SDG 4 Indicators Development Progress
The Inter-agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs), tasked to develop and implement the global indicator framework for the Goals and targets of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. In establishing the IAEG-SDGs, the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) requested the use of existing regional mechanisms in order to ensure equitable regional representation and technical expertise.
The TCG has held meetings with its members and working groups to share and consult with members on the best approach to monitor SDG 4 progress with the development of a set of global and thematic indicators.
Meeting reports and consultation outcomes are available to the public.
First Meeting of the TCG
The first meeting of the TCG (TCG1) focused on three critical areas:
- the context and processes for global and thematic monitoring;
- modifying the thematic indicator framework based on the revised IAEG-SDGs global indicator proposal; and
- establishing priorities needed further development and next steps.
Second Meeting of the TCG
The second TCG meeting (TCG2) has the following purposes, to:
- Discuss and agree the list of thematic indicators to be recommended by the TCG for the adoption by the SDG-Education 2030 Steering Committee;
- Update participants on the implementation process regarding the SDG global indicators led by the Inter‐Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators;
- Clarify the Data Governance Structure for SDG 4; and
- Identify the steps needed to operationalise the thematic indicators and establish working groups.
The third TCG meeting (TCG3) focussed specifically on:
- Update members on developments since the second TCG meeting;
- Discuss and agree on the work plans, critical milestones and deliverables of three TCG working group and for the TCG for 2017-2018;
- Share national and regional initiatives in the implementation of SDG 4 follow-up and review; and
- Inform participants on CapED, a project aimed at developing the statistical capacity of 10 participating countries to monitor and report on SDG 4.
The TCG4 meeting focused specifically on:
- Review and ratify the TCG work plans for 2018;
- Approve the report on benchmarking recommendations for indicators;
- Discuss and update the list of indicators to be reported in 2018 and overall indicators’ periodicity recommendations;
- Advance the discussion on potential new indicators to be included in the 2018 revision with the approval of a preliminary list;
- Endorse the report requested by the SDG-Education 2030 Steering Committee on the status of development and availability of SDG 4 indicators;
- Approve the TCG rotation mechanism and broader governance proposal.
The Fifth TCG meeting focused specifically on:
- Considering necessary modifications, and discussing alternative methodologies to fill gaps in
coverage, to ENDORSE methodological developments and APPROVE the list of indicators to be
published in 2019. - Advancing the discussion on potential new indicators, to APPROVE a preliminary list of these
indicators to be included in the 2020 revision. - Presenting and discussing the SDG data validation process, to ACHIEVE ENDORSEMENT of the
process by the Member States. - To DEVELOP recommendations on benchmarking processes.
- To AGREE on key messages to the international community about challenges and needs of
Member States in producing SDG 4 indicators.
The sixth TCG (TCG6) meeting focused specifically on:
- To ENDORSE the methodological developments and APPROVE the list of indicators to be published in 2020;
- To REVIEW and FINALIZE the list of thematic indicators;
- Advancing the discussion on potential new indicators, to APPROVE methodological work in the relevant area;
- To DISCUSS countries experiences in producing, reporting and validate data and UPDATE, if necessary, the SDG data validation process;
- To identify at least three indicators to develop milestones on benchmarking and approve the process;
- To IDENTIFY areas for improvement in data production and funding
Global Framework
The global indicator framework was developed by the IAEG-SDGs and agreed upon, including refinements on several indicators, at the 48th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) held in March 2017.
The global indicator framework was subsequently adopted by the General Assembly on 6 July 2017 and is contained in the Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/71/313).
Global framework document
SDG 4 Global Indicator Framework
3rd meeting of the IEAG-SDG in April 2016
- Initial Tier Classification:
- Tier I: 3 indicators (4.2.2, 4.b.1, 4.c.1)
- Tier II: 4 indicators (4.2.1, 4.3.1, 4.4.1, 4.6.1)
- Tier III: 2 indicators (4.1.1, 4.7.1)
- Combination of Tiers: 2 (4.5.1 –Tiers 1/II/III, 4.a.1 –Tiers I/II)
4th Meeting IEAG-SDG in November 2016
- 4.2.1 downgraded to Tier III
- 4.2.2 downgraded to Tier II
- 4.a.1 upgraded to Tier I
6th Meeting IEAG-SDG in November 2017
- 4.c.1 downgraded to Tier II
5th Meeting of the IEAG-SDG in March 2017
- 4.1.1 b and c upgraded to Tier II
- 4.2.2 upgraded to Tier I
Objectives of the 3rd TCG Meeting - Advance the development of indicators for monitoring SDG 4 by:
- discussing and agreeing the list of thematic indicators (including necessary placeholders) to be recommended by the TCG for reporting in 2017 and for adoption by the Education 2030 Steering Committee;
- updating participants on the implementation process regarding the SDG global indicators led by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs);
- clarifying the data governance structure for SDG 4;
- identifying the steps needed to operationalize the thematic indicators and establish working groups for this purpose; and
- agreeing on the terms of reference and the main elements of the TCG’s work plan in 2016-2017.
2018
8th meeting of the IEAG-SDG in November 2018
- 4.1.1.a Updated from Tier III to Tier II
2018
9th meeting of the IEAG-SDG in May 2018
- 4.2.1 Multi-tier indicator (Tier II/III), with the Tier II portion of the indicator referring to children 24-59 months of age
2019
WebEx 5th Meeting of the IEAG-SDG in November and December 2019
- 4.1.1 upgraded from Tier II to Tier I
- 4.5.1 Tier III removed (Tiers I/II stay)
- 4.7.1 upgraded from Tier III to Tier II
2020
July 2020
- - Tier I: 4 indicators (4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.2.2, 4.b.1)
- - Tier II: 7 indicators (4.2.1, 4.3.1, 4.4.1, 4.6.1, 4.7.1, 4.a.1, 4.c.1)
- - Tier III: none
- - Combination of Tiers: 1 indicator (4.5.1 –Tiers 1/II)
April 2020
- Refinement: 4.7.1, 4.c.1
- Final approval expected during UNSC-52nd session
UNSC in March 2020
- 51st UNSC approves:
- 4.1.2 (Completion rate) as global indicator for SDG Target 4.1
- Refinements: 4.2.1, 4.7.1, 4.a.1, 4.c.1