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AMMAN —The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), in partnership with UN-Habitat and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), on Wednesday launched the second Voluntary Local Review (VLR) of Amman under the theme “Towards a Smart, Resilient and Livable City.”
GAM said that the launch underscores the city’s commitment to accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening evidence-based urban planning, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reproted.
It comes in parallel with Jordan’s preparation of its third Voluntary National Review (VNR), reflecting closer integration between local and national efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda and align with the Economic Modernisation Vision and the National Urban Policy.
Chairman of the GAM Committee Yousef Shawarbeh said that the second VLR represents a new milestone in advancing sustainable urban development, strengthening governance, and improving quality of life for residents.
He said Amman’s participation in global urban benchmarking platforms, including the Quality of Life Index, and its receipt of the BSI Kitemark certification under ISO 37106 for smart cities and communities, reflect its growing international standing.
Shawarbeh added that the review builds on these achievements by linking outcomes to development priorities, supporting evidence-based decision-making, and directing investments towards projects with the greatest impact on quality of life and urban resilience.
He noted that Amman was the first Arab city to issue a Voluntary Local Review in 2022.
He added that the second edition confirms that localising the SDGs has become an institutional process that reinforces alignment between local priorities, Royal directives, the Economic Modernisation Vision 2023–2033, the National Urban Policy, and the national VNR process led by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.
He said the review was developed through a broad participatory process involving government institutions, the private sector, academia, civil society organisations and international partners.
UN-Habitat Jordan Head Dima Abu Diab said that Amman’s experience in linking local and national reporting represents a leading model in SDG localisation, highlighting the role of cities in strengthening national planning through local data and community priorities.
ESCWA Sustainable Urban Development Officer Sukaina Nasrawi said that the second VLR adopts an integrated approach that combines urban resilience and smart city development across the SDGs, while enhancing coherence between local and national priorities.
She added that Amman’s approach reinforces its leadership in SDG localisation and presents a model for multi-level cooperation to support resilient and sustainable urban transformation in the region.
The VLR aims to assess progress in implementing the SDGs in Amman, identify gaps and challenges, and provide practical recommendations to support inclusive urban planning and strengthen resilience and sustainability.
It focuses on eight priority goals covering health and well-being, gender equality, clean energy, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, peace and justice, and partnerships for the goals.
The report adopts an integrated methodology that applies urban resilience and smart city concepts across the SDGs, using a systems-based approach that combines innovation, digital transformation, adaptability and foresight planning to address complex urban challenges and improve quality of life.
Prepared through a broad participatory process involving public institutions, civil society, academia and international partners, the review reflects the principle of “leaving no one behind” in planning and development.
The VLR is expected to support Jordan’s participation in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and strengthen Amman’s position as a regional leader in SDG localisation and urban planning integration.
It provides a practical framework for setting development priorities and translating recommendations into implementable projects, supporting investment planning, partnerships and resource mobilisation to achieve tangible improvements in quality of life.
