ECOSOC takes action on draft decision of Statistical Commission on indicator framework
Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 6:40PM The UN Economic and Social Council (“ECOSOC”) met in early June to consider and adopt the report of the Statistical Commission’s meetings in March 2016, which included the its agreement on SDG indicators.
Ms. Wasmália Bivar, Chairperson of the Statistical Commission updated the ECOSOC by video, summarizing the most recent outcomes.
She noted that an unprecedented number of some 800 delegates, including representatives from about 135 countries and more than 50 international and regional agencies, participated in the meeting, for which the key topic was “Data and indicators for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. As mandated in the 2030 Agenda, the Statistical Commission considered a proposal for the global indicator framework developed by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (IAEG-SDGs), which had been established by the Statistical Commission in 2015 to develop the indicator framework and addressing related methodological issues. She said that the Commission through the IAEG-SDGs had worked very intensively on the development of the global indicator framework and that the process was inclusive and transparent involving, through many consultations, a large number of stakeholders. Statisticians from Member Countries, however, led the work.
The Commission agreed “as a practical starting point, with the proposed global indicator framework, containing 230 indicators, for the Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” It recognized, however, that the “development of a robust and high-quality indicator framework is a technical process that will need to continue over time.” The 230 global indicators are intended for global follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda and “are not necessarily applicable in all national contexts.” She stressed that national ownership “remains key to achieving sustainable development and … that national reviews are voluntary and country-led.” Such reviews, moreover, will take into account “different national realities, capacities and levels of development, and will respect the policy space and priorities of the country.”
Improving data disaggregation is fundamental for the full implementation of the indicator framework and to respect fully the principle of leaving no one behind.
She emphasized that countries will have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review of progress made in implementing the SDGs, which will require high-quality, accessible and timely data. Nevertheless, the implementation of the indicator framework will present a challenge in most countries and it will be necessary to strengthen national statistical capacities for maximum impact and effectiveness.
She said that the High-level Group for Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building (HLG) for statistics for the 2030 Agenda will consider the data needs and advise on the actions to be undertaken to enable countries to produce and utilize the necessary data for its full implementation. The HLG will prepare a Global Action Plan for the Modernisation and Strengthening of Statistical Systems for Sustainable Development Date, as well as organize a UN World Data Forum, which will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, in January 2017. The HLG and the IAEG-SDGs have established a joint sub- group to address the specific data needs identified in the preparation of the indicators and to ensure that the two groups work in an effective and coordinated manner.
The work of the IAEG-SDGs continued in Mexico (See: IAEG-SDGs - Day 3) with the review of the tier system for the global indicators, discussion of the mechanisms for future refinements and reviews of the global SDG indicators, and examination of data flows from the national to the global level. The group will work on data disaggregation and is creating three working groups on geo-spatial information, SDMX and interlinkages between indicators and targets. It will continue its work based on a work plan agreed in Mexico, which highlights 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.” Meanwhile, the statistical community is working intensively to compile data where already available and that data are appropriately used to ensure no individual or group will be left behind.
The Member States generally received the indicators positively, Cuba said that the indicators will act as a ‘thermometer” for the regular measurement of progress towards the SDGs. Further work by the IAEG must take into account the needs future technical refinement, respecting the policies, degrees of development and priorities of each country. There must be sufficient space for the design of national and regional indicators, safeguarding the role of National Statistical Offices and statistical capacity must be strengthened Welcome the formation of the HLG. On indicator 3.5.2 on alcohol use, major changes are necessary. The indicator restricts the ambit of implementation target. It is a biased version of the WHO on the harmful uses of alcohol. The emphasis should be on harmful consumption, not on consumption itself. Cuba was followed by Mexico who expressed thanks to its National Statistical Office and also noted the commitment of others.
The Council took action on the draft decision on the Report of the Statistical Commission, without other comments.
The indicator framework will, presumably, next be taken up by the General Assembly. The IAEG-SDGs will meet in October 2016 in Addis Ababa.
2030 Agenda, ECOSOC, Indicators