Opening plenary session of 4th IAEG-SDGs, Geneva, 17 November

Christian Friis Bach, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, made opening remarks for the Plenary Meeting of the 4^th Session of the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on the SDGs (IAEG-SDGs), stressing the importance of proper data. He pointed out that there will be an unprecedented amount of data and that devices can collect data using the internet. This is already happening for example with big data and machine learning in Ghana (on diseases) and in India (on school dropouts).  In mobilizing for change, partnerships with the private sector as well as with academia and civil society will be important.

He also noted that ECE, together with UNFPA, had hosted a meeting recently on population and that there would be a one-day ECE regional forum on 25 April in the lead up to the 2017 high-level political forum (HLPF) in New York.

There will be an ECE regional roadmap, which is being developed in consultation with colleagues in NY. It will be ‘work in progress’ to meet countries’ needs and to help Member States to organize work at the national level. He noted the readiness of Member States to prepare national statistics and plans, while recognizing that the issue is how to measure them. It would be necessary to find the right balance and to collaborate with the UN system.

Francesca Perucci stressed the importance of complete the last part of the architecture. She noted that the work had been intense and that the development of the framework meant that attention was increasingly being drawn to principles such as ‘Leave no one behind’. The HLPF, moreover, demonstrated the importance of data and statistics, while the first report launched by the Secretary-General, based on the new indicator framework

She also referred to the work of the High-level Group and the proposed first UN World Data Forum to be help in South Africa 15-18 January 2017. Meanwhile a number of countries have begun to develop their national platforms for reporting and there is increased interest among countries in producing their national reports. Capacity-building, however, still remains a concern.

The IAEG-SDGs Co-chair referred to the commitment of the IAEG to further develop and refine the indicator framework, and the need to reach agreement on refinement; to agree a process for updating and mechanisms; and the time line for review from national to regional to global levels.

On the update of outcomes of ECOSOC Francesca Perucci said that the Statistical Commission report was endorsed at the session of ECOSOC in early June (See: ECOSOC takes action on draft decision of Statistical Commission on indicator framework) There had been no formal adoption  of the global indicator framework by the UN General Assembly. The IAEG-SDGs will report to the 2017 session of the Statistical Commission. Going forward there may, or may not, be a resolution.

The HLPF provided an opportunity for strong recognition of the importance of data and statistics. The No 1 priority is for data development and to work with the tools at the national level.