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UNECE
Sustainable development
in the UNECE Region:
Facing a Headwind in 2024
Sustainable development in the UNECE Region: Facing a Headwind in 2024
UNITED NATIONS
URU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 123: Statusrapport 2024 fra FN's Økonomiske Kommission for Europa (UNECE): Sustainable development in the UNECE Region: Facing a Headwind in 2024 URU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 123: Statusrapport 2024 fra FN's Økonomiske Kommission for Europa (UNECE): Sustainable development in the UNECE Region: Facing a Headwind in 2024
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UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
Sustainable Development
in the UNECE Region:
Facing a Headwind in 2024
United Nations
Geneva, 2024
URU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 123: Statusrapport 2024 fra FN's Økonomiske Kommission for Europa (UNECE): Sustainable development in the UNECE Region: Facing a Headwind in 2024
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© 2024 United Nations
This work is available in open access by complying with the Creative Commons license
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Photo credits: depositphotos.com; UN039266/Oleg Popov/UNICEF;
UN0759932/Biayna Mahari/UNICEF; Sagynbek Ulanov/UN Kyrgyzstan; National Cancer
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ECE/CES/STAT/2024/1
ISBN 978-92-1-003051-9
eISBN 978-92-1-358795-9
ISSN 0069-8458
eISSN 2959-4170
Sales N° E.24.II.E.13
URU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 123: Statusrapport 2024 fra FN's Økonomiske Kommission for Europa (UNECE): Sustainable development in the UNECE Region: Facing a Headwind in 2024
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Foreword
The Sustainable Development Goals Summit of 2023 marked an essential high-level
commitment to accelerate progress towards Agenda 2030. Agreeing to the United Nations
Secretary-General’s Rescue Plan for People and Planet, world leaders injected new confidence
in the ability to deliver a better future. However, with the resounding impacts of the Covid-19
pandemic, the continuous war against Ukraine, the shocks arising from climate change, the high
interest rates and still-elevated inflation, efforts to advance towards the SDGs are facing strong
headwinds, both globally and in the region of the United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe.
These challenges remind us again of the pressing need for international cooperation and
solidarity, as well as of the importance of scaling up action at regional and country level. With
these commitments at its core, the eighth UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development
is being organized in 2024, bringing stakeholders together to promote action, find solutions and
foster peer learning to achieve the sustainability transformation in the UNECE region.
To inform the debate, it is essential to know where the region stands in fulfilling the 2030 Agenda,
examining which targets are on track to be achieved and which are not. The Regional SDG
Progress Report provides this information, revealing some of the adverse impacts of the crises
on the prospects for achieving the SDGs. Progress remains on track for only a few targets, and
the areas in which trends must be turned around have been increasing in the last years.
Looking ahead to the Summit of the Future in September 2024 – the next global opportunity to
reinvigorate the SDGs – we all recognize that these Goals are our future, providing us with hope
and steering our actions. This report presents stories by the United Nations country teams,
international agencies, and all UNECE programme areas. Those stories keep hope alive,
illustrating the actions of the countries and the international community that make change
happen.
Tatiana Molcean
United Nations Under-Secretary-General
UNECE Executive Secretary
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URU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 123: Statusrapport 2024 fra FN's Økonomiske Kommission for Europa (UNECE): Sustainable development in the UNECE Region: Facing a Headwind in 2024
Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1
Progress in the UNECE region .............................................................................. 2
How is progress assessed? ................................................................................................ 2
How many targets are on track? ......................................................................................... 2
Which targets are on track? ............................................................................................... 4
Stories .............................................................................................................. 10
Key messages ................................................................................................................. 10
Second SDG Dialogue “Towards 2030: Social and economic inclusiveness in
Azerbaijan” ..................................................................................................................... 14
Child poverty ................................................................................................................... 19
Filling a reporting gap on policy frameworks to eradicate poverty: methodology and
data availability ............................................................................................................... 23
SDG indicator on overweight among children: how are countries doing with data
availability? ..................................................................................................................... 26
Promotion of result-based budgeting in healthcare sector of the Republic of Belarus to
meet SDG targets and strengthening health protection ..................................................... 29
Artificial glacier helps mountain village in Kyrgyzstan meet water needs ............................ 31
TIR Convention, the United Nations global border crossing facilitation solution ................. 34
A new financing mechanism for green investments in North Macedonia ............................ 39
Adaptation of cities to climate-related extreme events ..................................................... 42
How UN standards and partnerships helped to unlock geothermal energy in Albania ......... 46
Urban trees for climate and SDGs: mobilizing action at the local, national and
international level............................................................................................................ 50
Voices heard: navigating progress through citizen-driven decision making......................... 54
Advancing environmental justice and good governance through the Aarhus Convention
and the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers ........................................... 58
Third SDG Dialogue “Reflections on the outcome of the global SDG Summit 2023 and
the role of Supreme Audit Institutions in SDGs implementation” ....................................... 63
Mystery of Sary Kol – a game for change ........................................................................... 66
Achieving the SDGs through public-private partnerships by promoting quality, reliable,
sustainable and resilient infrastructure ............................................................................ 69
National indicators for measuring progress with SDGs ...................................................... 72
Technical notes on the progress assessment ..................................................... 74
Data................................................................................................................................ 74
Assessment measure ...................................................................................................... 74
Estimation and aggregation ............................................................................................. 74
Target values ................................................................................................................... 75
Indicators used in the assessment ................................................................................... 77
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Figures
Figure 1 National poverty line and the proportion of population living below it (SDG 1.2.1)
in Azerbaijan, 2005–2022 ................................................................................... 15
Figure 2 Sources of household income by income quintile, Azerbaijan, 2022 ......................... 16
Figure 3 Account ownership at a financial institution or with a mobile-money-service
provider (SDG 8.10.2), Azerbaijan, 2011–2022..................................................... 16
Figure 4 Freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
(SDG 6.4.2), Azerbaijan, 2010–2022 .................................................................... 17
Figure 5 Water productivity in Azerbaijan, 2010–2022 ........................................................... 18
Figure 6 Child material deprivation in Europe, 2021, per cent ................................................ 21
Figure 7 Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight, per cent .......................... 27
Figure 8 Flow of data and documents in the eTIR system....................................................... 36
Figure 9 Structure of the Green Finance Facility for small and medium-sized enterprises ....... 40
Figure 10 Structure of the Green Finance Facility for underserved individuals or
households ....................................................................................................... 40
Figure 11 Extreme heat warning of the Met Office ................................................................. 44
Figure 12 Geothermal map of Albania .................................................................................. 47
Figure 13 Weighted average canopy cover in functional urban areas (FUA) with available
data .................................................................................................................. 52
Figure 14 Percentage of countries with legal provisions on access to information,
participation, and/or access to justice in the environmental context, 2021 .......... 59
Figure 15 Number of findings and recommendations by the Aarhus Convention
Compliance Committee per sector as of October 2021 ....................................... 60
Figure 16 Example of the pollutant release and transfer register of Norway indicating the
use of energy (diesel consumption) by an operator per year................................. 61
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Introduction
Every year, all five United Nations regional commissions organize regional forums for sustainable
development for international exchanges among governments and other stakeholders. In the
region of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which comprises
56
countries
of Europe, North America and Central Asia,
the Regional Forum on Sustainable
Development
will be held for the eighth time on 13 and 14 March 2024 in Geneva.
The 2030 Agenda cannot be fulfilled without relevant and timely
statistics
to track progress. Data
are needed to enable us to understand the overall levels of progress, to design and monitor the
results and impact of policy actions, and to identify areas, groups or regions that risk being left
behind.
UNECE disseminates knowledge and data on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
through its designated platforms – the
Knowledge Hub, Dashboard
and
Database.
Guidance for
national statistical offices on how to manage a system for statistics and indicators for SDGs is
contained in
the UNECE Road Map
1
. Every year since 2020, the UNECE Statistical Division has
prepared a report
2
on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals in the UNECE region,
to inform debates of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. This
fifth report
provides
an up-to-date assessment of progress as well as stories about regional and country-level actions
for sustainable development.
The
assessment
covers every goal and target for which there are data and for which it is possible
to set a target value. While the assessment looks at the trends at the regional level only, it is
understood that variation among countries is sizable in all areas and a trend in any individual
country may differ from the general trend observed in the region. The regional assessment
presented in the present 2024 report relies on
the global indicator framework for SDGs
3
and the
available data on UNECE countries in
the United Nations Global SDG Indicators Database
as of
15 December 2023.
Technical notes on the progress assessment
at the end of this report explain
the methodology used.
The agencies and United Nations country teams participating in the Regional Coordination Group
on Data and Statistics for Europe and Central Asia and all UNECE programmes provided
stories.
These 17 stories provide rich insights into the ways in which various regional and country level
actions relate to sustainable development outcomes. Most of the stories pertain to the goals that
are under in-depth review by the 2024 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development: 1
(end poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 13 (climate action), 16 (peace and justice) and 17 (partnerships for
the goals). The stories show concrete ways in which progress towards SDGs is being made in the
region.
1
UNECE (2022).
Road map on statistics for Sustainable Development Goals – second edition.
Geneva: United
Nations.
2
UNECE (2020).
Towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the UNECE region: a statistical portrait of
progress and challenges.
Geneva: United Nations
UNECE (2021).
Is the UNECE region on track for 2030? Assessment, stories and insights.
Geneva: United Nations.
UNECE (2022).
Halfway to 2030: how many targets will be achieved in the UNECE region? Snapshot and insights in
2022.
Geneva: United Nations.
UNECE (2023).
Growing challenges for sustainable development: can the UNECE region turn the tide in 2024?
Geneva: United Nations.
3
United Nations (2022).
Global indicator framework for the Sustainable Development Goals and targets of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Adopted by the General Assembly in A/RES/71/313 (Annex) in 2017. Changes
and refinements 2018–2022: E/CN.3/2018/2, E/CN.3/2019/2, E/CN.3/2020/2, E/CN.3/2021/2, E/CN.3/2022/2.
1
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Progress in the UNECE region
How is progress assessed?
The progress assessment relies on
the global indicator framework for SDGs
and the available
data on UNECE countries in
the United Nations Global SDG Indicators Database
as of
15 December 2023.
Data
collected in 2020 or later make it possible to include trends since the
onset of the Covid-19 pandemic for 143 out of the 160 indicators used in this assessment. For 44
of them, data are available up to the year 2022.
For each indicator, the assessment uses
desired target values
for 2030. The 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development explicitly or implicitly defines target values for 77 indicators included
in this progress assessment. For the others, the “champion area” approach is used to define the
region’s target value.
For each country and indicator,
anticipated values
were estimated for 2030, based on the pace
of progress thus far. These anticipated values are considered at the regional level, based on the
median across all UNECE countries. The assessment is provided by comparing the anticipated
values to the desired target values.
It is acknowledged that
variation
among countries can be significant and the situation in any
individual country may differ from the assessment given to the entire region. For information on
the
methodology,
see
Technical notes on the progress assessment.
Progress for the UNECE region can be measured towards 117 of the 169 SDG targets. The chart
on the next page presents the anticipated progress towards these targets in the region. Each
target is coloured according to the gap between anticipated and required progress. The colour is
green if the pace of progress is sufficient to reach the target value by 2030; yellow if progress
needs to accelerate to reach the target value; and red if the currently observed trend runs counter
to the desired direction. If the target cannot be assessed, it is shown in grey.
How many targets are on track?
If the current path is followed,
the region will achieve only 20 targets
(17 per cent of measurable
targets) by 2030. This is down from 21 targets assessed as being on track last year.
For 80 targets
(up from 79 last year),
progress needs to accelerate,
and
for 17 targets
(up from
15 last year),
the current trend must be reversed.
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Sustainable development in the UNECE region: facing a headwind in 2024
Which targets are on track?
In recent years, the UNECE region has been shaken by the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine,
the energy crisis and surging inflation. As earlier UNECE reports
4
have shown, progress towards
the SDGs was already too slow in the region before these crises. The 2023 assessment
5
indicated
that the region was falling further off track. With the inclusion of the data that has become
available in the past year, the present assessment reveals additional negative impacts of the
crises on the prospective achievement of the SDGs, alongside a few positive developments.
The region is not on track to reduce
poverty
by half by 2030 (goal 1).
The share of people living in poverty according to national definitions
(target 1.2) is decreasing in most UNECE countries, but not quickly
enough to halve the level by 2030. In one third of countries with data,
more than 20 per cent of the population live below the income poverty
threshold (indicator 1.2.1). Measures of multidimensional poverty
(indicator 1.2.2) consider various aspects of deprivation. They indicate
that the share of people experiencing poverty is higher than when it is
measured based on income only, and more than half of the countries with data have
multidimensional poverty levels above 20 per cent. Extreme poverty according to the
internationally-defined poverty line (target 1.1) remains rare in the UNECE region.
Those at the highest risk of poverty, such as persons with disabilities and families with young
children, are well covered by social protection in the UNECE region (target 1.3), but not everyone
who would benefit from this type of support is receiving it. While the coverage of unemployment
cash benefits is expanding in most countries, less than half of unemployed persons across the
region receive them (indicator 1.3.1). Access to basic drinking water services is universal,
whereas access to the basic sanitation services (indicator 1.4.1) would need to improve faster to
reach full coverage by 2030.
On
food security and diversity
(goal 2) no target is on track.
Access to sufficient and nutritious food (target 2.1) is not universal in the
UNECE region. In half of the countries in the region, the share of adults
experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity (indicator 2.1.2) has
increased since 2015, and in one third of the countries, more than 10 per
cent of all adults experience food insecurity. Undernourishment
(indicator 2.2.1) is rare with only eight countries showing values above
zero. Food security and good nutrition concerns both the quantity and
quality of food, and efforts to reduce childhood obesity (indicator 2.2.2) and anaemia in
reproductive-age women (indicator 2.2.3) need to be accelerated.
Progress is being made towards maintaining a diverse and nutritious food supply for future
generations (target 2.5) as the number of animal breeds and plants for which genetic resources
4
UNECE (2021).
Is the UNECE region on track for 2030? Assessment, stories and insights.
Geneva: United Nations.
UNECE (2022).
Halfway to 2030: how many targets will be achieved in the UNECE region? Snapshot and insights in
2022.
Geneva: United Nations.
5
UNECE (2023).
Growing challenges for sustainable development: can the UNECE region turn the tide in 2023?
Geneva: United Nations
4
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Progress in the UNECE region
are stored (indicator 2.5.1) is growing. However, the increase in the proportion of local breeds at
risk of extinction (indicator 2.5.2) must be reversed. The region has witnessed a continuous
decrease in the orientation of government expenditures towards agriculture (indicator 2.a.1).
On
health
and
well-being
(goal 3), three targets on reducing premature mortality are on
track while improvements must accelerate on all the other targets.
Progress assessment is possible for all the 13 targets under goal 3. The
region is set to achieve targets on child and maternal mortality (targets
3.1 and 3.2) and non-communicable diseases and mental health
(target 3.4).
The pace of progress on sexual and reproductive health (3.7) is sluggish.
Across the UNECE region, one quarter of women still have an unmet need
for modern methods of family planning (indicator 3.7.1). The prevalence of tobacco use (indicator
3.a.1) has been decreasing in nearly all countries, but slowly, as a quarter of all people aged 15
years and older across the region are still users. The share of the child population receiving
recommended vaccinations (indicator 3.b.1) is high, but the region is not on track to achieve
universal access by 2030.
Healthcare coverage (indicator 3.8.1) is slowly improving, while the relative cost of healthcare for
households is on the rise (indicator 3.8.2). The pandemic put stress on health systems and
highlighted gaps in public health capacities where progress has been stagnant (target 3.d).
The region must address disparities to achieve targets on
education
(goal 4).
Slow progress towards universal and quality education (target 4.1) is related to persisting
inequalities between advantaged and disadvantaged students. While gender parity in proficiency
in reading and mathematics (indicator 4.5.1) has been achieved, stark
gaps remain between urban and rural students, the native-born and the
foreign-born, and the rich and the poor. Differences across countries
also impede regional progress towards education targets. Near-
universal participation in early-childhood education (indicator 4.2.2) in
most countries is offset by a downward trend in one third of the countries
in the region.
The share of youth and adults with information and communications technology skills is
increasing slowly (indicator 4.4.1) and participation in education and training (indicator 4.3.1) of
working age women and men has expanded only marginally since 2015. The region is on track to
ensure minimum required qualifications for teachers at all levels (indicator 4.c.1) except in pre-
school education.
Schools in the region are well equipped and most countries are already providing universal
access to computers and the internet as well as other basic services in schools (indicator 4.a.1).
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Sustainable development in the UNECE region: facing a headwind in 2024
Gender equality
(goal 5) is improving but at the current pace most targets will fall short
by 2030.
Progress on gender equality can only be measured for less than half of
targets. Improvements continue to be slow on policy and legal
frameworks that combat discrimination and support gender equality
(target 5.1). Gender disparities at home (target 5.4) would also have to
narrow a lot faster. The share of women participating in political and
economic life (target 5.5.) is increasing in nearly every country in the
region. The proportions of elected seats held by women in parliaments
and local governments (indicator 5.5.1) have seen greater growth, which, if sustained, would lead
to levels above one third by 2030, hence still short of parity. In technology, the target of women’s
empowerment measured through universal mobile phone ownership (indicator 5.b.1) is well on
track to be achieved.
Most
water
(goal 6) and
energy
(goal 7) targets are progressing too slowly to be
achieved.
Access to safely managed drinking water (target 6.1) is widespread in the
UNECE region, and 20 countries report levels above 99 per cent of the
population. The recent slowdown of improvement would, if continued,
nonetheless leave the region short of the desired target of universal
access by 2030. Without an acceleration of progress, the region will also
come up short on other sanitation and water targets. While the use of
safely managed sanitation services is expanding (indicator 6.2.1), the
current pace of improvement is not enough to attain their universal use by 2030. The trend on
water quality needs to be reversed as the proportion of safely treated domestic wastewater flows
is decreasing in more than half of the countries (indicator 6.3.1).
Water use across the region is becoming more efficient (indicator 6.4.1) and stress on freshwater
resources is decreasing (indicator 6.4.2), but acceleration is needed to achieve the 2030
ambitions. Transboundary water cooperation is strong (indicator 6.5.2), but the rate of
implementation of integrated water resources management (indicator 6.5.1) needs to increase.
The region is on track in establishing mechanisms by which individuals and communities can
contribute meaningfully to decisions about water and sanitation management (target 6.b).
