Update for ECOSOC on Indicators & Data by Statistical Commission Chair

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was briefed earlier this month by Wasmália Bivar of Brazil, the Chair of the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC) through viedolink, on the work to implement decisions that had been taken during the UNSC 47th session in March 2016 during its June 2016 Coordination and Management Meeting (CMM) (see: Statistical Commission adopts decision on indicators for 2030 Agenda).

As stated by Bivar, the main issue on the UNSC agenda was “Data and indicators for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” Statisticians from Member States have led the global indicator framework throughout the process. There was agreement in the Commission, “as a starting point, with the proposed global indicator framework, containing 230 indicators, for the Goals and targets…” However, she described the development of a “robust and high-quality indicator framework is a technical process that will need to continue over time.”

She noted that the 230 global indicators are meant to be used for global follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and are not necessarily applicable in all national contexts.” At the same time the key to achieving sustainable development is national ownership and, as reiterated by the UNSC, “national reviews are voluntary and country-led,” respecting the “policy space and priorities of the country.” Improving data disaggregation, moreover, is “fundamental for the full implementation of the indicator framework and to respect fully the principle of leaving no one behind.” 

While countries will have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review of the implementation of the SDGs, “high-quality, accessible and timely data” will be required. For most countries implementing the indicator framework will present a challenge and “appropriate efforts to strengthen national statistical capacities – especially of developing countries…will have to be significantly increased and effectively coordinated…”

The High-level Group for Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building for statistics for the 2030 Agenda is preparing a Global Action Plan for the Modernization and Strengthening of Statistical Systems for Sustainable Development Data. It also decided to organize the UN World Data Forum to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, in January 2017.  A joint sub-group has been established to address the specific data needs in the preparation of the indicators and to ensure effective coordination.

Bivar reported that the 3^rd meeting of the IAEG-SDGs held in Mexico “reviewed the tier system for the global indicators, discussed the mechanisms for future refinements and reviews of the global SDG indicators, and examined data flows from the national to the global level.” The IAEG-SDGs agreed to work on data disaggregation and to create three working groups on geo-spatial information,

SDMX (Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange) and interlinkages between indicators and targets. The IAEG also agreed to continue its work “to finalize the classification of the indicators in Tiers, the refinements of indicators where necessary and the revisions of the indicator framework over the years, as requested by the Commission.”

Click here for full text of UNSC Chair’s briefing.

See also: http://sd.iisd.org/news/unsc-chair-updates-ecosoc-on-indicators-data/