Background:
In June 2021, the United Nations Development Coordination Office (DCO) hosted a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Data deep-dive for Resident Coordinators (RCs), Resident Coordinators’ Offices (RCOs) and United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs) with the aim of identifying challenges and opportunities to support the national statistical system (NSS). The deep-dive report found that “UNCTs have to develop capacity to engage politically with governments on data, developing advocacy and partnerships to create a system which has political support, is underpinned by good law and regulation, produces high quality and independent data that is freely shared across government, and is used to inform decisions.” The report also noted that UNCTs should “… take advantage of Regional Collaborative Platforms support to strengthen national capabilities”.
The RCP statistics working group was set up to address these issues. This group has organised a series of virtual SDG statistics clinics which started in late 2021
Participants:
Day 1 and 2 focused on UN only participants from both the RCOs and UNCTs, and Days 3-5 included the SDG national focal points.
Objective of the event:
- Internally focused regional data management officers retreat which will look at the role of a data management officer in terms of monitoring and reporting of UNCT results; and
- Externally focussed SDG data learning lab event aimed at enhancing the capacity of staff of UNCTs, including RCOs, so that they are enabled to effectively support the strengthening of the capacity of national statistical systems to meet the demand emanating from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This will build on the SDG statistics clinics by providing an in-person opportunity to go into these issues in more depth and to build the knowledge sharing between data officers.
Modality:
The learning labs provided practical hands-on experience on a range of issues related to strengthening national statistical capacity to measure and achieve the SDGs. There was a strong focus on collaborative learning to allow for exchanges of experiences and to help each other close SDG data gaps at the country level.
The agenda was designed to allow time during coffee breaks and lunches for delegates to interact with each other or to hold specific bilateral meetings.