Summary of key points on procedure for indicators based on Stefan Schweinfest’s briefings during post-2015 intergovernmental negotiating session on Wednesday 18 February and for NGOs on Thursday 19 February

Stefan Schweinfest, the Director of the Statistics Division (UNSD) DESA, gave two briefings in preparation for the session of the Statistical Commission (Stat Com), 3-6 March 2015, during the second negotiating session – the first on Wednesday during the negotiating session and the second on Thursday for the NGOs, in which Francesca Perucci from the UNSD also participated.  

1 Background

The Stat Com is one of the ECOSOC Commissions, along with the Commission on Population and Development and the Commission on the Status of Women. It is serviced by the UNSD and meets annually with the participation of some 140 Chief Statistical Officers, who participate equally whether or not they are actual members of the Commission. It differs from the other ECOSOC Commissions insofar as its members are not policy makers but are highly professional bureaucrats in charge of their country’s statistics. When they meet, they have a very heavy agenda and rarely pass resolutions, although there will be one on the table this time on the next census. It is, however, virtually the same resolution that they have passed previously. Agreement on Stat Com decisions is usually unanimous.

Before the meetings begin there are various side events, which have already started. They are listed on the Commission website. There are no lists of participants, and observers are welcome, although some meetings may be  closed as they are the annual meetings of various bodies. There will be an Expert Group Meeting entitled “Development of an indicator framework for the post-2015 development agenda” that will take place at the end of the week.

Between sessions, the Stat Com work through the Friends of the Chair, which involves members of the Bureau and others.

NGOs are welcome to be in the room as observers during the Stat Com from.

Background on Stat Com and SDG indicators

As set out in the Report of the Friends of the Chair (E/CN.3/2015/2), a road map was defined for the development of indicators for the SDGs. The work was scheduled in the ’road map’ included in the Friends of the Chair report specifies that in July 2015:

“The newly created Inter-Agency Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal indicators [would provide] a first note (or report) on possible indicators and an indicator framework for the monitoring of sustainable development goals and targets, taking into account any guidance emerging from intergovernmental negotiations” (para 31(e)) 

However, the Co-facilitators wrote to the acting Chair of the Stat Com:

“We are also due to have a detailed discussion of Sustainable Development Goals and targets at a meeting on 23-27 March. It would be extremely important from our perspective to have in advance of the latter meeting a proposal from the Commission in relation to indicators, even if this is of a provisional nature. We would be very grateful if the Commission could assist us in this regard, availing of its meeting in early March to provide us with this key input.” 

The Stat Com, therefore, will be addressing indicators for post-2015 development agenda at this session.

Indicators – what is feasible given the current situation?

As Stefan Schweinfest pointed out, indicators for the monitoring of the SDGs will be required at various levels. These include, for example:

• Global level ‘core’ indicators that can be monitored across more than 190 countries, with annual reporting
• Regional level indicators
• National-level indicators that will be decided at the country-level
• Sub-regional (ie sub-national) level indicators 

The UNSD consider 100-120 core indicators as feasible for global monitoring with a ‘larger architecture’ (tool box or catalogue of indicators) later that can be used at the regional or national level. The only indicators that the Stat Com will be focusing on at this session will be Global level. 

The Co-facilitators, in their letter to the Acting Chair of the Stat Com were originally talking about three to five indicators, but a rough list of two indicators per target, together with a background document has been sent to National Statistical Officers for technical advise on feasibility etc. and preliminary rating.  Their recommendations will need to be available by 18 March, in time for the March meeting. 

One area on which the Stat Com will not be working is on ‘technical proofing.’ The Co-facilitators in their letter to the Acting Chair of the Commission had written 

“…some Member States have underlined the need for an effective framework of targets and indicators which are specific and measurable and which do not in any way lower the level of ambition as expressed in existing international commitments, standards and agreements. We look forward to the contribution the Commission will make to the task of ensuring that all our targets meet these criteria.” 

However, during the second session of the intergovernmental negotiations, the Co-facilitators said that there was no agreement on technical proofing. 

The negotiations leading up to, and at the Stat Com will provide the basis for the process leading to the indicators for the discussions at the third negotiating session.