Lessons Learned from MDG Monitoring for Post 2015: A Statistical Perspective

1. Lessons Learned from MDG Monitoringfor Post 2015: A Statistical Perspective

2. Content • What we have learnt since 2000? • Strengths and shortcomings of the current MDG framework • Criteria for setting targets • Criteria for indicator selection

3. Learning from the experiences since 2000 • Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) framework • brought global attention to some of the most pressing development challenges, • helped to galvanize development efforts, • helped to implement successful targeted interventions, • improved statistical methodologies and information systems, • increased attention to the need for strengthening statistical capacity at both national and international levels.

4. Strengths

5. 1. Statistics 4 monitoring & decision making - inspirational vision - a set of concrete and time-bound goals - targets that could be monitored - statistically robust indicators The framework reinforced the importance of robust and reliable statistics for development policy decision making

6. 2. Statistical capacity & data availability • Attention to strengthen statistical capacity • Partnership btw national & international statistical systems • Coordination within countries for better reporting at the national and sub-national level • Data availability & quality • Development of statistical methodologies • Promotion of internationally agreed statistical standards • Identification and explanation of differences btw national & international MDG data series

7. Shortcomings

8. Weaknesses from statistical and policy perspectives • “top-down” initiative • inconsistencies btw goals, targets and indicators • Some targets have clear numerical yardstick while others are vague • targets were too ambitious or poorly specified • Global targets were incorrectly interpreted as national • Baseline year set too far away from adoption of framework • Framework does not adequately address inequality issues

9. Criteria for setting targets • Clearly connected with goals • Expressed clearly to understand • Consistent and coherent with existing targets or commitments in other international frameworks and agreements. • Absolute and relative changes measured to complete picture of performance. • Quantifiable and clearly time-bound. • Realistically set – ambitious but achievable

10. A balance btw “bottom-up approach” & “top-down approaches” • Flexibility and guidance for countries to define and set up their own targets • time-span for the new development framework should be 10-15 years • intermediate targets should be considered. • National statistical capacities, data quality & availability explicitly incorporated into the new development framework

11. Principles and Criteria for Indicator Selection Principles • Indicators should flow naturally from goals/targets • Relevant to a sound and relevant monitoring system for the new development framework. • The national statistical development strategies should govern the work on indicators • The cost-benefit of any centralized collection of indicators needs to be carefully considered. Criteria • Relevance • Methodological soundness • Measurability • Understandability

12. Other Considerations Characteristics • Coherence • Be limited in number Continuity and change. Continuity with the current set of MDG indicators is preferable where the indicators have worked well and are still relevant. Changes are needed when some concepts are no longer sufficient/relevant and new areas are included in the framework.

13. Thank you