The publication highlights the need to localize the monitoring of the Agenda and proposes possible SDG indicators
In late 2014, UCLG commissioned a working paper on ‘How to Localize the Targets and Indicators of the Post-2015 Agenda’ with the aim of providing the perspective of local and regional governments on the monitoring of the SDGs.
The paper reviews potential data sources for all of the targets of Goal 11 “Make Cities and Human Settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”, as well as targets from a number of other goals that have significant local dimensions.
Highlights:
- Goal 11 “Make Cities and Human Settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”
The urban goal is the only proposed SDG that explicitly recognizes and includes local spaces and actors. It has the potential to mobilize and empower local and regional authorities and urban actors, strengthen the linkages between urban and rural areas, and transform urban challenges into opportunities.
- Localization
Too often, ‘localization’ is used only to refer to the implementation of the Agenda at local level. For UCLG, the local level must be taken into account at every stage, from the definition of the goals and targets, to the monitoring of the Agenda.
Some targets require localized indicators because they tend to be local responsibilities (e.g. education) and it is thus important to track sub-national inequalities to identify good practices and target resources where they are most needed.
Localized indicators are also particularly important for targets such as water and sanitation whose achievement will require different indicators urban and rural areas.
- Sub-national data constraints
Many current national and global data sources are not available for disaggregation at sub-national level, or according to urban/rural areas. While some larger metropolitan areas have high data collection capacity, smaller cities or poorer regions often do not.
- Workability
The scope of the proposed 17 goals and 169 targets is notably wide. Given the great number of targets and indicators, it could be worth considering the creation of a system of composite indicators to group different indicators into just one measurement.
Over the coming months, UCLG will share the findings of the report with international agencies and partners and participate in the global debates on Post-2015 indicators as part of our ongoing work advocating for an Agenda that can be successfully implemented at local level.
Important dates:
- Global Conference on a Transformative Agenda for Official Statistics, 15-16 January 2015
- 46th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, 3-6 in March 2015
