BRIEFING NOTE #1

National and global monitoring of

child-related SDG indicators

The 2030 Agenda SDG follow up and review

Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable The 2030 Agenda emphasises that governments have primary
Development1 was unanimously agreed by the 193 member states responsibility for ‘follow up and review’ of progress towards the
of the UN General Assembly in October 2015. The 2030 Agenda SDG goals and targets at national, regional and global levels. It
is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. Member encourages Member States to set their own national targets and to
states resolved to ‘end poverty in all its forms’, to take bold and establish regular and inclusive review processes and highlights the
transformative steps to ‘shift the world onto a sustainable and need for ‘high quality, accessible, timely and reliable disaggregated
resilient path’, and to ensure that ‘no one will be left behind’. The data’ to measure progress. The UN Development Group has
2030 Agenda establishes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) published guidelines for UN country teams on mainstreaming the
and 169 global targets, relating to both development outcomes 2030 agenda, tailoring SDG targets to national context, and country
and means of implementation (MoI), designed to be integrated and reporting on the SDGs 4. A number of different modalities are
indivisible and to balance the social, economic and environmental envisaged for SDG follow up and review, including:
dimensions of sustainable development. It further seeks to realise
the human rights of all, and to achieve gender equality and the 1. Voluntary National Reporting5 - regular country-led and
empowerment of all women and girls. This ambitious new universal country-driven reviews of progress at the national and sub-
agenda is intended to be implemented by all countries and all national levels.
stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership. 2. Thematic reporting – periodic reviews by international
agencies, UN commissions and expert panels focused on
The UNICEF Strategic Plan for 2018-2021 is aligned with the 2030
specific cross-cutting issues related to the 2030 Agenda.
Agenda and envisages a world in which all children are healthy and
protected, live in a clean environment, learn and have a fair chance 3. Regional reporting – periodic reviews by regional
to succeed2. It commits UNICEF to supporting member states to intergovernmental bodies to promote cooperation, peer review
localise the SDGs by setting ambitious national targets relating and exchange of lessons on SDG implementation6.
to children, establishing systems to track progress in reducing
4. Global reporting – reviews by the UN system including the
inequality, and ensuring that ‘no child is left behind’. Among the 232
following mandated reports: annual Secretary General’s SDG
global SDG indicators, UNICEF has identified 35 that most directly
Progress Report, annual Inter-Agency Task Force Report on
concern children and will be the major focus of UNICEF’s efforts to
Financing for Development, and quadrennial Global Sustainable
monitor and report on ‘progress for every child’ during the SDG era3.
Development Report on the science-policy interface.
These include 17 global SDG indicators for which UNICEF has been
identified as the official custodian or co-custodian for the purposes The High Level Political Forum7 is the main global platform on
of global reporting which are discussed in more detail in subsequent Sustainable Development and has a central role in the follow-up and
briefing notes. review of the 2030 Agenda. It meets annually under the auspices
of the Economic and Social Council and every four years under
the auspices of the UN General Assembly and adopts political
declarations. The theme of each HLPF, and subset of goals to be
reviewed, is agreed in advance. Member states are selected to
present national reports which are reviewed together with reports
and contributions from other major stakeholders.

1 United Nations (2015) Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable 4 https://undg.org/2030-agenda/mainstreaming-2030-agenda/
Development. UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/70/1, 21 October 2015: 5 https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/vnrs/
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E 6 http://www.regionalcommissions.org/regional-forums-on-sustainable-
2 UNICEF (2018) Strategic Plan 2018-2021: https://www.unicef.org/publications/ development/
index_102552.html 7 https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf
3 UNICEF (2018) Progress for every child in the SDG era: https://data.unicef.org/
resources/progress-for-every-child-2018/
 SDG briefing note #1
National and global monitoring of
child-related SDG indicators