Access to electricity is universal, and nearly all people in the region use
clean fuels for cooking, heating and lighting (target 7.1). Reliance on
renewable energy (indicator 7.2.1) is increasing in more than three
quarters of the countries and energy efficiency (indicator 7.3.1) is
improving in nearly all countries. An acceleration of efforts is critical to
ensure continued access to affordable and sustainable energy.
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Progress in the UNECE region
Progress on
inclusive economic growth
and
decent work
for all (goal 8) needs to
accelerate.
Following the immediate post-pandemic economic recovery, the rate of
growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) per person (indicator 8.1.1)
and per employed person (indicator 8.2.1) has been slowing across the
region. Unemployment (indicator 8.5.2) has declined recently in nearly
all countries, but this reduction would need to pick up pace to arrive at
2030 targets.
Most countries in the region have enacted dedicated strategies for youth employment, and this
target is on track to be achieved (target 8.b). Nonetheless, the region must accelerate efforts to
reduce the share of youth not in employment, education or training (target 8.6), which is still over
10 per cent in most countries. Countries must also accelerate efforts around access to financial
services (target 8.1), formalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (target 8.3), resource
use efficiency (target 8.4), labour rights (8.8), access to financial services (8.10) and aid for trade
(target 8.a) to achieve employment and economic growth that leaves no one behind.
With three targets on track, investments are required to meet most targets on
infrastructure, industrialization and innovation
(goal 9).
Data are available for assessing seven out of the eight targets under
goal 9. The share of medium- and high-tech manufacturing value
(indicator 9.b.1) has increased slowly in the UNECE region and exceeds
half of total value-added in 11 countries. To accelerate progress,
investments in research and development (target 9.5) need to be built up
and access to finance for small-scale industries (target 9.3) needs to
improve. The declining trends in the proportion of passengers and freight
transported by rail (indicator 9.1.2) need to be reversed to achieve sustainable and resilient
infrastructure (target 9.1).
The region has progressed well with inclusive and sustainable industrialization (target 9.2), the
carbon-intensity of economic production (target 9.4) is decreasing, and access to information
and communications technology (target 9.c) is widespread. If the current pace of progress can
be maintained the region should achieve these three targets.
Inequalities
within and between countries (goal 10) are narrowing, but not quickly
enough.
Many countries expanded the reach of social transfers during the Covid-
19 pandemic, and available data point to positive impacts on income
inequality. The share of individuals living at below 50 per cent of their
country’s median income level (indicator 10.2.1) has been decreasing in
two thirds of the countries, but not quickly enough, with every tenth
person across the region still in that group. Financial soundness and
regulation (target 10.5) have returned to the path of improvement in 2021,
albeit still falling short of 2030 ambitions. Official development assistance (target 10.b) also
started to increase in 2021 and will need to pick up pace to get on track.
While more work is needed to achieve safe migration and mobility (target 10.7), the region is on
track to reduce the costs of migrant remittances (target 10.c).
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Sustainable development in the UNECE region: facing a headwind in 2024
Progress towards
safe and sustainable cities
(goal 11) is mixed.
The region is set to achieve targets on access to adequate housing and
basic services (target 11.1) as the proportion of urban population living in
slums (indicator 11.1.1) has decreased markedly in all countries with
data. Air pollution in cities (target 11.6) has gone down rapidly in nearly
all countries. The region is also on track with adopting and implementing
strategies for disaster risk reduction (target 11.b).
The impact of such strategies is mixed. The economic impact of disasters is becoming less
severe (indicator 11.5.2), but the number of people in the region affected by disasters (indicator
11.5.1) continues to increase. The region must therefore accelerate efforts to strengthen
resilience to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. Improving the preservation,
protection and conservation of cultural and natural heritage (target 11.4) must also accelerate.
Only two
climate
and
environmental
targets (goals 12–15)
6
are on track; for seven
targets the trend must be reversed.
Subsidies related to the consumption and
production of fossil fuels (target 12.c) have
recently begun to increase in most countries.
This makes it unlikely that the region can get on
track with cutting greenhouse gas emissions
(target 13.2). While disaster risk reduction
strategies have been adopted comprehensively
on national and local levels (indicators 13.1.2 and 13.1.3), the number of persons affected by
disasters (indicator 13.1.1) has continued to increase. The region must accelerate progress on
the sustainable use of natural resources (target 12.2) and waste reduction and treatment (targets
12.4 and 12.5).
Recent data indicate that progress towards reducing marine pollution
(target 14.1) and conserving coastal areas (target 14.5) requires
acceleration. The region must reverse trends in sustainable fishing
(target 14.7), and research and development on marine technology
(target 14.a), which are moving in the wrong direction. The pace of
progress is on track on combating unreported and unregulated fishing
(target 14.6) and legal protections of access rights for small-scale
fisheries (target 14.b).
The region is progressing towards sustainable forest management, and
forest area is increasing in most countries in the region (target 15.2), but
not quickly enough to reach the 2030 targets. Faster improvement is also
needed in protecting terrestrial biodiversity areas (indicator 15.1.2) and
mountain ecosystems (target 15.4), adopting frameworks for sharing
benefits and accessing genetic resources (target 15.6), reducing the
impact of alien invasive species (target 15.8), and providing official
development assistance for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity (indicator
15.a.1/15.b.1).
6
For a full list of climate and environment targets and indicators, see United Nations Environment Programme
(2019).
Measuring progress: towards achieving the environmental dimension of the SDGs.
Nairobi: United Nations.
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Progress in the UNECE region
The region is failing to halt land degradation (target 15.3) and the loss of biodiversity (target 15.5).
Only a third of countries have lowered species’ extinction risk (indicator 15.5.1) since 2015.
The region must address critical issues to improve
peace and justice
(goal 16).
Countries in the UNECE region are getting safer. Homicide is rare in most
countries (indicator 16.1.1) and robberies (indicator 16.1.3) are
decreasing. Still, one quarter of people across countries with data do not
feel safe walking alone after dark (indicator 16.1.4), and overall progress
to reduce violence across the region is too slow (target 16.1).
The region falls short in reducing corruption and bribery (target 16.5).
While previously assessed as being on track, newly available data on the prevalence of bribery
(indicator 16.5.1) show an upturn in most countries with data – a trend that needs to be reversed.
The region must also reverse trends to eliminate human trafficking (target 16.2) and strengthen
public institutions (target 16.6).
Progress with access to justice (target 16.3) is mixed. The rate of robberies reported to the police
(indicator 16.3.1) is improving slightly, whereas two thirds of countries are seeing an increase in
the share of unsentenced detainees in the prison population (indicator 16.3.2).
The number of countries in the region with an independent national human rights institution in
compliance with the Paris Principles (indicator 16.a.1) remains at 31 (out of 56). Decision-making
bodies across the region are becoming more reflective of the populations they represent (target
16.7) but acceleration is needed to achieve proportionate representation of women and young
people in parliaments and judiciaries by 2030.
Partnerships and evidence
for sustainable development (goal 17) must be
strengthened to achieve targets.
Trend needs to be reversed for three SDG targets under goal 17.
Macroeconomic stability (target 17.13) has deteriorated; the share of
domestic budgets funded by domestic taxes (target 17.1) declined in
2020 in nearly every country with data; and the use of country-owned
results frameworks in development interventions is decreasing in the
region (target 17.15).
Progress towards development assistance to least developed countries (target 17.2), technology
transfer (target 17.7), more open trade (target 17.10) and improved market access for developing
countries (target 17.12) is slow. As countries work on crisis recovery, they have fewer resources
to commit to international cooperation and support for the implementation of the SDGs.
However, recent data show that in 2021 financial and technical development assistance for
SDGs (target 17.9) returned to a path of growth, which would need to pick up pace to attain the
2030 ambition.
Data availability for monitoring the SDGs is improving. The number of global SDG indicators that
could not be assessed in the UNECE region because of insufficient availability of country data
decreased from 77 in 2023 to 71 in this assessment. The region needs to intensify its investment
in statistical capacity (targets 17.18, 17.19).
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The agencies and United Nations country teams participating in the Regional Coordination Group
on Data and Statistics for Europe and Central Asia and all UNECE programmes provided
stories.
These 17 stories provide rich insights into the ways in which various regional and country level
actions relate to sustainable development outcomes.
Key messages
Second SDG Dialogue
“Towards 2030: Social and
economic inclusiveness in
Azerbaijan”
UN Azerbaijan
A new productivity push is needed in the economy
that would ensure sustained growth and
expansion.
Addressing urban-rural disparities and minimizing
the gender wage gap are important priorities to
enhance inclusive economic growth.
Effectively targeted social protection is key for
protection and social and economic inclusion of
low-income vulnerable households.
Enhancing environmental sustainability, including
water use efficiency, is crucial for the
sustainability of economic growth and social well-
being.
Let us speed up reporting on child poverty!
Child poverty
UNICEF
Filling a reporting gap on
policy frameworks to
eradicate poverty:
methodology and data
availability
UNICEF
SDG indicator on
overweight among
children: how are countries
doing with data
availability?
UNICEF
Data to report on SDG indicator 1.b.1 are
available but under-utilized.
Additional efforts need to be exerted by countries
to monitor the situation of child malnutrition.
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Promotion of result-based
budgeting in healthcare
sector of the Republic of
Belarus to meet SDG
targets and strengthening
health protection
UNFPA Belarus
In the context of the changing market of medical
services, the course towards innovation, the
increasing needs of the population with the
advent of new medicines, the development of
technologies, and the ageing of the population,
the healthcare sector concentrates its efforts on
improving and expanding the practice of using
result-oriented budgeting methods that ensure
sustainable financing of services and the
achievement of the SDGs.
An innovative solution helps villagers stock up
water for a dry summer.
Artificial glacier helps
mountain village in
Kyrgyzstan meet water
needs
FAO Kyrgyzstan
TIR Convention, the United
Nations global border
crossing facilitation
solution
UNECE Transport
A new financing
mechanism for green
investments in North
Macedonia
UNDP North Macedonia
Adaptation of cities to
climate-related extreme
events
United Nations Office for
Disaster Risk Reduction
The TIR system with its electronic TIR procedure
turns borders into bridges. It is a trade, transport
and border crossings facilitation tool permitting
smooth and efficient customs operations at the
borders.
The Green Finance Facility (GFF) UN Joint
Programme has established a new financing
mechanism that provides affordable finance for
small and medium-sized enterprises and
households of marketable but underserved target
groups.
The Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative has
effectively encapsulated diverse initiatives
undertaken by local governments to tackle urban
heat and wildfire issues. By facilitating knowledge
exchange, MCR2030 fosters a shared
understanding of these challenges and empowers
local actors and policymakers to collaborate.
Albania assessed its geothermal resources,
boosting the preparedness for low-carbon energy
transitions and inspiring other countries in the
region to explore their geothermal resources.
How UN standards and
partnerships helped to
unlock geothermal energy
in Albania
UNECE Sustainable Energy
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Urban trees for climate and
SDGs: mobilizing action at
the local, national and
international level
UNECE Forestry, Housing
and Land Management
Voices heard: navigating
progress through citizen-
driven decision making
UNDP North Macedonia
We need urban trees and nature to deliver
climate, biodiversity and sustainable
development goals in cities, where most people
live.
UNDP in North Macedonia promotes citizens-
centred decision making by engaging individuals
regardless of their age, sex, place of living,
ethnicity or social group to get involved, thus
directly contributing towards SDG16, more
specifically the target 16.7 – Ensure responsive,
inclusive, participatory and representative
decision-making at all levels.
The Convention on Access to Information, Public
Participation in Decision-making and Access to
Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus
Convention) and the Protocol on Pollutant
Release and Transfer Registers (Protocol on
PRTRs) provide a solid framework for
governments to engage the public effectively in
implementing the SDGs, in particular SDG 16.
These instruments empower people to exercise
the rights to access to information, participate in
decision-making and seek justice effectively,
inclusively and safely.
Under the Government leadership, all
stakeholders, including Supreme Audit
Institutions, international partners, private sector,
civil society and academia need to work together
to support the implementation of Azerbaijan’s
National Commitments for accelerated progress
towards SDGs.
Supreme Audit Institutions can be instrumental in
ensuring the accountability of public institutions
on SDG implementation performance.
Ensuring predictable, sustainable and sufficient
development finance as well as its effective use
are critical for the achievement of SDGs.
A mobile game from Kyrgyzstan reached the final
of the international competition Games for
Change, which illustrates how effective
partnerships can address empowerment of girls.
Advancing environmental
justice and good
governance through the
Aarhus Convention and the
Protocol on Pollutant
Release and Transfer
Registers
UNECE Environment
Third SDG Dialogue
“Reflections on the
outcome of the global SDG
Summit 2023 and the role
of Supreme Audit
Institutions in SDGs
implementation”
UN Azerbaijan
Mystery of Sary Kol – a
game for change
UN Kyrgyzstan
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Achieving the SDGs
through public-private
partnerships by promoting
quality, reliable,
sustainable and resilient
infrastructure
UNECE Economic
Cooperation and Trade
National indicators for
measuring progress with
SDGs
UNECE Statistics
As a means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development, public-private
partnerships (PPPs) remain essential to
accelerate progress towards the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
Most UNECE countries have developed national
indicators and reporting platforms to measure
progress with SDGs on the national level and
support the production of the SDG Voluntary
National Reviews. The evidence base for SDGs is
therefore significantly stronger than can be
deducted from the availability of internationally
agreed indicators alone. To improve
understanding of the situation, UNECE has
developed a tool for country self-assessment of
SDG indicator availability.
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Second SDG Dialogue “Towards 2030: Social and economic
inclusiveness in Azerbaijan”
UN Azerbaijan
A new productivity push is needed in the economy that would ensure sustained
growth and expansion.
Addressing urban-rural disparities and minimizing the gender wage gap are
important priorities to enhance inclusive economic growth.
Effectively targeted social protection is key for protection and social and
economic inclusion of low-income vulnerable households.
Enhancing environmental sustainability, including water use efficiency, is crucial
for the sustainability of economic growth and social well-being.
On 14 June 2023 the second SDG Dialogue “Towards
2030: Social and economic inclusiveness
in Azerbaijan”
was held bringing together over 100 representatives from government agencies,
the United Nations (UN), international financial institutions (IFIs), the diplomatic community, the
private sector, civil society and academia. The event was organised by the National Coordination
Council on Sustainable Development of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Economy, and the UN.
Participants reviewed Azerbaijan’s progress towards inclusive growth and reflected on additional
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policy measures to enhance social and economic inclusiveness in the country in line with the
central principle of SDGs of
leaving no one behind.
The analysis of Azerbaijan’s progress on inclusive growth and social inclusion was conducted in
line with
the Inclusive Growth Index (IGI)
of the United Nations Conference for Trade and
Development (UNCTAD), which is comprised of four pillars: (i) Economy; (ii) Living conditions;
(iii) Equality; and (iv) Environment; and 27 indicators across these four pillars. For the purposes
of this analysis, additional indicators on expenditures on health, education, and social
protection have been added under the third pillar to capture the financing aspects of these social
sectors.
The analysis showed that the Government of Azerbaijan has consistently implemented a number
of large-scale state programmes aimed at enhancing the well-being of the population and their
social and economic inclusion, with significant results achieved. Azerbaijan’s economy has seen
a notable transformation in the three decades since independence in 1991. The gross domestic
product (GDP) per capita has grown around three times between 2005 and 2021. This has
resulted in the country’s progress to an upper middle-income level. The most significant
outcome of the efforts has been the reduction of poverty. The proportion of population living
below the national poverty line decreased from nearly 30 per cent in 2005 to 4.9 per cent in 2015.
After rising to 6.2 per cent in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, by 2022 the poverty level fell to
5.7 per cent (Figure
1).
Figure 1
National poverty line and the proportion of population living below it (SDG 1.2.1) in
Azerbaijan, 2005–2022
Source:
State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
The unemployment rate was under 5 per cent since 2010, surged to 7.2 per cent in 2020 due to
the pandemic and stabilized at 5.6 per cent in 2022. However, around 36 per cent of the
employed work in agriculture which produces 6–7 per cent of GDP. Unleashing the productivity
growth in agriculture and expansion of high-skill employment will be important in going forward.
Labour productivity in Azerbaijan, measured as GDP per person employed, dropped due to the
Covid-19 pandemic in 2020; however, a gradual increase is observed starting 2021. While output
per worker remains lower than in other upper-middle income countries in Europe and Central
Asia, its growth rate in recent years has been one of the highest among them.
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Figure 2
Sources of household income by income quintile, Azerbaijan, 2022
Source:
State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan (2023).
Key findings of the household survey
Breakdown of household income by quintiles shows that the main source of income for
households in the lowest income quintile is self-employment, followed by employment and
social transfers, while the main source in the highest income quintile is employment, suggesting
that formal employment is instrumental for higher household incomes in Azerbaijan (Figure
2).
Figure 3
Account ownership at a financial institution or with a mobile-money-service
provider (SDG 8.10.2), Azerbaijan, 2011–2022
Source:
Global Findex Database,
World Bank
In 2021 the wages of women were on average 64.8 per cent of that of men. The gender wage gap
was more significant in science and technology, financial services, transportation,
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manufacturing and mining. Coverage of the unemployment benefit increased from 1.6 per cent
in 2016 to 19.1 per cent in 2020, which is critical to sustain the livelihoods as well as to support
upskilling and re-skilling of unemployed persons.
Recently released data by the World Bank’s financial inclusion index (Findex) indicates that in
2022 bank account ownership in Azerbaijan reached to 46 per cent of the population aged 15
years and older (Figure
3).
This is an important progress for expanding financial inclusion of the
population. Nonetheless, Azerbaijan’s performance on this indicator remains below regional
average.
Figure 4
Freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
(SDG 6.4.2), Azerbaijan, 2010–2022
Source:
Statistical Bulletin: Environment in Azerbaijan, 2023
According to the inclusive growth concept, economic growth and socially inclusive co-
production associated with greater economic opportunity will be unsustainable without efficient
and sustainable use of natural resources. The key is to create more economic value with fewer
resources in order not to compromise people's future well-being.
Among natural assets, water resources play a critical role for the sustainable development of
Azerbaijan where more than 70 per cent of water resources are generated outside the country.
Given the continuing expansion of the economy, water stress, measured in terms of freshwater
withdrawal as a proportion of available water resources, has been steadily increasing in the past
decade, reaching 57.5 per cent in 2022 (Figure
4).
