Measuring up to our Ambition: Strengthening Follow-up and Review
‘Measuring up to our Ambition: Strengthening Follow-up and Review’
1. Accountability for the post-2015 agenda must be as transformative as the agenda itself. We are deeply concerned that the current follow-up and review chapter fails to match the ambition of the SDGs, weakens key commitments, and casts doubt that post-2015 promises will be kept.
2. We welcome the principles outlined in para. 57 however, they should be strengthened to ensure that all levels of review work together to promote the full realization of human rights.
a. Para. 57d should provide for the meaningful, effective and active participation of all people and stakeholders especially women, children and youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups.
b. Further, there should be an additional principle in para. 57 that states: ‘They will focus on progress for the social and economic groups that are the furthest behind, and monitor inequalities within and between countries.’ An agenda that seeks to leave no one behind must focus on monitoring progress for those that are the furthest behind.
3. Principles are critical but so are indicators and data. Para. 58 should state that the global indicator framework will include qualitative and perception-based indicators where appropriate. These are critical to measure people’s own experiences, identify constraints to implementation and foster participation.
4. Para. 59 should recognize the importance of open and transparent data and information that is timely, available, accessible and useable. Capacity-building for third-party and citizen-generated data should be supported and recognized as an essential contribution to the monitoring, review and follow-up of the SDGs.
5. At a national level (paras. 60-61), Member States should:
a. Develop national responses to the SDGs by the UN General Assembly in September 2016;
b. Conduct open, inclusive and accessible reviews at a national level at least once every four years;
c. Actively seek input from and support the participation of an independent civil society;
d. Set interim targets across all goals in order to determine whether sufficient progress is being made, especially for marginalized groups, to be on track to achieve targets by 2030.
6. The subnational level, including local and subnational governments, should also be recognized in paras 56 and 61 as it provides a critical space for civil society participation. It can reduce the burden of national administrations and improve the participation of local communities, increasing accountability and ownership for commitments.
7. At the regional level, the reference to ‘peer reviews’, rather than peer learning, should be reinstated.
8. At the global level, follow-up and review under the HLPF must be strengthened with greater detail, including language from UN General Assembly Resolution 67/290. Para. 66 should ensure:
a. There are sufficient human and financial resources to fulfil the HLPF’s mandate;
b. Reviews are open, inclusive and transparent and provide for the participation of civil society;
c. Reviews are based on a national government report including all stakeholders and levels of government, a report from the UN system, and an independent national stakeholder report which is critical for the integrity and legitimacy of the HLPF;
d. Reviews offer recommendation to support implementation and report on steps taken by Member States to follow-up on previous recommendations;
9. Finally, reviews under the HLPF should build on and be informed by existing international human rights mechanisms including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and other treaty bodies.
Collaborators: Transparency, Accountability & Participation (TAP) Network, Beyond 2015, Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR), International Council of AIDS Service Organizations and the Civil Society Working Group on HIV in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, AIDS Accountability International (AAI), Save the Children, Danish Family Planning Association, Local Authorities Major Group.
1. Accountability for the post-2015 agenda must be as transformative as the agenda itself. We are deeply concerned that the current follow-up and review chapter fails to match the ambition of the SDGs, weakens key commitments, and casts doubt that post-2015 promises will be kept.
2. We welcome the principles outlined in para. 57 however, they should be strengthened to ensure that all levels of review work together to promote the full realization of human rights.
a. Para. 57d should provide for the meaningful, effective and active participation of all people and stakeholders especially women, children and youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups.
b. Further, there should be an additional principle in para. 57 that states: ‘They will focus on progress for the social and economic groups that are the furthest behind, and monitor inequalities within and between countries.’ An agenda that seeks to leave no one behind must focus on monitoring progress for those that are the furthest behind.
3. Principles are critical but so are indicators and data. Para. 58 should state that the global indicator framework will include qualitative and perception-based indicators where appropriate. These are critical to measure people’s own experiences, identify constraints to implementation and foster participation.
4. Para. 59 should recognize the importance of open and transparent data and information that is timely, available, accessible and useable. Capacity-building for third-party and citizen-generated data should be supported and recognized as an essential contribution to the monitoring, review and follow-up of the SDGs.
5. At a national level (paras. 60-61), Member States should:
a. Develop national responses to the SDGs by the UN General Assembly in September 2016;
b. Conduct open, inclusive and accessible reviews at a national level at least once every four years;
c. Actively seek input from and support the participation of an independent civil society;
d. Set interim targets across all goals in order to determine whether sufficient progress is being made, especially for marginalized groups, to be on track to achieve targets by 2030.
6. The subnational level, including local and subnational governments, should also be recognized in paras 56 and 61 as it provides a critical space for civil society participation. It can reduce the burden of national administrations and improve the participation of local communities, increasing accountability and ownership for commitments.
7. At the regional level, the reference to ‘peer reviews’, rather than peer learning, should be reinstated.
8. At the global level, follow-up and review under the HLPF must be strengthened with greater detail, including language from UN General Assembly Resolution 67/290. Para. 66 should ensure:
a. There are sufficient human and financial resources to fulfil the HLPF’s mandate;
b. Reviews are open, inclusive and transparent and provide for the participation of civil society;
c. Reviews are based on a national government report including all stakeholders and levels of government, a report from the UN system, and an independent national stakeholder report which is critical for the integrity and legitimacy of the HLPF;
d. Reviews offer recommendation to support implementation and report on steps taken by Member States to follow-up on previous recommendations;
9. Finally, reviews under the HLPF should build on and be informed by existing international human rights mechanisms including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and other treaty bodies.
Collaborators: Transparency, Accountability & Participation (TAP) Network, Beyond 2015, Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR), International Council of AIDS Service Organizations and the Civil Society Working Group on HIV in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, AIDS Accountability International (AAI), Save the Children, Danish Family Planning Association, Local Authorities Major Group.