9th Meeting of the IAEG-SDGs – Update 5

6 Review of progress on methodological development of Tier III indicators  

The UN Statistical Division (UNSD) requested agencies to provide updated Tier III workplans, focusing particularly on:

• Detailed timelines including dates for completion of methodological work; methodology being approved as an international standard; indicator being submitted to the IAEG-SDGs for possible reclassification; and when data collection will begin
• Expected data coverage of the indicator and frequency with which the data are collected, including total number of countries for which there will be information and regions

Of the current 41 Tier III Indicators:

(a) 7 were proposed for Tier reclassification at the 9^th IAEG-SDGs (see Agenda Item 7)

(b) 20 provided updated information for their Tier III work plans

(c) 14 did not provide any updated information –some of them are ‘orphan indicators’, ie have no active custodian agency, or have encountered methodological problems, which caused the development of methodology to stall

Of the 34 in (b) and (c), that their methodological development will be completed by mid- to late-2019. More detailed information was requested, however, on methodological development and when data collection activities will begin. Should no responses be received by the end of May, the indicators will be included in the comprehensive review.

Summary of updates to tier III workplans

(a) The following tier III indicators will be included in 2020 Comprehensive Review:

•  
  • 5 under Goal 13, 8.9.2 and 12.b.1, for which there are current indicator formulation issues 
  • 1.a.1, 1.b.1, 12.a.1 and 17,18,1 being orphan indicators  

(b) Indicators 1.a.3, 11.a.1, 12.5.1, 14.1.1 and 14.2.1 have agreed global proxies, as presented at the UN Statistical Commission, which will be considered as replacements

(c) Methodological work on 11.4.1, 12.3.1(b), 12.4.2, 12.7.1, 17.6.1, 17.14.1 is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019

(d) Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 on 3.5.1, 4.7.1, 11.7.2, 12.6.1, 12.8,1, 14.c.1, 16.4.1 and 17.5.1

(e) There is no expected completion date for 7.b.1, 11.c.1, 15.a.1/15.b.1 or 17.7.2 and they will be included in the 2020 Comprehensive Review