Water stress level is considered high when this
measure is in the range from 40 to 80 per cent. The volume of water consumption has also been
increasing since 2014, mainly driven by increase in irrigation and agriculture. Concerning water
use efficiency, water productivity fluctuated in the past decade until falling to 3.70 United States
dollars of GDP per cubic metre in 2020. However, significant improvement in water productivity
has been observed in 2021 and 2022 (Figure
5),
which, if continued, could be a game changer in
mitigating the increasing water stress in the country.
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Figure 5
Water productivity in Azerbaijan, 2010–2022
Source:
Statistical Bulletin: Environment in Azerbaijan, 2023
Looking ahead
A new productivity push is needed in the economy that would ensure sustained growth and
expansion. Efforts aimed at productivity enhancement should consider technological
improvement and innovations in all spheres of the economy, better trade integration and
diversification of exports, as well as expanded investments in skills, research and development
and technology transfer. Policies that target more balanced rural-urban development would be
needed to boost the productive capacities and employment opportunities in all parts of the
country. It will be important to continue policies on reducing the gender wage gap with the view
to increase the ratio of women’s monthly average wages to men’s monthly average wages to 80
per cent by 2026, in line with the Strategy of Socio-Economic Development in 2022-2026.
Effectively targeted social protection schemes need to be continued to protect the households
in low-income groups from high food inflation, especially in the periods when relatively high food
inflation is observed, among others due to global developments. Accordingly, shock-responsive
social protection mechanisms could be introduced, that is, mechanisms for better social
protection for low-income and vulnerable groups during possible emergencies such as an
economic recession or a pandemic.
Considering the increasing water stress in the economy, improving water use efficiency and
water productivity of GDP should be prioritized going forward. This would require boosting
investments in agriculture, water supply and waste treatment to enhance the sustainable use of
land and water resources and ensure sustainable waste management.
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Child poverty
UNICEF
Let us speed up reporting on child poverty!
Child poverty is distinct from adult and household poverty as children's needs and experiences
of poverty are different from those of adults. For example, children's nutritional and educational
requirements vary by age and are not the same as for adults. Thus, child poverty needs to be
conceptualised and explicitly measured. This is important because a household-level estimation
of poverty or material deprivation may misrepresent or obscure the actual situation of children’s
deprivation.
SDG indicator 1.2.2 explicitly mentions children, and the official reporting mechanism includes
a specific line to report on the material deprivations children suffer. Thus, it requires a child-
focused measure, not just the disaggregation of household estimates.
Fortunately, most of the countries in the region have data to properly report on this indicator. For
example, Eurostat presents data on child-specific material deprivations
7
for children aged less
7
Eurostat Statistics Explained.
Glossary: child deprivation.
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Sustainable development in the UNECE region: facing a headwind in 2024
than 16 years, which are strictly comparable across countries (based on EU SILC). While the data
do not allow for intra-household disparities across children (a feature which could be improved
in the future, along with more data about children across a range of other indicators and
domains), they are representative for all children in each country and for some sub-national
groups (by age of the child; by household composition, or by educational attainment level of their
parents.). Based on EU-SILC in the European Union 13 per cent of children younger than 16 years
of age were materially deprived in 2021.
8
Other countries in the European and Central Asia region
also have estimated child poverty based on material deprivations using national household
surveys
9
.
However, despite the existence of child-specific material deprivation data it is not reported to the
UN SDG Indicators Database. Only one country (Armenia) is officially reporting on child-specific
material deprivation. In contrast, about 30 countries report household-level material
deprivations in the SDG database.
Interestingly, not only is it possible to estimate child poverty using SILC periodically (in principle
every three years), but the information can also be disaggregated. Eurostat has reported that
material deprivation among children whose parents have low levels of education is about ten
times higher than among children whose parents have high levels of education.
10
In Armenia,
child-specific material deprivation among rural children was 50 per cent higher than among
urban children in 2017
11
.
An important characteristic of the situation, which underlines the need for reporting, is the gap
between the child-specific estimate of material deprivation and the disaggregation of the annual
household indicator on deprivation
12
. According to Eurostat, the percentage of children (less
than 18 years old) in severely materially and socially deprived households
13
in 2021 was 7.5 per
cent and in 2022 8.4 per cent,
14
which is just above half of the rate for the child-specific measure
(Figure
6).
Moreover, SILC data can be used to assess trends. The first measurement of child-specific
deprivation (using 2014 SILC data and the same indicators as in 2021) was almost twice as high
as the 2021 estimates.
15
8
Eurostat Statistics Explained( 2023),
Children – material deprivation.
Eurostat data browser 2024,
Material
deprivation rate by age group – EU-SILC survey.
9
For example, the Integrated Living Conditions Survey in Armenia.
10
Eurostat Statistics Explained (2023).
Children – material deprivation.
Eurostat data browser 2023,
Child specific
material deprivation rate by educational attainment level of their parents (children aged less than 16 years)
11
Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia,
Armenia – poverty snapshot over 2008–2017. Part I.
12
Eurostat Statistics Explained.
Glossary: child deprivation.
13
Eurostat Statistics Explained.
Glossary: severe material and social deprivation rate (SMSD)
14
Eurostat data browser (2023).
Severe material and social deprivation rate by age and sex.
15
Guio A-C, Marlier E, Vandenbroucke F, Verbunt P (2020).
Micro- and macro-drivers of child deprivation in 31
European countries.
Eurostat statistical working-papers. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
While these estimates are not available in the Eurostat database, they were carried out using the same methodology,
indicators, and cut-off point. Even if not strictly comparable, they provide an approximate order of magnitude for the
change in child-specific material deprivation between 2014 and 2021. It is expected that the series will be available
every three years starting from 2021 and the results will be fully comparable between countries and years of data
collection.
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Figure 6
Child material deprivation in Europe, 2021, per cent
Source for child-specific material deprivation: Eurostat Statistics Explained 2023,
Children – material
deprivation.
Source for children in materially deprived households: Eurostat data browser 2024,
Severe material and
social deprivation rate by sex.
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There is a positive and promising story regarding child poverty in the Europe and Central Asia
region, in particular the reduction in the percentage of children experiencing material deprivation.
There is plenty of data to report from countries in the region based on the EUROSTAT results
(which are expected to be periodically updated every three years starting from EU-SILC 2021).
There is just a need to channel the information to the UN Global SDG Indicators Database
properly, which is an issue that goes beyond data flows. As there is no custodian for this indicator,
the World Bank, UNDP, and UNICEF have been officially entrusted to assist countries and
national statistical offices in reporting and are committed to collaborate with all Governments in
this regard. Moreover, the data for most countries show substantial progress in reducing child-
specific material deprivation. This is a story worth telling. In addition, the data should be used to
learn about which policies have contributed to this success story, for example, updating the
Eurostat analysis of micro- and macro-determinants of child-specific deprivation.
16
UNICEF is
ready to participate and collaborate with the national statistical offices that engage in such
efforts.
16
Guio A-C, Marlier E, Vandenbroucke F, Verbunt P. 2020.
Micro- and macro-drivers of child deprivation in 31
European countries.
Eurostat statistical working-papers. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
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Filling a reporting gap on policy frameworks to eradicate poverty:
methodology and data availability
UNICEF
Data to report on SDG indicator 1.b.1 are available but under-utilized.
The provision of public services, like health and education, is important for the realisation of child
rights and crucial to children's quality of life. It is also a major determinant of poverty and
inequality among children and across the whole population. Considering this, as part of the 2020
Comprehensive Review, the UN Statistical Commission accepted a proposal by Save the
Children and UNICEF for an indicator to measure SDG target 1.b concerning sound policy
frameworks to accelerate poverty eradication, which was previously lacking any indicator.
Indicator 1.b.1, Pro-poor public social spending, measures the proportion of government
expenditure in direct transfers (cash and near-cash transfers) in health and in education which
benefit the monetary poor. However, the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic prevented progress in
reporting this new indicator.
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As of December 2023, information about the share of public social spending benefitting the poor
was available for only ten countries in the UN SDG Indicators Database. Only one country from
Europe and Central Asia, the United Kingdom, is among the ten. It is interesting to compare this
situation to SDG 10.4.2 (Redistributive impact of fiscal policy) which basically uses the same
underlying data – almost 40 countries in the region are reporting it.
Benefit or fiscal incidence analyses (the basis of indicator 10.4.2) are required to measure pro-
poor public spending. Such analyses compute the benefits individuals or households receive
from different public services by linking budget data with nationally representative household
surveys. The methodology was developed and documented in the 1970s
17
, based on even earlier
work carried out in the US and UK as early as the 1930s and 1940s. Excellent documentation,
training, and data have been produced and collected by the Commitment to Equity Institute at
Tulane University (CEQ), including a manual on how to carry out benefit incidence analysis.
18
Benefit incidence analysis attributes monetary value to in-kind transfers (for instance, in
education and health services) accruing to groups or segments of the income/consumption
distribution (e.g. quintiles). Although usually for simplicity and ease of calculation, average
government costs are used, this is clearly an over-simplification (also, the distribution of benefits
varies across sub-sectors such as primary/secondary education, preventive/curative health
services, or cash transfers/old age pensions). In addition, the unit cost of services is not the same
throughout each country, not even within provinces or cities.
19
While some of these differences
are related to marginalised areas receiving less resources (and poorer quality services), in other
cases, differential unit costs are warranted (and if the information is available, it should be used
in the analysis). For cash and near-cash transfers, their monetary values are used directly.
In the context of the SDGs, indicator 1.b.1 focuses on the share of public social spending
accruing to those living in monetary poverty. In a way, this is simpler than traditional benefit
incidence analysis. Instead of analyzing the distribution of benefits across quartiles, quintiles, or
deciles, only two groups are used (the monetary poor and the nonpoor). The rationale for using
the definition of the monetary poor based on national poverty lines is that government spending
should benefit poor citizens in their own country. This makes it consistent with SDG 1.2.1
(headcount of poverty based on national poverty lines) and should indeed be considered together.
International organizations have collected and disseminated data which can be used to report
on 1.b.1. For instance, the
Atlas of Social Protection Indicators of Resilience and Equity
(ASPIRE)
measures the benefits of social protection programmes (e.g. social assistance and social
insurance) for more than 100 countries. However, the data are reported by income/consumption
quintiles. Consequently, additional work is necessary to properly compare those with monetary
poverty headcounts.
The UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti has estimated the benefit incidence of public
spending on education for 42 countries
20
. The analysis is based on enrolment and expenditure
data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) and wealth disparities from the World
Inequality Database on Education (WIDE). The latter is mostly based on Multiple Indicator and
Meerman, J (1979). Public expenditure in Malaysia: who benefits and why. Oxford University Press for the World
Bank.
Selowsky M (1979). Who benefits from government expenditures? A case study of Colombia. Oxford University Press.
18
Lustig N (ed.) (2018). Commitment to equity handbook: estimating the impact of fiscal policy on inequality and
poverty. Brookings Institution Press.
19
Mehrotra S, Delamónica E (2007). Eliminating human poverty: macroeconomic and social policies for equitable
growth. Zed Books.
20
UNICEF (2020). Addressing the learning crisis: an urgent need to better finance education for the poorest children.
17
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Cluster Surveys (MICS) and Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). Those surveys provide an
asset-based wealth index but do not include a consumption/expenditure module. Thus, wealth
quintiles from those surveys will not necessarily correlate with poverty measures based on
income/consumption surveys, which means additional calculations are needed to use these
data for reporting indicator 1.b.1.
In addition, the work of the Commitment to Equity (CEQ) Institute provides comparable data
covering at least two of the three sectors (education, health, and social transfers) for over 30
countries. Most of them are middle-income countries, and they cover more than half of the
world's population. However, data for very few countries from Europe and Central Asia are
available, which underlines the need to fully utilize the information countries in the region already
have. Otherwise, Governments cannot assess if their financial efforts in social sectors are having
the required impact to eradicate poverty.
Government spending on social sectors is a strong tool to evaluate the commitment
Governments make to protect and invest in their own people, in particular children.
21
Thus,
efforts are needed to combine the already existing (and reported) data on: (i) public spending in
education, health and direct transfers, and (ii) the utilization of these services by different
population groups (including the monetary poor); in order to (iii) assess the share of public
expenditures in these sectors accruing the poor population in the country (SDG indicator 1.b.1).
21
UNICEF (2021). Strengthening the evidence on the correlation between fiscal equity and social outcomes for
children.
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SDG indicator on overweight among children: how are countries
doing with data availability?
UNICEF
Additional efforts need to be exerted by countries to monitor the situation of child
malnutrition.
Childhood overweight is a condition that increases the risk of diet-related noncommunicable
diseases later in life. It has been prompted by industry marketing, greater access to processed
foods, and inadequate physical activity levels. That is why it has been included in the SDG
indicator framework as an important indicator of child malnutrition under SDG 2 (indicator
2.2.2.a).
Prevalence of overweight is the weight for height >+2 standard deviation from the median of the
World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards among children under five years of
age. In 2022, overweight affected 37 million children under age five worldwide, or 5.6 per cent.
The prevalence is higher, at 7.1 per cent in Europe and Central Asia, representing 3.7 million
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children under 5, 10 per cent of all overweight children worldwide.
22
The proportion varies greatly,
the highest in Greece (15 per cent) and lowest in the Republic of Moldova (3 per cent) (Figure
7).
Figure 7
Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight, per cent
Source:
UNECE,
Dashboard for SDGs
22
UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates (JME) –
2023 edition interactive dashboard.
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There are, however, several observations that point to limitations in actual data availability on
this important SDG indicator and call for action.
First,
the estimates are available for only 33
countries (59 per cent) in the UNECE region and 31 countries in UNICEF's Europe and Central
Asia region. That means these countries have data for at least one year between 1990 and 2022,
which was used to generate annual modelled estimates for official SDG reporting. The remaining
countries do not have any data point on overweight among young children
included in the global
database used for SDG monitoring.
23
Second,
for many of the 33 countries with estimates included in the SDG database, the data are
very sparse and old. The estimates for countries with at least one data point are all modelled in
the SDG database, with the aim of providing annual estimates and a harmonized trendline for all
countries, given sparse data. According to the Joint Mortality Estimates database of UNICEF,
WHO, and the World Bank
24
, which is the basis of the SDG data for this indicator, only 18 of 33
have at least one data point on the indicator since 2015, and only 11 (18 per cent) have one data
point since 2018, that is the last five years. The countries are Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,
Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, United States and
Uzbekistan. Except for Lithuania (surveillance data), all other countries’ sources are surveys
(Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys for seven countries).
Prevention of all forms of malnutrition (including wasting and overweight) is achieved through
ensuring adequate maternal nutrition before and during pregnancy and lactation; optimal
breastfeeding in the first two years of life; nutritious, diverse and safe foods in early childhood;
and a healthy environment, including access to basic health, water, hygiene and sanitation
services and opportunities for safe physical activity. All these necessary inputs for good nutrition
are vulnerable to the changes wrought by conflict, climate change and the lingering effects of the
Covid-19 pandemic. Coordinated actions are needed across nutrition, health and social
protection sectors – especially in countries most affected – to reduce child malnutrition, while
data collection and analysis should be an integral part of these efforts. The nutrition situation of
children should be monitored for all ages, both at the national and disaggregated levels, if the
countries and international community are to deliver on the promise to fight child malnutrition
while leaving no one behind in this endeavour.
23
UNICEF, WHO, World Bank
24
UNICEF,
Database
Group.
Joint child malnutrition estimates, 2023 edition.
on Child Malnutrition
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Promotion of result-based budgeting in healthcare sector of the
Republic of Belarus to meet SDG targets and strengthening
health protection
UNFPA Belarus
In the context of the changing market of medical services, the course towards
innovation, the increasing needs of the population with the advent of new
medicines, the development of technologies, and the ageing of the population,
the healthcare sector concentrates its efforts on improving and expanding the
practice of using result-oriented budgeting methods that ensure sustainable
financing of services and the achievement of the SDGs.
Financial planning for the implementation of the SDGs will be more successful if governments
treat the 2030 Agenda as a whole and use disaggregated data (by gender, age, disability, place of
residence) as much as possible in planning, monitoring and performance evaluation of
investments. It is also important to ensure a gender-responsive approach when tracking
spending.
This is especially significant for healthcare systems, reflected in the indicators of SDG 3, but are
also critical for the implementation of other SDGs. Considering the prevalence of state financing
of the healthcare system, improving the efficiency of public finance management based on
result-based budgeting approaches is especially relevant for the Republic of Belarus.
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UNFPA in Belarus, under the framework of the Joint Programme “Promoting new tools of
sustainable development budgeting that prioritize vulnerable populations in Belarus” (Joint SDG
Fund), has the leading role in the process of budgeting practices change at a local and national
level during 2020–2022 by profound research and analytical work on performance-based
budgeting in health financing system. The achieved result is strengthening the capacities of the
healthcare facilities management through identifying their needs on results-based budgeting.
The initial survey involving 97 medical organizations of Belarus showed and identified the needs
to strengthen the capacity of healthcare managers and economists on the implementation of
certain strategic area of reforms – measuring costs and revenues on a diagnosis related group
(DRG) basis. Proposed better financing practices in the health sector found relevant feedback
due to an implemented capacity-building programme for healthcare managers and the
introduction of performance-based budgeting in a permanent healthcare training programme.
This ensured sustainability of the result and became the basis of an experiment on financing
inpatient medical care in Grodno region.
In addition, supported and realized comprehensive analysis of the impact of the introduction of
a budget expenditure planning system based on the use of expenditure standards per patient in
inpatient settings by DRG on the budgets of healthcare organizations, including a Comparative
analysis of model budgets and actually used budget funds of healthcare organizations in the
Grodno region, led to continuation of piloting by the Ministry of Health in accordance with the
Resolution No. 146 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 23 February 2023.
Implementation of the DRG model as a result-based budgeting method has made it possible to
justify the needs and reallocate funds worth well over 800,000 United States dollars to cover the
costs of inpatient medical care for state healthcare providers in the Grodno region for 2023. The
formation of the basic standard cost per patient for inpatient care has improved the financing of
the Grodno region: the minimum standard for budgetary provision of healthcare costs per
inhabitant of that region for 2023 amounted to 312.2 USD
25
against 238.6 USD
26
in 2022. It has
also become one of the factors improving citizens’ financial protection in healthcare all over the
country. Thus, the minimum standard for budget provision of healthcare costs per inhabitant in
the Republic of Belarus for 2023 amounted to 408.7 USD
25
against 351.5 USD
26
in 2022.
Ongoing and supported reforms are a good example of joint efforts and resource mobilization for
SDG 17. UNFPA expertise allowed the country to achieve sustainable results of health outcomes
and financial allocations for social and medical care services for its population in the conditions
of the geopolitical escalation, epidemiological and economic challenges. For instance, life
expectancy in Belarus of 72.4 years is higher than in the neighbouring Russia (69.4 years) and
Ukraine (69.6 years).
