The Municipality of Montevideo has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the 2030 Agenda by presenting its fifth Voluntary Local Review (VLR) and launching the city’s new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Observatory.
Organized in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uruguay, the event created a space for dialogue and reflection on the relevance of the 2030 Agenda as a roadmap for urban development, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie beyond 2030. The gathering brought together representatives from academia, the private sector, international organizations, civil society, youth networks, and other strategic actors.
Download the Montevideo 2025 VLR here.
The fifth Voluntary Local Review
Since 2019, Montevideo has been committed to preparing annual VLRs, aligning local actions with the SDGs, and reporting progress to the United Nations. The reports allow for collaborative analysis of achievements and challenges, supporting the global pledge to “leave no one and no place behind.”
The 2025 report focused on six SDGs: Good Health and Well-being (3), Gender Equality (5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (8), Reduced Inequalities (10), Responsible Consumption and Production (12), and Life Below Water (14). It reviewed 65 specific targets.
Credit: Municipality of Montevideo
A new SDG Observatory
A key innovation presented was the launch of the SDG Observatory, hosted on the Montevidata platform. The Observatory consolidates information on 99 SDG targets relevant to Montevideo, offering data for monitoring, analysis, and public access, and strengthening transparency and evidence-based policymaking.
Credit: Municipality of Montevideo
Latin American cities renewing commitment to the 2030 Agenda
Montevideo also used the occasion to invite cities across Latin America to join the “Declaration on Renewing the Commitment to the 2030 Agenda,” reaffirming the active role of local governments and communities in building a sustainable and inclusive future. The initiative, led jointly with the city of Santa Fe (Argentina), forms part of the regional project Lighthouse Cities for Sustainable Development, co-financed through the Mercociudades South-South Cooperation Programme.
Credit: Municipality of Montevideo
A decade after the adoption of the United Nations’ Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Montevideo is reinforcing its pledge to sustainable and inclusive growth, and calling on local actors to continue working together towards a safer, more resilient, and more equitable city.