Given the role of voluntary local reviews in accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda, ESCWA, the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Arab States, and UCLG MEWA launched the 1st voluntary local review (VLR) of Amman, during a workshop held in the Jordanian capital. During the two-day event, the guiding principles and phases of the VLR development process were introduced, with particular emphasis on challenges, opportunities and lessons learnt. The VLR of the city of Amman was formally launched on the second day. The launch included a panel discussion on the importance of localized reporting on SDGs and considered how to further strengthen local-national policy development dialogue.