27
The Government spends almost 20 per cent of its expenditures on health
28
,
ensuring Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index of 79 in 2021, which was
similar to Estonia’s and exceeds the value of Lithuania and Latvia
29
.
25
Law of the Republic of Belarus No.231-3 on the republican budget for the year 2023.
Exchange rate of the National
Bank of the Republic of Belarus as of 1 January 2023.
26
Law of the Republic of Belarus No.142-3 on the republican budget for the year 2022.
Exchange rate of the National
Bank of the Republic of Belarus as of 1 January 2022.
27
The World Bank,
World Bank Open Data.
28
Bulletin on the execution of the consolidated and republican budget, 2021. Ministry of Finance of the Republic of
Belarus.
29
World Health Organization,
The Global Health Observatory. (2021) UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1).
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Artificial glacier helps mountain village in Kyrgyzstan meet water
needs
FAO Kyrgyzstan
An innovative solution helps villagers stock up water for a dry summer.
Following the Kyrgyz tradition, Manzura Orolbaeva welcomes guests with homemade bread and
a saucer of melted butter. The bread is made from grain grown on their farm and the butter from
the livestock they keep.
Agriculture is the main source of income and food for a large part of the local population in this
mountain village of Kara-Dobo in southern Kyrgyzstan, but due to the dry climate and lack of
arable land, it is difficult to grow crops here. Water is particularly challenging to access.
For Manzura, her nearest water source is a mountain spring located two kilometres away. Every
day, this 63-year-old woman and her loved ones walk there and back, not once but several times
a day, to bring back enough water for the people, animals and plants on their farm.
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"You can live without gas; you can live without the Internet, but you cannot live without water,"
said Manzura.
Water is scarce not only in Kara-Dobo, but also in many other villages in this region of little
rainfall. In the winter, it is cold with almost no snow, and in summer, it is very hot with virtually no
rain. The main water sources are mountain springs, but they are often in hard-to-reach places.
As a high-altitude country, Kyrgyzstan has been experiencing the effects of climate change
acutely. Variations in temperatures are leading to unreliable precipitation patterns and more
frequent peaks in temperature are causing aridity and drought, especially in mountain pastures.
To increase the communities’ resilience to these weather anomalies, experts from the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) proposed the construction of an artificial
glacier in the region as part of the project “Shared prosperity through cooperation in border
regions of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan”.
Funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, the project is implemented jointly by FAO and
the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and is aimed at enhancing cross-border
environmental and socio-economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. It also
works to build confidence and trust between local governments, communities and civil society
organizations. The project uses climate-smart agricultural practices to preserve and sustain
common natural resources. It directly supports implementation of SDG targets 6.5 on integrated
water resources management, including transboundary cooperation, 6.6 to protect and restore
water-related ecosystems, and 6.b to support and strengthen the participation of local
communities in improving water and sanitation management.
Many took the idea of an artificial glacier as a joke, says Manzura Orolbaeva, but the residents of
the village of Kara-Dobo supported the initiative.
"If we do not water the gardens, everything dries up. We will have nothing to cover our expenses
or to feed our cattle,"
said Manzura.
The villagers undertook the construction themselves, with FAO providing technical and financial
support. Constructing the artificial glacier began with installing an underground pipeline. In just
one week, 55 people manually dug a trench and laid pipes from the mountain spring to the
pasture, where their livestock graze. The end of the pipe was then raised 20 metres above the
ground.
While these works were going on, Manzura’s house became a type of "headquarters" where the
villagers planned the course of work. She treated everyone who dug the trench with tea and
homemade pastries.
In the winter, the glacier was born. The water from the pipe began to freeze and slowly turn into a
huge ice tower. Then in the summer months, the mountain of ice slowly melts, providing
residents with regular access to fresh water for irrigation and for their own use. During the first
winter, the glacier grew to more than 70,000 cubic metres of ice.
"Now our experience interested residents of other villages, who at first did not believe us,"
said
Manzura.
“Perhaps next year in our area there will be other artificial glaciers. Because water is
life,"
she added.
Local authorities plan to install one more glacier from their own funding sources and include the
expenses into the local budget plan.
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In Kyrgyzstan, FAO is supporting several projects to address water scarcity and help villagers use
it judiciously. For example, an electronic system for measuring the volume of irrigation water has
been recently introduced, with technical and financial assistance from FAO, in the Kochkor
district of the Naryn region of Kyrgyzstan. Digital technologies like these have not only helped in
the rational distribution of water but also eliminated conflicts among farmers over this vital
resource.
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TIR Convention, the United Nations global border crossing
facilitation solution
UNECE Transport
The TIR system with its electronic TIR procedure turns borders into bridges. It is a
trade, transport and border crossings facilitation tool permitting smooth and
efficient customs operations at the borders.
When countries around the world began closing borders
and imposing lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic,
the global supply chains were deeply affected. With
customers buying in bulk out of fear, shops struggled to
restock their shelves. At that moment, everyone realised
that border crossing facilitation is key to our lives and
economies independently of pandemics.
There are various UN conventions that govern the transport of goods across borders, ensuring a
smooth and efficient transit through customs. However, when countries are obliged to
implement strict border measures, these usual conditions which apply to transport were set
aside. In the case of the Covid-19 pandemic, this resulted to thousands of trucks being stuck at
borders, leading to shortages in food and other essential goods. It also led to inhumane
conditions for truck drivers and customs officials who were stuck for days and weeks, without
access to necessities and their families.
Perhaps one of the most well-known of the transport conventions is the customs Convention on
the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnet - or the TIR Convention. You may
have seen the blue TIR sign on the back of trucks all over Europe and Asia. This convention allows
trucks to transit through multiple countries without being stopped and examined by the customs
until they reach the destination country. This system is used by 78 countries around the world
and facilitates the seamless transport of millions of tons of goods each year – anything from
medicine to food and other necessities.
Everything you need to know about the TIR Convention – the TIR Handbook.
The eTIR International System was recognised as the UN tool / convention that protects people
from Covid-19 while facilitating and simplifying border crossing procedures by the UN system
and governments. The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s report entitled “Shared
responsibility, global solidarity: Responding to the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19”,
published in March 2020 mentions: “Innovative
tools such as UN eTIR/eCMR systems and other
tools that allow the exchange of electronic information without physical contact and facilitate the
flow of goods across borders should be used”.
Furthermore, after our initial call to implement eTIR procedure (7 April 2020), 10 countries plus
the European Union have so far responded positively, to connect their National Systems to the
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eTIR International System. As a result, one after the other, the contracting parties to the TIR
Convention are connecting their national customs systems to the eTIR international system
developed and hosted by the TIR secretariat.
The interconnection of national customs systems to the eTIR international system and the
implementation of the eTIR procedure will clearly turn
borders into bridges.
The applications that constitute the eTIR system are presented in
Table 1.
All applications are
interconnected and have been designed to disseminate data for transport documents.
Table 1
Applications that constitute the eTIR system
Application
Description
It is the main application of the eTIR. It has been developed by
the TIR secretariat and it is hosted by UNECE. All customs
authorities and the private sector (IRU) will be interconnected
to the eTIR international system and exchange data every time
a TIR event is happening.
eTIR international system
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International TIR Data bank
ITDB is developed and hosted by the TIR secretariat. All
customs authorities and National Road transport associations
are connected to ITDB. It is the system where customs approve
new users of the TIR system and provide all information about
withdrawal of users and customs seals photos. It currently
includes data for more than 40,000 trucking companies using
the TIR system.
The TIR secretariat developed the eTIR national application to
reduce the time required for a national customs system to
interconnect to the eTIR international system. It is provided at
no cost to customs authorities and is interconnected already to
the eTIR international system.
eTIR National Application
eTIR mobile applications for The TIR secretariat prepared mobile applications for the
the drivers and customs vehicles drivers and the customs officers which include the
eTIR/ITDB data. The only thing that the customs officers have to
officers
do under the eTIR procedure when a commercial vehicle
arrives at the borders would be to scan with their mobiles the
QR Code in the mobiles of the vehicles’ drivers and get all the
information required.
Figure 8
Flow of data and documents in the eTIR system
The flow of data and documents (Figure
8)
is as follows:
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1. National road transport associations submit data about new users in ITDB and customs
approve those users.
2. The trucking industry submits the advance TIR data through the eTIR portal to the
customs authorities.
3. The truck arrives at customs, is being checked and sealed. Then customs “transform”
the advance TIR data received to a customs declaration by using the eTIR national
application. Also, the systems check with IRU’s systems about the validity of the
electronic guarantee.
4. The eTIR international system receives the declaration data and automatically sends it to
all customs on the way and at destination.
5. When truck arrives at borders, customs officers are scanning the QR codes in drivers’
mobile phones and get all information required for them to know about the specific truck
in their mobile phones.
Everything about the TIR international system can be found in the eTIR specialized website
www.etir.org.
TIR system contribution to SDGs
Direct
Trade and transport facilitation measures directly help informal businesses
to better participate in foreign trade. General provisions, such as
transparency, which is being achieved with the implementation of the
electronic TIR procedure, are also critical for integrating smaller firms into
global value chains (SDG target 8.3).
Digital trade and transport measures, i.e. electronic submissions of
declarations, reduce the time goods spend at borders, support achieving
higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological
upgrading and innovation (SDG target 8.2).
The deployment of digital technologies and the implementation of the
computerized procedures of well-known UN Conventions (TIR) have
become a positive enabler for national economies, facilitating business
continuity and connecting electronically traders with the transport industry,
customs authorities and border agencies.
Sharing good practices to develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient
infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure that serves
digitalised border crossing procedures (SDG target 9.1).
Reducing cumbersome procedure to improve the efficiency of transit,
especially crucial for LDCs and LLDCs.
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The TIR system is one of the very first public private partnerships in the UN
system since the operations of the international guarantee of the system is
mandated by the governments to be provided by the International Road
Transport Union (IRU). It will also strengthen public-private coordination
platforms at the national and regional levels, providing the necessary multi-
stakeholder consultative mechanism for the trade and transport recovery
plan.
Indirect
The simplification of procedures and standardisation of fees and charges
applicable to trade will foster more predictable, higher levels of revenue
collection for customs, ensuring significant mobilisation of resources from
a variety of sources.
The TIR system facilitates and speeds up the transport, transit and
clearance of critical protection goods such as medicines contributing to
good health and well-being targets.
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A new financing mechanism for green investments in North
Macedonia
UNDP North Macedonia
The
Green Finance Facility
(GFF) UN Joint Programme has established a new
financing mechanism that provides affordable finance for small and medium-
sized enterprises and households of marketable but underserved target groups.
The programme worth $46 million is financed by the
Joint SDG Fund,
the Government of the
Republic of North Macedonia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD). It is based on strong partnerships between UN agencies, international financial
institutions (IFIs), the Government and private sector, with blended finance from public and
private sources for green loans and performance-based grants for renewable energy (RE) and
energy efficiency (EE) investments toward green transition in North Macedonia. Under
coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia, UNDP is the lead
implementing agency with UNECE, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and EBRD
as implementing partners.
Within GFF, EBRD provides finance ($30m) to local banks (currently signed contracts with
Sparkasse Bank, ProCredit Bank) and leasing companies to on-lend to small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs). As part of the package, the GFF through the partner financial institutions will
provide ex-post, performance-based payments of up to 10 per cent of the loan principal for SMEs
(Figure
9).
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Figure 9
Structure of the Green Finance Facility for small and medium-sized enterprises
In addition, UNDP provides support to five of the target groups of creditworthy but underserved
individuals or households: female-headed households, single parents, households with persons
with disabilities (PWDs), Roma households and households affected by Covid-19. IOM provides
supports to two additional target groups: returning migrants and remittance recipients, to invest
in RE and EE. GFF will provide 30 per cent of the loan principal in ex-post, performance-based
payments for target groups of households or individuals (Figure
10).
Figure 10
Structure of the Green Finance Facility for underserved individuals or households
One additional specific feature of this UN joint programme is the provision of technical support.
Namely, GFF has engaged teams of project consultants and verification consultants/
independent assessors, who will work with the banks and with clients. Project consultants will
provide technical assistance to the banks and loan recipients supporting the project design
process to ensure that projects align with the investment criteria. Verification consultants/
independent assessors will ensure that funded investments have been completed according to
the original investment plans. UNECE has already provided
technical assistance
to the
consultants’ teams on design and verification of EE and RE projects.
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The project is expected to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Green Finance Facility model in
North Macedonia, which serves as a use-case and model to Governments, financial institutions,
investors, and others in the region. GFF has been designed with the view for scaling and
replicating across the Western Balkans and even to other regions, after a successful
implementation.
Furthermore, the project aims to catalyse impact beyond a one-off project investment using a
combination of market push and pull activities that address barriers to the adoption of renewable
energy and energy-efficient solutions. Ultimately, the project should drive a paradigm shift
through the establishment of a mechanism and a standard for financing and adoption of RE and
EE solutions.
In North Macedonia, more than 60 per cent of electricity generation is coal-fired
30
. Furthermore,
only a small percentage of the population are utilizing renewable energy and energy-efficiency
solutions. Combined, these factors contribute to significant greenhouse gas emissions (7.5
million tons from the burning of fossil fuels
31
) and high levels of air pollution. Enabling access to
affordable financing for renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions in the country will
significantly contribute to advancements towards SDG 7 and SDG 13.
The Green Finance Facility UN joint programme will be implemented until April 2026 and is
expected to result in 70,068 megawatt hours of annual energy savings, 80,510 tons of CO2-
equivalent emissions avoided, and 10.7 megawatts in new renewable energy capacity.
The Joint SDG Fund's joint programmes are under the prestige leadership of the Resident
Coordinator Office and implementing United Nations agencies. With sincere appreciation for the
contributions from the European Union, Governments of Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain,
Sweden and Switzerland, and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement
towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
30
31
SDG Voluntary National Review July 2020
National GHG inventory, December 2020
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Adaptation of cities to climate-related extreme events
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
The Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative has effectively encapsulated diverse
initiatives undertaken by local governments to tackle urban heat and wildfire
issues. By facilitating knowledge exchange, MCR2030 fosters a shared
understanding of these challenges and empowers local actors and policymakers
to collaborate.
Context
Climate change poses a major challenge for both the environment and society, and is a pressing
issue worldwide today. Amid rapid urbanization, urban areas and their residents face heightened
vulnerability to climate change impacts, particularly concerning extreme heat events.
32
The
32
The World Bank, Analysis of heat waves and urban heat island effects in central European cities and implications
for urban planning, 2020
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latest statistics reveal an increase in the frequency of forest fires across most European
countries compared to the previous decade.
33
The Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative (MCR2030)
34
focuses on enhancing urban resilience
against various disasters, including urban heat and wildfires. In terms of urban planning, various
cities in the region are re-evaluating urban planning and design to incorporate green spaces and
create more permeable surfaces to absorb heat. Acknowledging the evolving risks attributed to
climate change, MCR2030 encourages cities to respond and adapt to diverse risks, fostering
knowledge sharing among networked cities. Consequently, MCR2030 directly contributes to the
attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 11 – Make cities and human settlements inclusive,
safe, resilient and sustainable. This initiative aligns with global frameworks such as the Paris
Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
2015–2030.
Given the escalating negative impact of climate-related hazards in the European region,
MCR2030 Europe and Central Asia have prioritized climate-related extreme events in their
regional work plan for 2023–2024. This focused approach, supported by the consensus among
Regional Coordinating Committee members and MCR2030 Resilience Hub cities, involves
organizing a series of webinars and developing a knowledge repository comprising diverse case
studies from the region. Below are some of the case studies captured through UNDRR’s
MCR2030 knowledge product “Flames of change: innovating heat and wildfire governance for
inclusive communities.”
Case of Barcelona, Spain
In Barcelona, the densely populated urban landscape, coupled with its proximity to neighbouring
cities in the metropolitan area, exacerbates the heat island effect, intensifying the city's
vulnerability to extreme heat events. While the coastal location offers daytime relief from the
sea's cooling effect, it contributes to higher night-time temperatures in seaside neighbourhoods.
This thermal dynamic disproportionately affects vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children
and low-income families, emphasizing the importance of considering intersecting vulnerabilities.
Barcelona has implemented multifaceted strategies to address these challenges.
The Climate
Shelter Network,
now comprising 230 accessible spaces, aims to provide thermal comfort within
a 10-minute walk for 97 per cent of the population. Initiatives like the
Ephemeral Shadow
Challenge
focus on creating temporary cooling solutions, while
Energy Advisory Points
strive to
enhance energy efficiency. The
Highly Complex Buildings Program
actively supports vulnerable
communities in improving their living conditions.
Recommendations underscore the significance of stakeholder engagement for successful
adaptation measures, advocating for participatory processes to ensure communities' needs are
heard and addressed. Urban planners are urged to adopt flexible strategies, integrating
absorptive, adaptive, and transformative skills to enhance resilience amid uncertainty. A holistic
approach is also emphasized, underscoring the integration and synergy of elements and
disciplines within the city to foster collaboration and coordination toward a shared objective.
These initiatives hold potential for replication but require adaptability and coordination across
various urban landscapes to address local needs effectively.
33
European Commission Joint Research Centre, San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., Durrant, T., Boca, R. et al.,
Forest fires in
Europe, Middle East and North Africa 2022,
Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
34
UNDRR, MCR2030 Europe and Central Asia, Flames of change: innovating heat and wildfire governance for
inclusive communities, 2024.
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Case of Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
In Greater Manchester, combating the escalating threat of extreme heat demands immediate
collaborative action and effective governance. Acknowledging the cross-sectoral nature of heat
risks, the region emphasizes governance structures like the Greater Manchester Resilience
Forum and engages actively in networks like the UN's Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative. The
declaration of a climate emergency in 2019 spurred initiatives such as the 5-Year Environment
Plan, driving goals toward carbon neutrality by 2038 and promoting solutions like urban cooling
and increased green spaces via endeavours like the City of Trees. The region showcases
commitment through events like the Mayor's Green Summit and innovative partnerships like
GMCA/Environment Agency/United Utilities to revolutionize water management, integrating
nature-based solutions and sustainable urban drainage systems to mitigate flood risks and
urban heat effects.
