Ways through which The SDGs are Monitored and Evaluated

SDGs Evalution Methods

The SDGs are monitored and evaluated at different levels and by different actors, using a variety of tools and methods. Here are some of the main ways:

• At the global level, the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the main platform for reviewing the progress and challenges of the 2030 Agenda. The HLPF meets annually under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and every four years under the auspices of the UN General Assembly. The HLPF receives inputs from various sources, such as the annual SDG Progress Report, the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), thematic reviews, regional forums, and stakeholder contributions.
• At the national level, governments are expected to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of their implementation of the 2030 Agenda, using national data and indicators, and involving all relevant stakeholders. The VNRs are voluntary reports that countries present at the HLPF to share their experiences, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned on the SDGs. The VNRs also serve as a basis for peer learning, dialogue, and mutual accountability.
• At the subnational level, local governments, communities, and civil society organizations can also conduct their own reviews and assessments of the SDGs, using participatory and bottom-up approaches. These can complement and inform the national reviews and provide feedback from the grassroots level.
• At the thematic level, various UN agencies, funds, and programmes, as well as other international and regional organizations, provide technical support and guidance on specific SDGs or cross-cutting issues. They also produce reports and analyses on the progress and gaps in their respective areas of expertise.
• At the methodological level, there is a global indicator framework for the SDGs that consists of 231 indicators agreed by the UN Statistical Commission. The framework is intended to help measure and track progress on the SDGs and their targets at different levels. The indicators are classified into three tiers based on their methodological development and data availability. The framework is regularly reviewed and updated by an Inter-agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs).
• At the evaluative level, there are various tools and methods that can be used to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of policies, programmes, and projects related to the SDGs. Evaluation can also help identify causal links, unintended effects, trade-offs, synergies, and gaps in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Evaluation can be conducted by internal or external evaluators, using quantitative or qualitative data, or a mix of both.

REFERENCES

Monitoring and Progress - United Nations Sustainable Development. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/monitoring-and-progress-hlpf/ Accessed 27/06/2023.

(2) Sustainable Development Goals Report - United Nations Sustainable .... https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/progress-report/ Accessed 27/06/2023.

(3) Guide Applies SDG Monitoring and Evaluation to National Contexts. https://sdg.iisd.org/news/guide-applies-sdg-monitoring-and-evaluation-to-national-contexts/ Accessed 27/06/2023.