presided over the meeting.

Multistakeholder Workshop for SDG Data Gaps on VNR

On 23–24 March 2025, Mr. Jahid Ebn Jalal, Deputy Director at RAPID, along with Research Associates, participated in the Multistakeholder Workshop on Data Gaps for Inclusive SDG Monitoring, held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka. Organized by the SDG Cell of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in collaboration with UNESCAP, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, and UN Women, the workshop aimed to identify and address data gaps critical to inclusive SDG monitoring. The event was inaugurated by Ms. Lamiya Morshed, Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs), and featured keynotes from Mr. Md. Alamgir Hossen, Focal Point of the SDG Cell at BBS, and Mr. Jan Smit, Regional Adviser on Official Statistics. Participants included representatives from government ministries, academia, civil society, marginalized communities, and the private sector. The RAPID team’s engagement underscored its commitment to strengthening data systems and ensuring that the voices of all stakeholders are reflected in Bangladesh’s SDG monitoring and reporting processes.

Stakeholder Consultation Session with LNOBs for VNR

On 20 March 2025, the RAPID team—led by Dr. M. Abu Eusuf (Executive Director), with Mr. Jahid Ebn Jalal (Deputy Director) and Research Associates—participated in the national consultation titled “National SDG Report (VNR) 2025: Addressing the Interests of LNOB Communities.” The event was jointly organized by the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, the Office of the Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs, and UNDP Bangladesh. With over 350 participants, including representatives of marginalized communities, the dialogue focused on ensuring that the voices of LNOB (Leave No One Behind) groups are reflected in the VNR 2025.

VNR Consultation Session on Updated SDG Tracker and SDG Data Validation System

On 12 March 2025, the RAPID team, led by Dr. M. Abu Eusuf (Executive Director), Zubayer Hossen (Senior Deputy Director), and Jahid Ebn Jalal (Deputy Director), along with Research Associates, attended the launch of the upgraded SDG Tracker and SDG Data Validation system at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) headquarters. Organized by BBS in collaboration with the a2i Programme of the ICT Division, the event marked a major step forward in strengthening data-driven monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals in Bangladesh. The updated SDG Tracker enhances accessibility to real-time, indicator-specific data, supporting informed decision-making and greater accountability. The RAPID team’s participation reflected their ongoing support for evidence-based policymaking and their contribution to strengthening data systems for the national VNR process.

Stakeholder Consultation Sessions on VNR

On 10 and 11 March 2025, the RAPID team for the Voluntary National Review (VNR), led by Dr. M Abu Eusuf, Executive Director of RAPID, participated in two key stakeholder consultation sessions organized by the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs, Government of Bangladesh, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The first session, held on 10 March, brought together approximately 100 youth representatives from diverse communities across Bangladesh to discuss their perspectives on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) implementation and their expectations from the VNR process. The following day, on 11 March, business leaders convened to explore the private sector's role in advancing SDG progress in Bangladesh. Both consultations were moderated by senior leadership of the Citizen’s Platform, with Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Convener of the Platform and Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), and Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Core Group Member of the Platform and also a Distinguished Fellow at CPD, delivering keynote remarks. These sessions provided valuable insights from two crucial stakeholder groups, highlighting their perspectives, expectations, and challenges related to the SDG implementation process. The RAPID team actively contributed to the discussions, ensuring that the inputs received from youth and private sector actors are reflected in the VNR drafting process.