The global SDG indicator framework Global data custodians

The 2030 agenda mandated the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC) The IAEG-SDG has identified ‘custodian agencies’ for each of the
to define global indicators for tracking the SDG goals and targets. 232 global SDG indicators which are expected to:
The Statistical Commission has established an Inter-Agency &
Expert Group on SDG Indicators8 (IAEG-SDG) ‘to develop and 1. Lead the development of methods and standards for data
implement the global indicator framework for the goals and collection,
targets of the 2030 Agenda’. The IAEG comprises a rotating 2. Contribute to statistical capacity building and data collection,
membership of 28 member states9 representing all regions of the
3. Establish mechanisms for compilation and verification of
world, with regional and international agencies as observers. UN
national data,
Statistical Division acts as the secretariat and coordinates inputs
from the UN system. The official list of global SDG indicators10 4. Maintain global databases and provide internationally
was approved by the Statistical Commission in March 2017, and comparable estimates to UN Statistical Division for inclusion in
subsequently adopted by the General Assembly in July 201711. the SDG global database.
The UNGA resolution states that the indicator framework will be
UNICEF is well established in the role of global custodian of data
refined annually and reviewed comprehensively by the Statistical
for children. The IAEG has identified UNICEF as custodian or co-
Commission in 2020 and 2025, and that it will be complemented by
custodian for 17 global SDG indicators (Table 1) and it has also been
regional and national indicators which will be developed by Member
listed as a supporting agency for a number of other indicators in the
States.
global framework. Each of these indicators is discussed in detail in
The IAEG meets twice each year to review progress and challenges subsequent briefing notes #2-15 (see Table 1).
associated with implementing the global indicator framework. It
The IAEG is developing guidelines for global data flows and
has classified the 232 global indicators based on methodological
reporting which seek to formalise engagement between national
development and data availability12. Tier I indicators have established
authorities and international agencies, and to establish principles for
methods and standards and data available for at least 50% of the
instances where data from national statistical systems do not meet
global population and 50% of countries. Tier II indicators have
international comparability and quality standards or are not available.
established methods and standards but data are not regularly
In cases where international agencies make estimates based on
produced by countries. Tier III indicators are those for which
national data, or adjust national data to make them comparable,
methods and standards are being developed. At each meeting the
they are expected to provide national statistical authorities with an
IAEG reviews progress made in collecting and reporting on the
opportunity to review country-specific estimates of SDG indicators
global SDG indicators and considers proposals for further technical
prior to their publication.
refinements.
UNICEF is committed to supporting member states to develop,
The IAEG has also established three working groups to address
collect, analyse and report on SDG indicators related to children and
Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX)13, Geo-spatial
consulting with national authorities on data and estimates used for
Information14, and Interlinkages15. The global indicator framework
the purposes of global reporting. In addition to the 17 global SDG
states that ‘indicators should be disaggregated, where relevant,
indicators for which UNICEF is custodian or co-custodian, UNICEF
by income, sex, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability
supports the collection and reporting of a wide range of other
and geographic location, or other characteristics, in accordance
child-related indicators relevant for monitoring progress at national,
with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics’. The IAEG
regional and global levels (see below).
has established a dedicated work stream on disaggregation and
requested UN agencies to provide support in operationalising this
commitment to ‘leave no one behind’.

The UNICEF Data & Analytics Section has been actively involved
in providing technical support and advice to the IAEG-SDG on the
development, collection, analysis and reporting of child-related SDG
indicators at national and global levels and calling for a stronger
focus on disaggregation.

8 https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/iaeg-sdgs/
9 https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/iaeg-sdgs/members/
10 https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/indicators-list/
11 https://undocs.org/A/RES/71/313
12 https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/iaeg-sdgs/tier-classification/
13 https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/Working-Group-ToR--SDMX.pdf
14 https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/Working-Group-ToR--GeoSpatial.pdf
15 https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/Working-Group-ToR--Interlinkages.pdf
 SDG briefing note #1
National and global monitoring of
child-related SDG indicators

Table 1: UNICEF is custodian or co-custodian for 17 SDG global Supporting national target setting
indicators (highlighted in bold) and monitoring
SDG GLOBAL INDICATOR16 UNICEF SDG INDICATOR BRIEFING The 2030 Agenda states that the SDG targets are ‘global in nature
NOTE
and universally applicable, taking into account different national
1.2.1 National poverty line Briefing note #2 realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting
Child poverty
national policies and priorities’17. Global targets are therefore
1.2.2 Multi-dimensional poverty Briefing note #2 considered aspirational, with each Government setting its own
Child poverty
national targets ‘guided by the global level of ambition but taking
2.2.1 Stunting Briefing note #3 account of national circumstances’. It encourages Member States
Nutritional status to develop as soon as possible ambitious national responses to the
2.2.2 Wasting/overweight Briefing note #3 overall implementation of this Agenda. Specifically it calls on each
Nutritional status government to: a) decide how the SDGs should be incorporated into
3.1.1 Maternal mortality Briefing note #4 national planning processes, policies and strategies; b) set their own
Maternal mortality and skilled national targets guided by the global level of ambition, but taking
attendant at birth into account national circumstances; and c) in the implementation of
3.1.2 Skilled attendant at Briefing note #4 the Agenda build on existing commitments and in accordance with
birth Maternal mortality and skilled international human rights standards for the benefit of all18.
attendant at birth