Figure 11
Extreme heat warning of the Met Office
Source:
Met Office, 15 July 2023
Greater Manchester's dedication to strengthening resilience is evident in initiatives like
Resilience 4 Communities,
aimed at empowering vulnerable areas through co-creating
resilience solutions to future climate change risks. Collaborative projects, such as the one with
the National Consortium for Societal Resilience, focus on understanding and aiding older
populations during extreme heat events, fostering community support systems for these
circumstances. The region advocates for proactive measures to support vulnerable groups
during heatwaves, emphasizing accessible information, proactive checks, and early warnings to
enhance community resilience.
In a landscape increasingly impacted by climate change, Greater Manchester champions a
proactive, inclusive approach to combatting heatwaves, striving to support vulnerable
populations and strengthen community resilience through accessible information dissemination,
proactive assistance, and early warning systems.
Case of Athens, Greece, for an inclusive community engagement
A table-top evacuation exercise that took place in October 2023 has integrated disabled
individuals into disaster preparedness strategies in Athens, Greece. The simulation showcased
earthquake-induced fire incidents, emphasizing inclusive evacuation planning and the
participation of disability representatives. Encouraging academic, operational and disabled
community networking, the exercise highlighted the importance of early involvement of persons
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with disabilities in the scenario preparation. Participants agreed on the necessity of regular
exercises involving local stakeholders to bolster community resilience against multi-hazard risks
amid challenges like wildfires and the Covid-19 pandemic's co-existence, or other hazards. The
exercise took place under the framework of the activities’ roadmap of the European Centre for
Forest Fires, which belongs to the Network of the Specialised Centres of the Council of Europe
EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement, having as a main goal to improve the awareness and
resilience to major risks within the population.
Recommendations advocate for
Universal Design
in emergency planning, stressing the
importance of including disabled individuals throughout disaster management. Tailored
approaches for different impairments, like
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs),
are
urged for regular testing, especially in disaster-prone areas. Standard operational procedures for
rescuing disabled persons, a global training module for responders, accessible emergency
messages, and certified built environments are proposed. Prioritizing risks during complex
emergencies through "risk triage" and integrating multi-hazard assessments into development
planning are advised for comprehensive risk reduction strategies.
Conclusion
The MCR2030 initiative has effectively encapsulated diverse initiatives undertaken by local
governments to tackle urban heat and wildfire issues, disseminating these efforts among
stakeholders within the network. By facilitating knowledge exchange, MCR2030 fosters a shared
understanding of these challenges and empowers local actors and policymakers to collaborate
based on a unified comprehension of the issues at hand, not only within the region but also
beyond its borders.
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How UN standards and partnerships helped to unlock
geothermal energy in Albania
UNECE Sustainable Energy
Albania assessed its geothermal resources, boosting the preparedness for low-
carbon energy transitions and inspiring other countries in the region to explore
their geothermal resources.
Albania has abundant geothermal resources, and they were largely untapped and underexplored.
UNECE helped Albania assess its geothermal potential and develop a roadmap for sustainable
utilization, using the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) and the
United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS), which are international standards for
managing energy and mineral resources. The project boosted Albania’s energy security and
sustainability and supported SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (Climate action).
Albania also inspired other countries in the region to follow its example and explore their
geothermal resources.
Albania’s quest for energy security and sustainability
Albania’s growing energy demand and carbon footprint reduction present a dual challenge. The
country’s electricity generation mainly comes from hydropower, which is vulnerable to climate
variability and droughts. Fossil fuels, mostly imported from neighbouring countries, account for
the remaining 10 per cent, exposing Albania to supply disruptions and price fluctuations. Albania
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needs to tap into its abundant renewable energy resources, especially geothermal energy, to
diversify its energy mix and enhance its energy security.
Geothermal energy is a clean, renewable and reliable source with significant potential in Albania.
This potential remains largely untapped due to the lack of data, technology and investment. In
2023, Albania received support from UNECE’s Regular Programme on Technical Cooperation
(RPTC) to assess its geothermal potential using international standards for the classification and
management of energy and mineral resources and enhance stakeholders’ and public’s capacity
and awareness of the benefits and challenges of geothermal energy development.
Exploring Albania’s geothermal diversity and potential
Albania has three major geothermal regions with different characteristics and opportunities for
geothermal energy development (Figure
12).
The Kruja geothermal zone, which extends 180
kilometres from the Adriatic Sea to the Greek border, has seven hot spring groups and three
boreholes that produce hot, mineralized water at temperatures up to 80°C. The Ardenica
geothermal zone, located in Albania’s coastal area, has six boreholes that discharge waters at
temperatures from 32 to 67°C from depths between 1200 and 2425 meters. The Peshkopia
geothermal zone, located in the Northeast of Albania, has a group of thermal springs that flow at
43.5°C on a river slope and a significant yield of cold mineralized water springs in the riverbed.
Figure 12
Geothermal map of Albania
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How Albania unlocked its geothermal potential with UN standards and
partnerships
The project followed a systematic and participatory approach to assess and manage the
geothermal resources in Albania, using the UNFC and UNRMS as the guiding frameworks. The
project involved several activities, such as:
Collected and analyzed data on the geothermal resources in Albania through a desk study
and a field survey.
Developed a geothermal resource portfolio for Albania, which classified and categorized
the geothermal resources according to their feasibility and maturity using UNFC.
Prepared a case study report, which presented the results and findings of the geothermal
resource assessment and portfolio and provided recommendations for further
exploration and development in alignment with the UNRMS.
Organized a national workshop, which brought together various stakeholders to discuss
and validate the case study report and to exchange knowledge and experiences on
geothermal energy development.
Developed a roadmap for geothermal energy development in Albania, which outlined the
vision, goals, objectives, actions and indicators for the sustainable utilization of
geothermal resources, aligned with the national and regional energy strategies and
policies and the SDGs.
Communicated and disseminated the results and outputs of the project to the relevant
stakeholders and the public through various channels and platforms.
Lessons learned and best practices for geothermal energy development in
Albania
The project revealed valuable lessons learned and best practices for geothermal energy
development in Albania, which could also be helpful for other countries with similar geothermal
potential and challenges. The project showed that:
UNFC and UNRMS are helpful and practical tools for assessing and managing geothermal
resources, as they provide a holistic and harmonized approach that considers the
technical, economic, social and environmental aspects of the resources and their
alignment with the SDGs.
The involvement and engagement of the stakeholders and the public throughout the
project cycle is essential for the success and sustainability of the geothermal energy
development, as it ensures the ownership, participation and acceptance of the project
outcomes and outputs.
Collaboration and coordination among the stakeholders at the national and regional
levels is crucial for geothermal energy development, as it enables the sharing of data,
knowledge, experiences and resources and creates synergies and opportunities for joint
actions and initiatives.
The communication and dissemination of the project results and outputs are essential for
geothermal energy development, as they raise the stakeholders’ and public’s awareness
and interest in geothermal resources and their potential benefits and challenges, and
promote advocacy and support for geothermal energy development.
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Albania’s geothermal success: from assessment to action
The project achieved remarkable results and impacts regarding Albania’s technical and socio-
economic aspects of geothermal energy development. The project proposed various direct-use
applications for geothermal resources, such as district heating, spa, greenhouse, aquaculture,
and mineral salt extraction. These applications could provide economic, social and
environmental benefits for the local communities and industries and contribute to achieving the
SDGs. The project also:
Provided the first comprehensive and systematic assessment of the geothermal resource
potential in Albania, using the UNFC and UNRMS as the common language and framework
for classifying and managing the resources.
Increased the stakeholders and the public’s knowledge of geothermal resources and their
potential benefits and challenges for the energy sector and Albanian society.
Enhanced the capacity and skills of the stakeholders to apply the UNFC and UNRMS to
their geothermal resources and to plan and implement geothermal energy projects
sustainably.
Fostered dialogue and cooperation among the stakeholders at the national and regional
levels and facilitated the exchange of information and best practices on geothermal
energy development.
Supported the development and implementation of the national and regional energy
strategies and policies, and contributed to the achievement of SDG 7 (Affordable and
clean energy), SDG 13 (Climate action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals).
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Urban trees for climate and SDGs: mobilizing action at the local,
national and international level
UNECE Forestry, Housing and Land Management
We need urban trees and nature to deliver climate, biodiversity and sustainable
development goals in cities, where most people live.
Tree-lined streets attract residents, shoppers and tourists, even on hot days.
In our urban era, cities are where most people live and where most emissions are generated. To
achieve our global goals, we need effective solutions to help cities cope with their exposure to
the effects of climate change and other mounting challenges such as deadly heatwaves, water
scarcity, floods and strained energy systems.
Trees and forests in and around cities are efficient and cost-effective nature-based solutions that
can deliver on SDGs, particularly on SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate
action) and 15 (life on land). Importantly, they can simultaneously deliver other local, national
and global goals including the Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework, Convention on Biological
Diversity and New Urban Agenda.
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Urban trees and nature can cool our cities by up to eight degrees Celsius, thereby also reducing
energy consumption. They increase resilience to floods and landslides, capture significant
amounts of localized pollution from traffic, and their beauty and shade can attract residents,
shoppers and tourists to make neighbourhoods and cities more vibrant. Greenways can provide
space for pedestrians and cyclists, promoting clean transportation and healthy lifestyles.
Delivering these benefits requires the right tree, in the right place, for the right reason. Selection
must be based on the desired benefits considering that trees will have to survive in a changing
climate and urban context. This requires careful and inclusive city and green space planning for
today as well as the future. One very important element of this panning is an urban forest master
plan, which determines the ideal structure and distribution of an urban forest, green spaces and
their connection though corridors, and how they complement local architecture, infrastructure
and functions. The plan will need to assess data on current tree cover and should promote
equitable tree cover for all, including the more vulnerable neighbourhoods. Implementing the
plan will require cities sustainably manage existing tree cover and likely will also foresee
establishing new tree cover.
Evidence suggests that the many benefits of planning, establishing and sustainably managing
urban trees and forests are at least five times greater than the cost of doing so. However, data on
canopy cover (the ground area of a city covered by tree or vegetation canopy) collected over the
past 30 years suggests that rather than expanding, urban tree cover has slightly declined in most
countries with available data (Figure
13).
The data on functional urban areas comprise commuting zones, which typically include less
densely populated peri-urban and even rural areas. Thus, the canopy cover in urban cores is
often significantly lower than the averages presented in
Figure 13.
Yet these are the areas where
urban tree cover can deliver many of its most important benefits to the highest number of people,
such as reducing the urban heat island effect. The declining trend of urban tree cover must be
reversed, with concerted efforts to significantly increase tree cover in densely populated areas
and cities with low canopy cover compared to their ecological potential.
There are many ways to increase tree cover in cities. For example, bringing trees near densely
populated areas may be achieved by increasing the number of street trees, neighbourhood
“pocket” parks, and developing green corridors. Another solution is to develop “Petite Forests,”
which can be planted in areas with limited square meters available for planting, such as
schoolyards, courtyards and small plazas. The UN Petite Forest Network is promoting this as a
solution to build dialogue between local governments and communities, increase environmental
awareness, and deliver the many benefits of urban trees in even dense urban locations.
The
UNECE Trees in Cities Challenge
engages city mayors to make tree planting pledges and
commit to sustainable urban forest management measures. At the time of writing, over 80 cities
have made pledges to plant 13 million trees. The
Informal Network on Urban Nature
supports
practitioners in participating cities as well as other experts and policymakers.
These benefits can be particularly relevant in dry cities, many of which experience heat and
weather extremes. Yet cities facing water stress and scarcity also face greater challenges in
sustaining and expanding urban trees and nature. This is why UNECE invited interested partners
at UNFCCC COP-28 to join the Trees in Dry Cities Coalition, which supports peer exchange,
technical cooperation, and city pilots that inform national policy dialogue, programmes and
support.
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Figure 13
Weighted average canopy cover in functional urban areas (FUA) with available data
Note:
“A functional urban area (or metropolitan area) is composed of a city plus its surrounding, less
densely populated spatial units that make up the city’s labour market, its commuting zone. This commuting zone
generates a daily flow of people into a city and back (home to their dwelling).” (European Union/FAO/UN-
Habitat/OECD/The World Bank. 2021.
Applying the degree of urbanisation: a methodological manual to define cities,
towns and rural areas for international comparisons, 2021 edition)
Source:
UNECE, 2023; developed using data from OECD.Stat, 2023,
Land cover in functional urban areas.
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Tree cover tends to be higher around cities than it is in the urban core.
Indeed, many of the challenges and opportunities for urban trees as a nature-based solution for
climate and SDGs require national action and support. National policies and programmes can
enable, support and fund local efforts to sustainably manage and expand urban trees and forests.
Aligning policy and action across levels of government is thus essential to efficiently deliver both
local and national objectives.
The
San Marino Regional Urban Forestry Action Plan,
adopted by the UNECE Committee on
Forests and the Forest Industry in November 2023, helps guide collective efforts for a greener
and more vibrant urban environment. It identifies how local and national governments can
collaborate to plan and sustainably manage urban trees and forests to provide a multitude of
health, biodiversity, climate and sustainable development benefits. Importantly, it also provides
a framework for how businesses, communities, academics, NGOs and international
organizations like the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe can also contribute
based on their respective strengths.
Urban trees and forests are a systemic solution to localize the SDGs and climate action.
Coordinated policy and action by local and national governments can promote this at scale. We
can start today – and we must, as trees planted now will need time to mature and deliver their
benefits as cities strive to adapt to the impacts of climate change in the coming decades.
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Voices heard: navigating progress through citizen-driven decision
making
UNDP North Macedonia
UNDP in North Macedonia promotes citizens-centred decision making by
engaging individuals regardless of their age, sex, place of living, ethnicity or social
group to get involved, thus directly contributing towards SDG16, more specifically
the target 16.7 – Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative
decision-making at all levels.
In an era of rapid change, digitalization, and increased mobility, decision-making should not be
the exclusive privilege of a select few. The decisions affecting a community must involve those
directly impacted by them. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in North
Macedonia has embraced a proactive approach, engaging individuals across diverse
demographics to contribute to decision-making processes. UNDP implements several initiatives
that go beyond the conventional decision-making models, striving to involve the citizens
including youth, local community members, representatives of vulnerable groups and socially
excluded.
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Citizens first!
Diturim Xheladini is a young man who wants to contribute to improving the quality of life in his
hometown. He is the president of the Youth Council in Bogovinje, one of the 44 municipalities in
the country in which Community Forums were organized as part of the Empowering Municipal
Councils project that UNDP implements with the support of the Swiss government and the
Ministry of Local Self-Government. The citizens have a chance to select which priority
infrastructure projects will be implemented in their local communities.
"Young people are a numerous advocacy group with great ambitions, with different culture,
tradition and different experiences. This has an impact on the discussion, as we can share our
unique viewpoints and perspectives, thus helping to achieve the best and most appropriate long-
term solutions for the various problems in the municipalities we live in, especially the problems
young people are facing with”,
says Diturim.
On the other side of the country, Mitko Ruskov, a pensioner who had spent numerous years
working in Switzerland, was among the participants in the Community Forums in the municipality
of Novo Selo.
"We took part in this forum and sought support for the cleaning and maintenance of our irrigation
canals, as a majority of our municipality's residents are involved in agriculture. Additionally, we
advocated for the promotion of rural tourism. I believe that we, as residents, have the best
understanding of the needs of our community”,
explains Mitko.
To date, over 13,200 citizens, with women comprising 49 per cent of the participants, have
actively engaged in establishing local priorities within the 44 partner municipalities. Looking
ahead, the Community Forums will extend to an additional 20 municipalities nationwide by the
year 2026.
The Community Forums' methodology has taken root and been officially embraced by municipal
councils as a pivotal tool for decision-making at the local level. This institutionalization is
reflected in the Statutes of 73 municipalities, constituting an impressive 90 per cent of the local
governments across the country.
Creating Future Together!
In early 2021, the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia started the process of drafting
the National Development Strategy (NDS), with support provided within the framework of a
project implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in coordination with
the Office of the Resident Coordinator of UN in North Macedonia and supported by the UK Good
Governance Fund as well as the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic. NDS is a visionary
strategic document aiming to chart country's development path for the next 20 years. This
endeavour involves a broad consultation process, inclusion of all stakeholders, as well as
building inter-generational, inter-ethnic, inter-party and gender consensus among key societal
stakeholders. The strategic planning process is unique as its emphasis on citizens’ active
involvement.
The NDS extends beyond the mere creation of a strategic document; it constitutes a
comprehensive process aimed at fostering societal consensus and cultivating shared vision for
the future. Thus far, over 5,000 participants have actively engaged in more than 40 Dream Labs,
with a noteworthy inclusion of diverse demographics — over 50 per cent were women, more than
30 per cent comprising young people, and over 20 per cent from vulnerable groups.
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"As a young woman, I want to contribute my knowledge and energy to the betterment of my own
country, choosing to invest in its development, rather than exploring the possibilities to go abroad.
A large number of stakeholders are involved in shaping the National Development Strategy, and
this gives me hope that our challenges and suggestions will be heard. The Dream Labs are a step
forward, and we need to achieve the goal together”,
says Marija Savevska, a person with cerebral
palsy and a member of the civic organization Sozvezdie.
“The involvement of all pertinent stakeholders is paramount in crafting the National
Development Strategy (NDS). This method not only furnishes us with pertinent data but also
affords us invaluable insights into the perspectives of the citizens. The ultimate outcome is a
strategy that aligns more closely with the collective sentiments of all those engaged in the
process”, points out Andreja Stojkovski, Director of the PRESPA Institute.
Over 250 representatives from all the ministries and other relevant public institutions were
involved in the process. More than 200 experts from various fields and the Macedonian Academy
of Sciences and Arts (MANU) are among the key stakeholders in the formulation of the document.
NDS is expected to enable the largest SDG push in the last years of the 2030 Agenda.
Hey youngsters! Wanna be change-makers? Go for it!
According to the latest Youth Trends Survey, conducted by the Agency for Youth and Sports in
2022, as many as 77.5 per cent of young people believe that they are not properly involved in
decision-making processes at the local and national level. But this is probably not the biggest
problem. The same survey shows that every third young person in the country has no interest in
engaging in the public debate about the social contract. For 37.2 per cent of young people, apathy
and lack of interest are the main reason for non-involvement in youth organizations and social
processes, because they feel that their voice will be lost in the social noise.
These numbers may seem overwhelming, but they certainly don't mean we should "start waving
the white flag." On the contrary, this call for help is an incentive for all social factors to include
young people, but not only as a statistically necessary quota and not only like-minded people
from whom they will receive applause. With an open approach we have included the youth
originality, rebelliousness, innovativeness, creativity, knowledge and enthusiasm in the creation
of the new National Youth Strategy 2023-2027, a process led by the Agency for Youth and Sports
and supported by UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and OSCE.
