The Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs):
From Grassroots Reality to National Policy
The global development community measures progress using Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). But for the youth and women we serve, progress is measured by the reality of their daily lives. The Voluntary Local Review (VLR) program is the critical engine that bridges this gap—it transforms the lived experience into robust, evidence-based data that drives genuine, accountable policy change.
The Challenge: A Disconnect Between Policy and People
National development plans and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are often shaped by data that never reaches or reflects the needs of marginalized communities. When policy is disconnected from the ground, development becomes bureaucratic, slow, and inequitable. Our mission is to end this disconnect and embed Dignity (Ekitiibwa) into the planning process.
The VLR Solution: Youth-Led Accountability
The Step Up VLR program is a continuous, community-led process that empowers young people to become data gatherers, analysts, and policy advocates.
Citizens Generated Data (CGD)
We train cohorts of young leaders in urban and rural areas to conduct rigorous, grassroots consultations. Using structured methodologies, they capture authentic data on the local progress (or lack thereof) of key SDGs—from economic resilience to environmental sustainability. This process is powered by our Knowledge Hub, ensuring the data is scientifically credible and ethically sourced.
Policy - Proofing Local Plans
The CGD is compiled into comprehensive VLR reports that directly challenge the assumptions of local government plans. By organizing youth-led reviews of district and municipal development plans, we ensure that policy is measured not by arbitrary indicators, but by the tangible improvements in access to healthcare, jobs, and clean water.
Forcing Dialogue and State Alignment
The VLR reports are not just documents; they are instruments of dialogue. We use our platform as a key partner of the Office of the Prime Minister’s SDGs Secretariat to ensure these reports reach the highest levels of government. This strategic partnership forces policy dialogue, demanding that local planning aligns with both the National Development Plan (NDP) and the true aspirations of young people.
Driving Youth-Powered Planning
The VLR program is the ultimate expression of Civic Responsibility (Bulungibwansi). It ensures that the millions invested in development are utilized efficiently and equitably. By placing the youth at the center of the review process, we achieve two transformative goals:
Policy Influence
Youth voices drive resource allocation and planning across the country.
Leadership Development
Participants gain invaluable skills in research, data analysis, and high-level advocacy, securing their place as future leaders and decision-makers.