Damjan Zlatanovski is a young European ambassador whose main interests are the environment,
culture and art. One of his favourite topics for discussion with his peers, but also with the adults,
is how to achieve greater involvement of young people in society.
"Giving young people the compass to create their own future provides precise and valuable
insights into the challenges we face, brings a fresh perspective in step with the times and
effectiveness of the conclusions reached, but also has the function of stimulating self-awareness
that as individuals we possess the ability to influence change, inspire and create policy.
Participation in the process of creating the National Strategy for Youth, besides sowing a
promising future, will also bring fruit by giving a sense of belonging, respect, improving personal
development and skills and empowering us, the youth,"
says Damjan.
Conclusion
By fostering an environment where citizens are active participants, UNDP ensures that policies
and initiatives resonate with the needs and aspirations of the people. This inclusivity not only
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enhances the quality of decisions but also reinforces a sense of ownership and accountability
among the community members. The specific focus on SDG 16, particularly on target 16.7,
demonstrates UNDP's dedication to creating a framework for responsive, inclusive, participatory
and representative decision-making. This target aligns perfectly with the organization's vision of
leaving no one behind. By actively involving individuals at all levels, UNDP contributes directly to
the broader global agenda of fostering peace, justice and strong institutions.
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Advancing environmental justice and good governance through
the Aarhus Convention and the Protocol on Pollutant Release and
Transfer Registers
UNECE Environment
The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making
and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) and the
Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (Protocol on PRTRs) provide
a solid framework for governments to engage the public effectively in
implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and all its SDGs, in
particular SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. These instruments
empower people to exercise the rights to access to information, participate in
decision-making and seek justice effectively, inclusively and safely.
The world is facing a number of fundamental environmental challenges, such as climate change,
pollution from chemicals and wastes and loss of biodiversity. While everyone is affected by the
current environmental challenges to some degree, those facing poverty and discrimination live
usually closer to a pollution source and bear a higher burden of environmental degradation due
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to their work and living conditions, limited awareness of environmental risks and inadequate
healthcare.
Addressing critical environmental challenges and protecting the most vulnerable people require
profound transitions towards sustainable development. The effective engagement of civil society
at all levels greatly reinforces and complements the ability of Governments to address these
problems. Improved access to information and public participation in decision-making
contribute to public awareness of environmental issues, give the public the opportunity to
express concerns without any retaliation, address inequalities and enable public authorities to
take due account of such concerns, which ultimately leads to enhanced quality and the
implementation of decisions.
The Aarhus Convention and the Protocol on PRTRs thereby provides a solid and comprehensive
framework for Governments to engage the public effectively in implementing the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development. With 46 UN Member States and the European Union now
Parties
to the Aarhus Convention
and with 37 UN Member States and the European Union
Parties to the
Protocol on PRTRs,
both instruments are widely recognized as the leading example of the
implementation of principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Both
treaties are open for accession by any UN Member State and attract the interest of States outside
the UNECE region – as instruments to which such States might eventually accede, as an
inspiration for developing similar instruments in other regions or as a model for development of
national legislative and policy frameworks (Figure
14).
Figure 14
Percentage of countries with legal provisions on access to information,
participation, and/or access to justice in the environmental context, 2021
Source:
UNEP 2023.
Environmental rule of law: tracking progress and charting future directions,
p. 63.
Based on
reports by Parties
and stakeholders, the Aarhus Convention and the Protocol on PRTRs
have seen several important achievements in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16
across the region and beyond.
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Laws and practices
have been revised to bring them into line with the Convention and the
Protocol on PRTRs. There is a growing body of compliance jurisprudence based on the
Convention and the Protocol on PRTRs, and the legislation that implements it (Figure
15).
Figure 15
Number of findings and recommendations by the Aarhus Convention Compliance
Committee per sector as of October 2021
Source:
UNECE.
Number of findings and recommendations by the Aarhus Convention Compliance
Committee per sector
(as of October 2021)
With respect to
protection of environment defenders
(target 16.10, indicator 16.10.1), the
Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention
undertook a wide
range of activities to assist Parties and interested Member States to ensure the safety of
environmental defenders. This included in-person visits to several countries, the consideration
of complaints concerning the persecution, harassment and penalization of environmental
defenders, providing input on the development of new instruments and guidance to protect
environmental defenders, consultations with vulnerable environmental defenders, speaking
engagements, awareness raising and promotional activities.
With respect to
access to information
(target 16.10, indicator 16.10.2), the majority of Parties
have already adequately addressed the Convention’s provisions in this area in their national
legislation.
Parties have also established and are operating a number of
special structures
facilitating
implementation of access to environmental information and public participation in decision-
making provisions. Many Parties have made considerable efforts to develop and further use
modern digital technologies to promote e-governance and open data for environmental matters.
Electronic tools (environmental portals, e-meeting tools, applications, e-notifications) are
increasingly used to disseminate environmental information, including in case of emergencies,
and to hold public consultations.
35
The Protocol on PRTRs introduces a new dimension in that it implies
reporting obligations for
the private sector
and may therefore be seen as a tool promoting corporate accountability in a
35
See UNECE.
Electronic information tools case studies.
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specific context as exemplified for Norway (Figure
16).
PRTR reporting systems invite the public
to participate in the regulatory system, both by monitoring the environmental performance of
facilities and sectors and by engaging in dialogue with companies and government agencies on
ways of improving such performance.
Furthermore, the Protocol on PRTRs promotes integration of different information systems
breaking down the silos across the sectors in tracking emissions in air, water and soil and transfer
of wastes. This is critical for achieving SDGs, energy transition and monitoring green and circular
economies.
Figure 16
Example of the pollutant release and transfer register of Norway indicating the use
of energy (diesel consumption) by an operator per year
With regard to
public participation in decision-making
(target 16.6 and 16.7), Parties continue
to sharpen procedures for public participation in decisions, as well as widen the scope of
decisions and decision-making stages where public involvement is required. For environmental
impact assessment procedures, participation is increasingly ensured by Parties in the screening
procedure, at the scoping stage, and at the stage of draft environmental impact assessment
decision prior to its adoption. Other types of decisions affecting the environment, where Parties
made efforts to ensure public participation, include building and planning decisions, integrated
environmental permits/authorisations, decisions on the environmental protection measures,
decisions on authorization of projects that may have a significant impact on Natura 2000 sites,
decisions on nature and landscape protection, decisions on forest management, environmental
licensing, decisions on the lifetime extension, and decisions related to management of
radioactive waste.
With regard to
access to justice
(target 16.3, indicator 16.3.3), Parties have made some progress
in addressing challenges faced by the members of the public in this area by: (i) increasing
admissibility of public interest litigation in environmental matters; (ii) increasing review by courts
and other review bodies of the substantive legality of challenged decisions, acts and omissions;
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(iii) measures introduced to remove or reduce financial barriers; and (iv) promotion of
awareness-raising and specialization of judiciary and other legal professionals in environmental
matters. The Parties are also encouraged to continue developing specific statistical
arrangements to collect, coordinate, aggregate and process the information from various
statistic providers needed for monitoring the implementation of article 9 of the Convention and
therefore contributing to achieving the relevant target 16.3.
A special and active role in this sphere is played by
Aarhus Centres,
which have been established
in 15 countries including South and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia with leading
support by OSCE. Aarhus Centres cover both the national and local levels by offering guidance
to the public, performing awareness-raising activities, facilitating access to information and
public participation, and assisting Governments in the performance of their functions and in
cooperating with the public.
Furthermore,
non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) have been leading actors in monitoring
and facilitating the implementation of the principles of the Convention throughout the UNECE
region as well as in relevant international forums. They often are valuable partners in
disseminating information, in raising awareness and in helping countries build the necessary
capacities for greater access to information, public participation in decision-making and access
to justice.
By promoting transparency and public participation in
international decision-making,
the
Aarhus Convention is helping to improve a wide range of international processes dealing with
matters relevant to environmental concerns such as climate, health, chemicals, trade, finance
and biodiversity. It has been also used as reference for the review of safeguard and information
policies of other agencies of the United Nations as well as international financial institutions.
The Aarhus Convention has already acted as a
model example for initiatives in other regions
and forums aimed at applying the principles contained in the Convention, namely the Escazu
Agreement – Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in
Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean. Where requested and within
available resources, the secretariat and Parties to the Convention are offering advisory support
to the process in Latin America and the Caribbean and to initiatives in other regions and forums.
The UNECE has also been supporting the United Nations Environment Programme in its efforts
to promote the Bali guidelines on the application of Principle 10 and other relevant activities.
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Third SDG Dialogue “Reflections on the outcome of the global
SDG Summit 2023 and the role of Supreme Audit Institutions in
SDGs implementation”
UN Azerbaijan
United efforts, political will and firm actions are needed to advance concrete,
integrated and targeted policies and actions towards a sustainable and resilient
path that leaves no one behind by 2030.
Under the Government leadership, all stakeholders, including Supreme Audit
Institutions, international partners, private sector, civil society and academia
need to work together to support the implementation of Azerbaijan’s National
Commitments for accelerated progress towards SDGs.
Supreme Audit Institutions can be instrumental in ensuring the accountability of
public institutions on SDG implementation performance.
Ensuring predictable, sustainable and sufficient development finance as well as
its effective use are critical for the achievement of SDGs.
On 24 October 2023 the third SDG Dialogue
“Reflections
on the outcome of the global SDG
Summit 2023 and the role of Supreme Audit Institutions in SDGs implementation”
was held
bringing together more than 150 participants from government agencies, the United Nations (UN),
Supreme Audit Institutions, international financial institutions (IFIs), the diplomatic community,
the private sector, civil society and academia.
The participants of the event organised by the National Coordination Council on Sustainable
Development of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Economy, and the UN, exchanged information and
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discussed the outcomes of the Global SDG Summit 2023 and the High-level Dialogue on
Financing for Development.
The Government of Azerbaijan extensively supported the global discussions and the Political
Declaration of the SDG Summit 2023, and was one of the 32 countries in the world that submitted
its
National commitment to SDG Transformation,
which builds on the Strategy of socio-
economic development for 2022-2026, the first State Programme “The great return to the
liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan”, the national efforts on introduction of
Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), the Sustainable Finance Roadmap of the
Central Bank of Azerbaijan, the outcome documents of the first and second SDG Dialogues on
green transformation
and
inclusive growth,
as well as the
Declaration
from the 2nd International
Mine Action and SDGs Conference.
At the third SDG Dialogue, members of the delegation of Azerbaijan at the global SDG Summit
briefed on the Summit highlights and shared the National commitment on SDG Transformation
submitted by Azerbaijan. The discussions held during the SDG Dialogue touched upon the
measures needed for SDG acceleration and financing in Azerbaijan.
Globally, public spending is said to carry a critical role in financing of SDGs given that state
budgets are the main instruments of financing development needs. Increasing number of
countries in the world are taking measures to improve the effectiveness of public spending on
SDGs. Accordingly, the third SDG Dialogue also focused on reviewing the SDG financing trends
in Azerbaijan and the role of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) in monitoring of the performance of
Government institutions in SDGs implementation as well as the effectiveness of public
expenditures on SDGs. It brought together the representatives of SAIs from other countries to
share their experiences in performance audits and ensuring the effectiveness of public spending
on SDGs.
Given that the SAI of Azerbaijan undertook performance audit on five SDGs in 2021 and 2022, the
third SDG Dialogue facilitated a platform to share the early findings of these audit exercises with
stakeholders and the broader audience. Performance audits conducted by SAI of Azerbaijan
included:
1. An efficiency audit of the State Service for Development and Restoration under the
Ministry of Culture, focusing on the effectiveness of the "2014-2020 State Program on the
restoration and protection of historical and cultural monuments".
2. An evaluation of forest management under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources,
which highlighted deficiencies in the legislative framework, administrative activities, and
forest restoration practices impacting the national SDGs implementation.
3. An audit assessing the new subsidy mechanism in horticulture, indicating shortcomings
in administrative management despite efforts to create conditions for success.
4. Performance audits evaluating chronic kidney disease activities and the improvement of
surface water supply for agriculture, both revealing inefficiencies in administrative
management and insufficiently organized measures in achieving desired outcomes
within specified timeframes.
Detailed reports of these performance audits are provided on
the INTOSAI Atlas on SDGs.
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Looking ahead
A whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is needed to ensure that all stakeholders,
including Government institutions, Supreme Audit Institutions, UN, international partners,
private sector, civil society and academia work together to implement Azerbaijan’s National
Commitments for accelerated progress towards SDGs. The UN Family in Azerbaijan will continue
to work side-by-side with partners to achieve inclusive sustainable development. In line with the
SDG Summit commitment on enhancing SDG financing, the UN looks forward to further expand
the collaboration with the Ministries of Economy and Finance on implementing Integrated
National Financing Framework. Azerbaijan’s plan to submit the Fourth Voluntary National Review
of SDG implementation in 2024 is also welcome and the UN will support this important exercise.
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Mystery of Sary Kol – a game for change
UN Kyrgyzstan
A mobile game from Kyrgyzstan reached the final of the international competition
Games for Change, which illustrates how effective partnerships can address
empowerment of girls.
Erkinay is a young girl studying to be a seamstress in a vocational school. She lives in a small
mountain village near Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Everyone around her hints that it is time
to think about marriage, but she dreams of a great career as an actress. One day, on the shore of
Sary Kol, a lake near the village, she meets a mysterious woman in black. This is how the game
Mystery of Sary Kol begins. After this, the players are invited to make decisions for Erkinay, and
her fate depends on these decisions.
“When starting this project, we wanted to give girls the opportunity to dream, make decisions and
feel independent,”
says Munara Beknazarova, who had the idea for the game.
Munara Beknazarova runs Open Line Public Foundation, which works to prevent domestic
violence and protect the rights of girls. The Foundation developed the Mystery of Sary Kol game
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to help girls learn and protect their rights. The game was developed with financial support from
UNICEF as part of the joint European Union and United Nations Spotlight Initiative.
This global and local partnership supported Kyrgyzstan to tackle a long-term serious issue of
child, early and forced marriage, the elimination of which is SDG target 5.3. As of 2018 when the
latest data was reported, 13 per cent of 20–24-year-old women in Kyrgyzstan had been married
or in a union already before age 18, and 0.3 per cent before age 15 (United
Nations Global SDG
Indicators Database,
indicator 5.3.1). The figures are likely an underestimate since many child
marriages go unreported from fear of social stigma. The game serves as a great example of how
such issues can be addressed in a multi-stakeholder partnership (SDG target 17.17).
Successful start
In two years, the mobile game has been downloaded more than 40,000 times. After its launch,
the Open Line Public Foundation conducted a survey among its users. It showed that those who
played the game felt significantly more strongly that child marriage is a crime and were more
willing to help those who are forced into marriage.
The game also made the girls much more confident that they could, through dialogue, convince
their parents to abandon the practice of forced marriage.
“We were happy to hear from users that they were able to help all the characters in the game
successfully go through the challenges and feel the change,”
Munara rejoiced.
According to her, the game’s reach is dozens of times greater than traditional lectures and
meetings. Moreover, it is important to dilute traditional teaching methods with interactivity. And
games, through immersion and engagement with the characters, can achieve more effective
results.
International recognition
In July 2023, the game made it to the world’s largest annual Games for Change festival, which
celebrates games that promote positive social change. Moreover, it was a finalist in the Best
Civics Game category. More than 340 games and apps from around the world were entered in
this category.
Munara recalls that while researching mobile game development, she came across the Games
for Change website. There was an entire section with a catalogue of digital and non-digital games
addressing social issues.
“I was really inspired by the vision that Games for Change pursue. And there I was, years later,
attending this festival in New York and presenting our game from Kyrgyzstan there!”
Munara
proudly notes.
The game’s power
“Games can and should be more than just fun. They should also have a meaning. Today we are
raising new players who are changing and moving towards positive change through games,”
says
Munara.
With its educational component, the Mystery of Sary Kol also breaks the stereotype of girls who
play mobile games. It is believed that games on mobile phones are a “waste of time”. But thanks
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to games like the Mystery of Sary-Kol, girls not only develop themselves, but also expand the
limits of gender stereotypes and attitudes.
By the way, this is not Munara’s first successful work. Earlier she launched the game Spring in
Bishkek, which was downloaded more than 150,000 times.
For information
The game “Mystery of Sary Kol” was created by the Open Line Public Foundation with the
participation of an international team of developers, and with the support of
UNICEF in
Kyrgyzstan
as part of the Spotlight initiative, a joint initiative by the European Union and the
United Nations to end violence against women and girls in Kyrgyzstan. The game can be
downloaded from Google Play and App Store.
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Achieving the SDGs through public-private partnerships by
promoting quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient
infrastructure
UNECE Economic Cooperation and Trade
As a means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
public-private partnerships (PPPs) remain essential to accelerate progress
towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By providing a financing mechanism that can mobilize private funds into infrastructure
development and harness the private sector innovation capabilities, PPPs aligned with the SDGs
can improve people’s lives and create value for society. However, not all PPP projects are aligned
with the SDGs, and some may even have negative economic, social and environmental impacts.
Furthermore, with
infrastructure being responsible for 79 per cent of all greenhouse gas
emissions
and
2023 set to be the warmest year on record and greenhouse gas levels continuing
to increase,
it is essential to evaluate PPP and infrastructure projects against the SDGs and
ensure that they contribute to the three pillars of sustainable development: environmental,
social and economic.
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While traditional PPPs present challenges and limitations to implement the 2030 Agenda, the five
outcomes of the
UNECE “PPP for the SDGs” approach
go beyond the mere “value for money”
criteria to focus infrastructure in delivering “value for people” and “value for the planet”. These
outcomes are:
1. Increase access to essential services and reduce social inequality and injustice
2. Improve economic effectiveness and fiscal sustainability
3. Enhance resilience and environmental sustainability
4. Promote replicability and the development of further projects
5. Fully involve all stakeholders
Through this approach and its pioneering tool, the
PPP and Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating
System (PIERS),
UNECE is addressing these challenges and the need for significant investments
in infrastructure that is of high quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient. The PIERS methodology
provides a set of criteria and indicators to evaluate infrastructure projects against these
outcomes throughout the stages of the PPP process. It is an evaluation methodology that uses a
scoring system based on these criteria to assess PPP and infrastructure projects against the
SDGs. It also provides feedback on how to improve project performance in terms of sustainability.
The main objective of this evaluation methodology is to assist Governments in particular – but
also businesses, lenders, and debt providers – in how they identify, design and implement
infrastructure projects and deliver public services that comply with the SDGs. To help
Governments and all stakeholders use this methodology effectively, UNECE has also developed
an
online platform for PIERS.
This online platform enhances the accessibility and facilitates the
usage of the PIERS methodology by providing guidance on how to apply the criteria and indicators
in different contexts and sectors.
Since its launch in 2022, the PIERS methodology has been used for evaluating over 200
infrastructure projects in 35 developed and developing countries belonging to the UNECE region
and beyond. These projects range from large-scale infrastructure such as bridges, metro rails
and power stations, to small-scale community projects such as charging stations for electric
vehicles, medical facilities, and school infrastructure. Many of these were submitted to the 7th
edition to the UNECE International PPP Forum where 49 projects from 33 countries were
presented and evaluated using the PIERS methodology, for a total capital expenditure of 38.7
billion United States dollars of investment. Some examples of these projects are:
the
1915 Çanakkale Bridge project,
the longest suspended bridge in the world across the
Dardanelles in Türkiye, which improved the livelihoods of the affected communities
through an extensive stakeholder engagement process and the creation of local jobs;
an
energy renovation project for public buildings in Ljubljana,
Slovenia, that reduced
greenhouse gas emissions by significantly reducing the energy consumption and
increasing the share of renewable energy sources in public buildings; and
a
school reconstruction project in Kaunas district,
Lithuania, that reduced energy
consumption and CO2 emissions by renovating old buildings and increased access to
education to more than 500 children by building new schools in compliance with the
nearly-zero emission building (NZEB) standard.
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By using the PIERS methodology, these projects demonstrate how PPPs can be an effective tool
to achieve the SDGs, if they are designed and implemented with people’s interest at their core.
The UNECE methodology also helps these projects showcase their achievements and best
practices and inspire others to follow their example.
In this regard, the PIERS methodology is best suited for projects at the early stages of
development, when changes and improvements are mostly possible and less costly. By using the
PIERS methodology at the onset of the project development lifecycle, Governments, at local or
subnational level, can gain valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of their PPP and
infrastructure projects, and in terms of creating value for people and value for planet.
As part of its PIERS programme, UNECE is providing support to its member States in assessing
their PPP and infrastructure projects using the PIERS methodology. They receive
recommendations from UNECE on how to improve their performance or align better with the
SDGs. These recommendations help Government identify projects that are aligned with the
SDGs. They could also help these projects improve their quality, efficiency and impact, as well
as attract more investors, donors, or partners who are more and more committed to support the
SDGs.
For example, in Ukraine, where the reconstruction and recovery needs were
estimated in 2023
by the World Bank at about 411 billion United States dollars,
the UNECE has been supporting the
Government in applying the PIERS methodology to develop and implement reconstruction
projects that are aligned with the SDGs.
Kyrgyzstan has also benefited from UNECE support,
where several PPP projects at the early stages of development have been evaluated using the
PIERS methodology, especially small-scale PPP projects with important development impacts.
Against the backdrop of the triple planetary crisis – climate change, pollution and biodiversity
loss – and with the increase in man-made and natural disasters, sustainable PPPs and
infrastructure with people as the main beneficiaries are key to accelerate progress towards the
SDGs halfway to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UNECE is scaling up the implementation of the PIERS methodology in its member States and
beyond through cooperation with other UN regional commissions.
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National indicators for measuring progress with SDGs
UNECE Statistics
Most UNECE countries have developed national indicators and reporting
platforms to measure progress with SDGs on the national level and support the
production of the SDG Voluntary National Reviews. The evidence base for SDGs is
therefore significantly stronger than can be deducted from the availability of
internationally agreed indicators alone. To improve understanding of the situation,
UNECE has developed a tool for country self-assessment of SDG indicator
availability.
From its inception, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognized the importance of
strong national statistics. Building statistical capacity (especially in developing countries) and
developing measurements of progress on sustainable development (targets 17.18 & 17.19) are
included in the Agenda as means of implementation. Under the United Nations Statistical
Commission, a global indicator set was developed for follow up and review. Furthermore, the
Agenda calls for Member States to produce national statistics using the global indicator
framework, and to complement these statistics with regional and national indicators.
Much has been achieved since the establishment of the global indicator set in 2016. At that time,
internationally agreed methodologies existed for about 60 per cent of global indicators – a large
challenge lay ahead for the international statistical community. Even more dire was the
availability of data – only for about 35 per cent of indicators was data widely available (i.e., for
most, but not all countries). For 25 per cent of indicators data was available in less than half of
countries. No data was available for the remaining 40 per cent of indicators – they were new,
without (agreed) methodologies to calculate them.
By the end of 2020, internationally agreed-on methodologies were developed for all indicators.
By the end of 2023, data for two-thirds of SDG indicators are regularly produced by most
countries.
Despite this progress, indicator availability remains a big challenge. As of 16 January 2024, for 42
indicators of the global set, data in the UN Global SDG Indicator Database is available for less
than 25 per cent of countries.
36
To understand how this lack of data impacts the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, we need to
distinguish between two use cases for SDG data: 1) for international purposes, to calculate
aggregates and track the SDGs on regional and national levels, and 2) for national purposes, to
track the implementation of the SDGs nationally.
36
UN Global SDG Indicator Database – Data Availability.
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Stories
For international purposes, data availability is a critical concern. In the UNECE region, which
includes many of the most statistically developed countries, only about two-thirds of all targets
can be tracked on the regional level.
Arguably, the second use case is more important for the success of the SDGs, as the goals and
targets are implemented nationally. An important question is therefore:
Is the SDG data on the
national level enabling policymakers to track national progress and are they enabled to make
informed decisions about national SDG implementation?
Forty-nine UNECE countries (out of 56) have established a platform for national SDG data, which
reveal considerable differences between national availability and the availability of SDG data in
the global database. To ensure international comparability, the global database only includes
indicators that were produced following the internationally agreed methodology. Many countries
are, however, producing so-called proxies, that is, approximations of indicators in the global set.
Forty-two UNECE countries have developed national indicators sets, designed to capture their
respective targets in a way that is relevant for national implementation.
While proxy and national indicators are not useful for tracking the SDGs on a global or regional
level due to issues of international comparability, they can provide critical information for the
national implementation of the SDG targets. The availability of data on the national level is also
important for a second international mechanism to track the implementation of the SDGs: the
Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). VNRs are becoming increasingly data-driven, and many
countries consider relevant national indicators and proxies. In all, the evidence base for SDGs is
therefore significantly stronger than can be deducted from the availability of internationally
agreed indicators alone.
The UNECE Steering Group on Statistics for
SDGs is currently working towards
assessment of national indicator availability.
The Steering Group is producing an
addendum chapter on data availability to
the
2nd edition of the UNECE Road Map on
Statistics for SDGs
and a tool for countries to
self-assess their national availability of
indicators and to organize their work as
coordinators of the national statistical system
for SDG statistics.
A challenge is that only a few national
statistical offices have been given additional
resources to work on SDG indicators. This
work is often done as an additional task using existing resources. Often, there are more urgent
priorities on which to provide data and progress in increasing data availability for SDGs remains
slow. Midway through the SDG journey, there is still time to accelerate this pace of improvement.
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Technical notes on the progress assessment
Data
The progress assessment is based on the Global indicator framework for the Sustainable
Development Goals
37
. The data were downloaded from
the United Nations Global SDG
Indicators Database
on 15 December 2023. For some indicators, the report relies on
the UNECE
Statistical Database.
This is the case where the UNECE Database, through its existing data
collection, has a more comprehensive coverage of countries or data on more recent years for
UNECE countries, or where the UNECE Database provides more precise or consistent
measurements for the UNECE region. This concerns indicators 3.6.1 on road traffic deaths and
9.1.2 on passenger and freight volumes. Indicator 3.7.1 on family planning is sourced from the
United Nations Population Division, indicator 8.1.1 on annual growth rate of the gross domestic
product per capita from the World Bank, and indicator 8.5.1, unemployment rate, from the
International Labour Organization.
Assessment measure
The assessment uses the Anticipated Progress Index, a method developed by the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
38
and applied by all five
United Nations regional commissions.
The Anticipated Progress Index measures whether a target will be achieved by 2030 based on the
rate of change observed between 2000 and 2023. Recent data are given more weight than earlier
data in estimating anticipated indicator values for 2030. For targets that will not be achieved, the
index reports the anticipated gap between the target value and the projected value for 2030
relative to the progress required between 2015 and 2030.
Estimation and aggregation
The anticipated values for 2030 are estimated using the available data between 2000 and 2023.
The time-weighted linear regression used for the estimation gives more importance to more
recent data. The assessment uses all available indicators where at least two data points are
available for at least 15 UNECE countries and for which it is possible to set a target value (see
Target values).
In total, the assessment uses 160 indicators across 117 targets and all 17 goals
37
United Nations (2017).
Global indicator framework for the Sustainable Development Goals and targets of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development.
6 July 2017. A/RES/71/313 and refinements E/CN.3/2018/2 (Annex II),
E/CN.3/2019/2 (Annex II), and E/CN.3/2020/2.
38
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (2023). Annex 1: Technical notes –
methodology to measure progress. Pp. 37–41 in
Asia and the Pacific SDG progress report 2023: championing
sustainability despite adversities.
Bangkok: United Nations.
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Technical notes on the progress assessment
(see
Indicators used in the assessment).
For 71 indicators, insufficient country data are available
to assess progress for the region. Seventeen indicators are excluded because they are not
measured for the UNECE countries (for example, indicators pertaining to least developed
countries only) or because it is not possible to determine a desirable direction of development
(for example, the indicator on the extent of water-related ecosystems).
Some indicators consist of several components. For example, indicator 1.3.1 (Proportion of
population covered by social protection) consists of 11 social protection benefits, and indicator
3.c.1 (Health worker density by occupation) consists of separate measures for nurses, doctors,
pharmacists and physicians. In such cases, all components with data are used in the
calculations, and the progress index for the indicator is the average of the indices of its
components. Altogether, 421 data series were used.
The estimation described above is carried out on the country level. For the regional level
assessment, the median value is used for most indicators. For a subset of indicators, the mean
provides a better summary of the distribution of values across the region.
39
For indicators with
binary values, which show the existence of a certain policy in a country, the summary value for
the region is the percentage of countries with such a policy.
In this report, the assessment results are presented at the level of SDG targets. In aggregation to
the target level, each indicator has an equal weight (independent of its number of components)
under the corresponding target.
Target values
The methodology uses target values for each indicator (or its component), which are expected to
be reached by 2030. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development explicitly or implicitly defines
target values for 77 indicators included in this progress assessment. For the other indicators, the
“champion area” approach is used to define the region’s target value. Three variants of this
approach are applied.
The most common variant identifies top performers in the region according to the rate of change.
Top performers are defined as the five countries with the highest compound annual growth rate
between the earliest observation available and 2015. When the earliest empirical observation is
2015 or later, the growth rate is the compound annual growth rate between this value and the
next available value. The target value is set as the product of the mean growth rate of the top
performers and the regional median value in 2015.
For some indicators, such as those on internet connections and use, the very rapid progress
cannot reasonably be applied to the future. For these, top performers are identified as the five
countries with either the highest or lowest values in 2015 depending on whether the desirable
direction of change is an increase or a decrease. The target is then set as the mean value in 2015
among these top performers.
To set a reasonable target value for certain indicators, it is necessary to transform the data
disseminated in the Global SDG Indicator Database into a different unit of measurement. For
example, data for indicator 17.17.1 on funds committed to public-private partnerships are
39
The regional value represents the mean value for indicators 2.5.1, 3.6.1, 4.1.1, 10.7.2, 12.4.1, 15.2.1, and 16.1.1.
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Sustainable development in the UNECE region: facing a headwind in 2024
reported in total United States dollars. The size of national economies varies across the UNECE
region, and it would not be appropriate to set a dollar-value target according to the largest or best
performing economies. In these cases, we normalize data values based on gross domestic
product for the corresponding year so that the data reflect per cent of gross domestic product. It
is then possible to apply a universally appropriate target value based on per cent of gross
domestic product. Data for indicators 8.a.1, 10.b.1, 15.a.1, 15.b.1, 17.7.1, 17.17.1, and 17.9.1
have been transformed in this way.
For a small group of indicators, it is not obvious whether rapid change or low or high absolute
levels are desired (for example, 9.2.2, Manufacturing employment as a percentage of total
employment). For such indicators, top performers are taken to be the countries with the highest
gross domestic product per capita in 2015 and the target value as the average value for 2015 of
these top performers.
For a few indicators, a desirable direction of change and a target value cannot be determined.
This is typically the case with indicators that are meant to provide a dashboard for a qualitative
overall assessment of the situation (for example, indicator 6.6.1 on changes to water-related
ecosystems over time). Such indicators were left out of the assessment.
Outliers are dropped from the target-value estimation using the interquartile range method.
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Technical notes on the progress assessment
Indicators used in the assessment
Indicator short name
GOAL 1 – No Poverty
Extreme poverty
1.1.1
- Proportion of population below international poverty line (%)
- Proportion of employed population below international poverty
line (%)
1.2.1
Proportion of population living below the national poverty
line (%)
1.2.2
Proportion of population living in multidimensional poverty
(%)
1.3.1
- Proportion of population covered by social assistance programs
(%)
- Proportion of population covered by social assistance programs,
lowest income quantile (%)
- Proportion of population covered by social insurance programs
(%)
- Proportion of population covered by social insurance programs,
lowest income quantile (%)
- Proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment
cash benefit (%)
- Proportion of population above statutory pensionable age
receiving a pension (%)
- Proportion of population with severe disabilities receiving
disability cash benefit (%)
- Proportion of population covered by at least one social
protection benefit (%)
- Proportion of children/households receiving child/family cash
benefit (%)
- Proportion of mothers with newborns receiving maternity cash
benefit (%)
- Proportion of vulnerable population receiving social assistance
cash benefit (%)
1.4.1
Proportion of population:
- Using basic drinking water (%)
- Basic sanitation services (%)
1.5.1
- Number of deaths and missing persons attributed to disasters
per 100,000 population
- Number of directly affected persons attributed to disasters per
100,000 population
1.5.2
Direct economic loss attributed to disasters relative to GDP
(%)
1.5.3
Score of adoption and implementation of national DRR
strategies in line with the Sendai Framework
1.5.4
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement
local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national
disaster risk reduction strategies (%)
Indicator
National poverty
Multidimensional poverty
Social protection
Access to basic water and
sanitation services
Deaths/missing/affected from
disasters
Economic loss from disasters
Disaster risk reduction
Disaster risk reduction
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Indicator short name
ODA grants for poverty reduction
Government spending on
education and health
GOAL 2 – Zero Hunger
Prevalence of undernourishment
Moderate or severe food
insecurity in the population
Prevalence of stunting
Prevalence of malnutrition
Indicator
1.a.1
Official development assistance grants for poverty
reduction, by donor countries (% of GNI)
1.a.2
Proportion of total government spending on essential
services, education (%)
2.1.1
Prevalence of undernourishment (%)
2.1.2
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the
adult population (%)
2.2.1
Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted (%)
2.2.2
- Proportion of children moderately or severely wasted (%)
- Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight (%)
2.2.3
Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia (%):
- Pregnant
- Non-pregnant
2.3.1
Productivity of small-scale food producers (agricultural
output per labour day, constant PPP 2011 USD)
2.5.1
- Number of local breeds for which sufficient genetic resources
are stored for reconstitution
- Number of transboundary breeds for which sufficient genetic
resources are stored for reconstitution
- Plant genetic resources accessions stored ex situ (number)
2.5.2
Proportion of local breeds classified as being at risk as a
share of local breeds with known level of extinction risk (%)
2.a.1
Agriculture orientation index for government expenditures
Prevalence of anaemia
Production per labour unit
Plant and animal genetic
resources in conservation
facilities
Local breeds at risk of extinction
Agriculture orientation index
GOAL 3 – Good health and well-being
Maternal mortality ratio
Births attended by skilled health
personnel
Under-five mortality
3.1.1
Maternal mortality ratio
3.1.2
Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel (%)
3.2.1
- Under-five mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births)
- Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births)
3.2.2
Neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births)
3.3.1
Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected
population
3.3.2
Tuberculosis incidence (per 100,000 population)
3.4.1
Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer,
diabetes or chronic respiratory disease (probability)
3.4.2
Suicide mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 population)
3.5.2
Alcohol consumption per capita (aged 15 years and older)
within a calendar year (litres of pure alcohol)
Neonatal mortality
HIV infections
Tuberculosis
Cardiovascular disease, cancer,
diabetes or chronic respiratory
disease
Suicide
Harmful use of alcohol
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Technical notes on the progress assessment
Indicator short name
Road traffic deaths
40
Modern methods for family
planning
41
Adolescent births
Indicator
3.6.1
Road traffic fatalities, rate per million inhabitants
3.7.1
Women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have
their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods (%)
3.7.2
- Adolescent birth rate (per 1,000 women aged 10-14 years)
- Adolescent birth rate (per 1,000 women aged 15-19 years)
3.8.1
Universal health coverage (UHC) service coverage index
3.8.2
Proportion of population with large household expenditures
on health as a share of total household expenditure or income
(%):
- Greater than 10%
- Greater than 25%
3.9.3
Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisonings (deaths
per 100,000 population)
3.a.1
Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among
persons aged 15 years and older (%)
3.b.1
Proportion of the target population with access to (%):
- 3 doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) (%)
- Measles-containing-vaccine second dose (MCV2) (%)
- Pneumococcal conjugate 3rd dose (PCV3) (%)
- Affordable medicines and vaccines on a sustainable basis,
human papillomavirus (HPV) (%)
3.c.1
Health worker density (per 10,000 population)
- Dentists
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Physicians
- Health worker distribution, female physicians (%)
3.d.1
International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity (%):
- Legislation and financing
- Laboratory
- Surveillance
- Food safety
- Human resources
- Points of entry
- Risk communication
- Health service provision
- Chemical events
- Radiation
- National health emergency framework
- IHR Coordination and National Focal Point Functions
- Zoonotic events and the Human-Animal Health Interface
Universal health coverage index
Household expenditures on
health
Unintentional poisoning
Tobacco use
Population covered by all
vaccines in national programme
Health worker density and
distribution
Health capacity and emergency
preparedness
40
41
Data source is
UNECE Statistical Database
Data source is United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2020).
Model-
based Estimates and Projections of Family Planning Indicators 2020,
custom data acquired via website.
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Indicator short name
Antimicrobial-resistant
bloodstream infections
Indicator
3.d.2
- Percentage of bloodstream infection due to Escherichia coli
resistant to 3rd-generation cephalosporin (ESBL- E. coli) among
patients seeking care and whose blood sample is taken and
tested (%)
- Percentage of bloodstream infection due to methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among patients seeking care and
whose blood sample is taken and tested (%)
GOAL 4 – Quality education
Minimum proficiency in reading
and maths
4.1.1
Proportion of children and young people achieving a
minimum proficiency level (%):
- Mathematics
- Reading
4.1.2
Completion rate (%):
- Primary
- Lower secondary
- Secondary
4.2.2
Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the
official primary entry age) (%)
4.3.1
Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and
training (%)
4.4.1
Proportion of youth and adults with information and
communications technology (ICT) skills (%):
- Programming language
- Transfer file
- Download software
- Electronic presentation
- Spreadsheet arithmetic
- Copy/move file/folder
- Copy/paste
- Email
4.5.1
Parity status index for achievement in reading and math in
lower-secondary (ratio):
- Language
- Immigration status
- Gender
- Rural to urban
- Socio-economic status
4.a.1
Schools with access to (%) [Primary, lower secondary,
secondary]:
- Computers for pedagogical purposes
- Internet for pedagogical purposes
- Electricity
- Basic handwashing facilities
- Single-sex basic sanitation
- Basic drinking water
4.c.1
Proportion of teachers with the minimum required
qualifications (%):
- Pre-primary and primary
- Secondary
Completion rate
Organised learning before
primary entry age
Formal and non-formal education
and training
Youth and adults with ICT skills
Inequality indices for education
indicators
Schools with access to basic
services
Teachers with minimum required
qualifications
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Technical notes on the progress assessment
Indicator short name
GOAL 5 – Gender Equality
Legal frameworks on non-
discrimination
Indicator
5.1.1
Legal frameworks that promote, enforce and monitor gender
equality (% of achievement):
- Overarching legal frameworks and public life
- Violence against women
- Employment and economic benefits
- Marriage and family
5.4.1
Male/female ratio of hours spent on domestic tasks
5.5.1
- Proportion of seats in national parliaments held by women (%)
- Proportion of elected seats held by women in deliberative bodies
of local government (%)
5.5.2
Proportion of women in (%):
- Managerial positions
- Senior and middle management positions
5.b.1
Proportion of females who own a mobile phone (%)
Gender parity in time spent on
domestic tasks
Seats held by women in national
parliaments and local
governments
Proportion of women in
managerial positions
Mobile phone ownership
GOAL 6 – Clean water and sanitation
Safely managed drinking water
services
Open defecation practice and
handwashing facilities
Domestic and industrial
wastewater flows safely treated
Bodies of water with good
ambient water quality
Water use efficiency
Water stress
Degree of integrated water
resources management
Transboundary basin area with an
operational arrangement for
water cooperation
Policies and procedures for
participative water and sanitation
management
Access to electricity
Reliance on clean energy
Renewable energy share
Energy intensity
6.1.1
Proportion of population using safely managed drinking
water services (%)
6.2.1
Proportion of population (%):
- Practicing open defecation
- Using safely managed sanitation services
6.3.1
Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows
safely treated
6.3.2
Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water
quality (%)
6.4.1
Water Use Efficiency (United States dollars per cubic meter)
6.4.2
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion
of available freshwater resources (%)
6.5.1
Degree of integrated water resources management
implementation (%)
6.5.2
Proportion of transboundary basins (river and lake basins
and aquifers) with an operational arrangement for water
cooperation (%)
6.b.1
Proportion of local administrative units with established and
operational policies and procedures for participation of local
communities in water and sanitation management
7.1.1
Proportion of population with access to electricity (%)
7.1.2
Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels
and technology (%)
7.2.1
Renewable energy share in the total final energy
consumption (%)
7.3.1
Energy intensity level of primary energy (megajoules per
constant 2011 purchasing power parity GDP)
GOAL 7 – Affordable and clean energy
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Indicator short name
Indicator
GOAL 8 – Decent work and economic growth
Real GDP per capita growth rate
Real GDP per employed person
growth rate
Informal employment
Domestic material consumption
8.1.1
Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita (%)
8.2.1
Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person (%)
8.3.1
Proportion of informal employment in total employment
8.4.2
Domestic material consumption per unit of GDP (kilograms
per constant 2015 United States dollars):
- Biomass
- Fossil fuels
- Metal ores
- Non-metallic minerals
- Coal
- Crop residues
- Crops
- Ferrous ores
- Natural gas
- Grazed biomass and fodder crops
- Non-ferrous ores
- Non-metallic minerals, industrial or agricultural dominant
- Non-metallic minerals, construction dominant
- Petroleum
- Wild catch and harvest
- Wood
- Oil shale and tar sands
- Total
8.5.2
Unemployment rate (%)
8.6.1
Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training
(%)
8.8.1
Occupational injuries among employees per 100,000
employees:
- Fatal
- Non-fatal
8.8.2
Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of
association and collective bargaining) based on International
Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation
8.10.1
Number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000
adults
8.10.2
Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at
a financial institution or mobile-money-service provider (%)
8.a.1
Total official flows (disbursement) for Aid for Trade, by donor
countries (millions of constant 2020 United States dollars,
transformed to per cent of GDP)
8.b.1
Existence of a developed and operationalized national
strategy for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of
a national employment strategy
Unemployment rate
Youth not in education,
employment or training
Occupational injuries
National compliance to labour
rights
Commercial bank branches and
automated teller machines
Adults with a bank account
Aid for trade commitments and
disbursements
Strategy for youth employment
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Technical notes on the progress assessment
Indicator short name
Indicator
GOAL 9 – Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Passenger and freight volumes
42
9.1.2
- Non-road freight as proportion of total (%)
- Rail passengers, thousand passenger-km per capita
9.2.1
Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP (%)
9.2.2
Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total
employment (%)
9.3.1
Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value
added (%)
9.3.2
Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of
credit (%)
9.4.1
Carbon dioxide emissions (kilogrammes of CO2 per
constant 2010 United States dollars):
- Per unit of GDP
- Per unit of manufacturing value added
9.5.1
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of
GDP (%)
9.5.2
Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants
(per 1,000,000 population)
9.b.1
Proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in
total value added (%)
9.c.1
Proportion of population covered by mobile network (%):
- At least a 2G
- At least a 3G
- At least a 4G
10.2.1
Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median
income (%)
10.4.1
Labour share of GDP (%)
10.4.2
Redistributive impact of fiscal policy, Gini index (%):
- Pre-fiscal income
- Post-fiscal income
10.5.1
- Non-performing loans net of provisions to capital (%)
- Non-performing loans to total gross loans (%)
- Return on assets (%)
- Regulatory capital to assets (%)
- Regulatory Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets (%)
- Liquid assets to short-term liabilities (%)
- Net open position in foreign exchange to capital (%)
10.7.2
Countries with migration policies to facilitate orderly, safe,
regular and responsible migration and mobility of people [All
domains]
10.7.3
Total deaths and disappearances recorded during
migration (number)
Manufacturing value added
Manufacturing employment
Small-scale industries as share
of total
Small-scale industries with a
loan or line of credit
CO2 emission intensity
Research and development
expenditure
Number of researchers
Medium and high-tech industry
value added
Population covered by mobile
phone network
GOAL 10 – Reduced inequalities
Population living below 50
percent of median income
Labour income share of GDP
Redistributive impact of fiscal
policy
Financial soundness indicators
Migration policies
Migrant deaths and
disappearances
42
Data source is
UNECE Statistical Database.
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Indicator short name
Refugees
Zero tariff imports
Total resource flows for
development
Remittance costs
Indicator
10.7.4
Proportion of the population who are refugees, by country
of origin (%)
10.a.1
Proportion of tariff lines applied to imports with zero-tariff
(%), all products
10.b.1
Net official development assistance (ODA) as a percentage
of OECD-DAC donors' GNI, by donor countries (%)
10.c.1
- Remittance costs as a proportion of the amount remitted (%)
- Average remittance costs of sending $200 for a sending country
as a proportion of the amount remitted (%)
11.1.1
Proportion of urban population living in slums (%)
11.4.1
Total expenditure per capita spent on cultural and natural
heritage, public funding (PPP, constant 2017 United States
dollars)
11.5.1
- Number of deaths and missing persons attributed to disasters
per 100,000 population (number)
- Number of directly affected persons attributed to disasters per
100,000 population (number)
11.5.2
Direct economic loss attributed to disasters relative to
GDP (%)
11.6.2
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-
weighted, micrograms per cubic meter)
11.b.1
Score of adoption and implementation of national DRR
strategies in line with the Sendai Framework
11.b.2
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement
local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national
disaster risk reduction strategies (%)
GOAL 11 – Sustainable cities and communities
Slums
Expenditure cultural and natural
heritage
Deaths/missing/affected from
disasters
Economic loss and affected
infrastructure & services from
disasters
Mean levels of fine particulate
matter in cities
Disaster risk reduction
Disaster risk reduction, local
governments
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Technical notes on the progress assessment
Indicator short name
Indicator
GOAL 12 – Responsible consumption and production
Domestic material consumption
12.2.2
Domestic material consumption per unit of GDP (kilograms
per constant 2015 United States dollars):
- Biomass
- Fossil fuels
- Metal ores
- Non-metallic minerals
- Coal
- Crop residues
- Crops
- Ferrous ores
- Natural gas
- Grazed biomass and fodder crops
- Non-ferrous ores
- Non-metallic minerals, industrial or agricultural dominant
- Non-metallic minerals, construction dominant
- Petroleum
- Wild catch and harvest
- Wood
- Oil shale and tar sands
- Total
12.4.1
Parties meeting their commitments and obligations in
transmitting information on hazardous waste and other
chemicals, as required by:
- Basel Convention
- Montreal Protocol
- Rotterdam Convention
- Stockholm Convention
12.4.2
- Hazardous waste treated or disposed (%)
- Hazardous waste generated, per capita (kg)
12.5.1
Electronic waste recycling, per capita (kg)
12.b.1
Implementation of standard accounting tools to monitor
the economic and environmental aspects of tourism:
- Number of tables
- SEEA tables
- Tourism Satellite Account tables
12.c.1
- Fossil-fuel pre-tax subsidies (consumption and production) as a
proportion of total GDP (%)
- Fossil-fuel subsidies (consumption and production) per capita
(constant US dollars)
13.1.1
- Number of deaths and missing persons attributed to disasters
per 100,000 population
- Number of directly affected persons attributed to disasters per
100,000 population
13.1.2
Score of adoption and implementation of national DRR
strategies in line with the Sendai Framework
Handling of hazardous waste
Hazardous waste generated
National recycling rate
Economic and environmental
aspects of tourism
Fossil fuel subsidies
GOAL 13 – Climate action
Deaths/missing/affected from
disasters
Disaster risk reduction
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Indicator short name
Disaster risk reduction, local
governments
Greenhouse gas emissions
Indicator
13.1.3
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement
local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national
disaster risk reduction strategies (%)
13.2.2
Total greenhouse gas emissions without LULUCF (Mt CO2‚
equivalent):
- Annex I Parties
- Non-Annex I Parties
14.1.1
- Chlorophyll-a anomaly, remote sensing (%)
- Moderate
- High
- Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that
ends in the beach (%)
- Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that
ends in the ocean (%)
14.5.1
Average proportion of Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)
covered by protected areas (%)
14.6.1
Progress by countries in the degree of implementation of
international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported
and unregulated fishing (level of implementation)
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP (%)
14.a.1
National ocean science expenditure as a share of total
research and development funding (%)
14.b.1
Degree of application of a
legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes
and protects access rights for small-scale fisheries (level of
implementation: 1 lowest to 5 highest)
15.1.1
Forest area as a proportion of total land area (%)
15.1.2
Average proportion of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)
covered by protected areas (%)
- Freshwater
- Terrestrial
15.2.1
- Above-ground biomass in forest (tonnes per hectare)
- Forest area net change rate (%)
- Proportion of forest area with a long-term management plan (%)
- Proportion of forest area within legally established protected
areas (%)
15.3.1
Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area
15.4.1
Average proportion of Mountain Key Biodiversity Areas
(KBAs) covered by protected areas (%)
15.4.2
Mountain Green Cover Index
15.5.1
Red List Index
GOAL 14 – Life below water
Coastal eutrophication and
plastic debris density
Protected marine areas
Combatting illegal fishing
Sustainable fisheries
Research budget for marine
technology
Legal frameworks to protect
small-scale fisheries
GOAL 15 – Life on land
Forest area
Sites for terrestrial and
freshwater biodiversity
Sustainable forest management
Degraded land
Sites for mountain biodiversity
Mountain Green Cover Index
Red List Index
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Technical notes on the progress assessment
Indicator short name
Plant genetic resources for good
and agriculture
Indicator
15.6.1
- Countries that have legislative, administrative and policy
framework or measures reported through the Online Reporting
System on Compliance of the International Treaty on Plant
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA)
- Countries that are contracting Parties to the International Treaty
on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA)
15.8.1
- Legislation, Regulation, Act related to the prevention of
introduction and management of Invasive Alien Species
- Countries with an allocation from the national budget to manage
the threat of invasive alien species
- National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) targets
alignment to Aichi Biodiversity target 9 set out in the Strategic Plan
for Biodiversity 2011-2020
15.a.1
Total official development assistance for biodiversity
(millions of constant 2017 United States dollars) by:
- Donor countries
- Recipient countries
16.1.1
Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000
population
16.1.3
Proportion of population subjected to robbery in the
previous 12 months (%)
16.1.4
Proportion of population that feel safe walking alone
around the area they live after dark (%)
16.2.2
Detected victims of human trafficking (number)
16.3.1
Police reporting rate for robbery (%)
16.3.2
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison
population (%)
16.5.1
Proportion of persons who had at least one contact with a
public official and who paid a bribe to a public official, or were
asked for a bribe by those public officials, during the previous
12 months
16.5.2
Bribery incidence (% of firms experiencing at least one
bribe payment request)
16.6.1
Primary government expenditures as a proportion of
original approved budget (%)
16.7.1
- Ratio of judges compared to national population distributions
- Ratio of registrars compared to national population distributions
- Ratio of members of parliament to eligible national population,
lower chamber or unicameral
- Ratio of members of parliament to eligible national population,
upper chamber
- Persons aged 45 or under
- Females
Management of invasive alien
species
ODA for biodiversity
GOAL 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions
Intentional homicides
Robbery
Safety walking alone
Detected victims of human
trafficking
Robbery reporting rate
Unsentenced detainees
Individuals paying bribes
Bribery
Government expenditure
Representation in national and
local institutions
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Indicator short name
Public access to information
Indicator
16.10.2
Countries that adopt and implement constitutional,
statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to
information
16.a.1
Countries with National Human Rights Institutions in
compliance with the Paris Principles, A status
17.1.1
Total government revenue (budgetary central government)
as a proportion of GDP (%)
17.1.2
Proportion of domestic budget funded by domestic taxes
(% of GDP)
17.2.1
Net official development assistance (ODA) as a percentage
of OECD-DAC donors' GNI, by donor countries to (%):
- Landlocked developing countries
- Small island states (SIDS)
- Least developed countries (LDCs)
17.4.1
Debt service as a proportion of exports of goods and
services (%)
17.6.1
Fixed Internet broadband subscriptions per 100
inhabitants:
- 10 MPBS
- Any speed
17.8.1
Internet users per 100 inhabitants
17.10.1
-
Worldwide weighted tariff-average, most-favoured-nation status
(%):
- Agricultural products
- Clothing
- Industrial products
- Oil
- Textiles
- All products
- Worldwide weighted tariff-average, preferential status (%)
- Agricultural products
- Clothing
- Industrial products
- Oil
- Textiles
- All products
Human Rights, Paris Principles
GOAL 17 – Partnerships for goals
Tax revenue
Domestic budget funded by
domestic taxes
ODA from OECD-DAC
Debt service
Fixed Internet broadband
subscription by speed
Internet users
Worldwide weighted tariff-
average
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Technical notes on the progress assessment
Indicator short name
Average tariffs faced by
developing countries
Indicator
17.12.1
- Average tariff applied by developed countries, most-favoured
nation status (%):
- Agricultural products
- Arms
- Clothing
- Industrial products
- Oil
- Textiles
- All products
- Average tariff applied by developed countries, preferential
status (%):
- Agricultural products
- Arms
- Clothing
- Industrial products
- Oil
- Textiles
- All products
17.13.1
- Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion
of GDP (%)
- Annual inflation, consumer prices (%)
- Annual growth of households and NPISHs final consumption
expenditure (%)
- Annual GDP growth (%)
17.15.1
- Extent of use of country-owned results frameworks and planning
tools by providers of development cooperation, data by provider
(%)
- Proportion of project objectives of new development
interventions drawn from country-led result frameworks, data by
provider (%)
- Proportion of results indicators drawn from country-led results
frameworks, data by provider (%)
- Proportion of results indicators which will be monitored using
government sources and monitoring systems, data by provider
(%)
17.7.1
- Amount of tracked exported Environmentally Sound
Technologies (current United States dollars)
- Amount of tracked exported Environmentally Sound
Technologies (current United States dollars)
17.9.1
Total official development assistance (gross
disbursement) for technical cooperation (millions of 2020 United
States dollars)
17.18.1
- Data Sources performance index (Statistical Performance
Indicators Pillar 4) (Index)
- Data Infrastructure performance index (Statistical Performance
Indicators Pillar 5) (Index)
Macroeconomic dashboard
Country-owned results
frameworks and planning tools
Funding for environmentally
sound technologies
Official development assistance
for technical cooperation
Statistical capacity indicator for
Sustainable Development Goal
monitoring
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Indicator short name
Compliance with the
Fundamental Principles of
Official Statistics
National statistical plan
Indicator
17.18.2
Countries with national statistical legislation exists that
complies with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics
17.18.3
- Countries with national statistical plans with funding from
Government
- Countries with national statistical plans that are fully funded
- Countries with national statistical plans that are under
implementation
17.19.2
- Countries that have conducted at least one population and
housing census in the last 10 years
- Countries with birth registration data that are at least 90 percent
complete
- Countries with death registration data that are at least 75
percent complete
Census, birth and death
registration
90
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Sustainable development
in the UNECE Region:
Facing a Headwind in 2024
Information Service
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E-mail:
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ISBN 978-92-1-003051-9
Printed at United Nations, Geneva – 2402854
(E)
– February 2024 – 77 –
ECE/CES/STAT/2024/1