3.2.1 Under-five mortality Briefing note #5

UNICEF is committed to supporting Member States to localise
Child mortality the global SDG targets and to set appropriately ambitious national
targets that take account of specific needs and priorities for children
3.2.2 Neonatal mortality Briefing note #5 Child mortality
and available capacities and resources in each country context.
3.8.1 Universal health coverage Briefing note #6 This forms part of a coordinated effort by UN agencies to support
Universal health coverage
the implementation of the 2030 Agenda at country level through
3.b.1 Full vaccination Briefing note #6 Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS)19. Support
coverage Universal health coverage
needs to be tailored according to context but typical steps include:
4.1.1 Early learning Briefing note #7
Learning 1. Reviewing the baseline situation and recent trends (based on
existing national data sources and other relevant evidence).
4.2.1 Early childhood Briefing note #8
development Early childhood development 2. Reviewing national targets and indicator frameworks (taking
5.2.1 Sexual violence by Briefing note #9 into account the SDGs and other international agreed targets
intimate partner Violence against girls and women and indicators relating to children)
5.2.2 Sexual violence by Briefing note #9
3. Identification and prioritization of major issues facing children
non-intimate partner Violence against girls and women
in a given country context (reviewing the specific nature,
5.3.1 Early marriage Briefing note #10 magnitude and linkages between different challenges faced)
Harmful practices
4. Developing nationally appropriate targets and specific measures
5.3.2 FGM/C Briefing note #10
Harmful practices to be taken (linked to periodic reviews of policies, plans or
strategies at national or sub-national level)
6.1.1 Safely managed Briefing note #11
drinking water Drinking water 5. Defining national indicators and mechanisms for national data
6.2.1 Safely managed Briefing note #12 collection (promoting global SDG indicators and other priority
sanitation and hygiene Sanitation and hygiene indicators for children and supporting data collection)
8.7.1 Child labour Briefing note #13 6. Supporting regular and inclusive review processes to assess
Child labour
progress and course correct (compiling and analyzing data
16.2.1 Child discipline Briefing note #14 and supporting rigorous and participatory review processes to
Abuse, exploitation and violence inform decision making at national and sub-national level)
16.2.3 Sexual violence Briefing note #14
against children Abuse, exploitation and violence

16.9.1 Birth registration Briefing note #15

Birth registration
17 United Nations (2015) Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/70/1, 21 October 2015
16 (Paragraph 59).
18 https://undg.org/2030-agenda/mainstreaming-2030-agenda/tailoring-sdg-to-
national-context/
16 UNICEF uses short hand for ease of communication. See official list: https:// 19 https://undg.org/document/maps-mainstreaming-acceleration-and-policy-
unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/indicators-list/ support-for-the-2030-agenda/
 SDG briefing note #1
National and global monitoring of
child-related SDG indicators

In all cases the localisation of global SDG targets and indicators UNICEF has a strong track record of working in partnership with
within national policies, plans and strategies requires an in-depth other agencies to support both government and non-government
analysis of existing national data to determine the baseline and partners to collect robust data and conduct rigorous analysis of
identify data gaps. National targets should be time bound, with critical indicators of child health and welfare. Continued support
clearly defined indicators and national sources of data to be used will be critical to consolidate the gains made to date and to enable
to quantify progress. Operational definitions should be developed national authorities and development partners to respond to new
for key concepts such as ‘universal’, and the most relevant types and increasing demands for data.
of data disaggregation should be clearly identified. Where national
standards, for example for service coverage or health outcomes,
differ from international standards these should also be clearly Monitoring progress for every child in the
specified to inform comparison across countries. Specific concerns
SDG era
relating to measurement and monitoring of individual child-related
indicators are discussed in briefing notes #2-15. As stated above, related to the 232 global SDG indicators, UNICEF
has identified 35 that most directly concern children and will be the
major focus of UNICEF’s efforts to monitor and report on ‘progress
for every child’ during the SDG era20. These include the 17 global
UNICEF support to monitoring progress SDG indicators for which UNICEF has been identified as the official
for children in 2030 agenda custodian or co-custodian for the purposes of global reporting which
UNICEF’s support to monitoring SDGs related to children is based are discussed in more detail in subsequent briefing notes.
on its mandate in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to
work with Member States in monitoring the progressive realization The relation of child-related indicators to official SDG indicators is
of child rights. Legitimacy also comes from UNICEF’s activities in complicated. There are SDG indicators which have a broad scope,
more than 190 countries including support to governments and but UNICEF wants to measure the child-related elements (e.g.
development partners in every region to collect, analyse and use UNICEF monitors child poverty, but the SDG indicator is for poverty
data to inform policies and programmes designed to save lives and disaggregated by age. Other indicators are composite, which
help children realize their full potential. UNICEF has established UNICEF breaks into separate indicators (such e.g. HIV infections for
extensive global databases and is committed to supporting Member children under five, and for teens – the formal SDG indicator lumps
States to monitor progress for children in the 2030 Agenda by these together). So the 35 child-related global SDG indicators can
developing and testing new indicators and methods and supporting be further, separated and disaggregated to highlight the children’s
their collection and analysis to inform national and global monitoring issues.
of progress for every child.
Of those 35, how many are UNICEF Strategic Plan indicators? For
UNICEF has played a leading role in the development of new how many is UNICEF custodian (or co-custodian)? How many are
standards and data collection methods for monitoring child well- collected in MICS? The answers are in the following diagram.
being. Many of the measurement techniques developed by UNICEF
and its partners during the MDG period have now been integrated
within the SDG global indicator framework. These are discussed in
more detail in subsequent briefing notes relating to specific SDG
targets and indicators and include: enhanced methods for estimating
child mortality based on limited data, techniques for integrating data
household survey and administrative data to estimate immunisation
coverage, new household survey modules on child discipline, ECD,
child and adult functioning, child learning assessments, water quality
testing and migratory status, and new methods for measuring multi-
dimensional child poverty.

UNICEF also supports the collection and analysis of a wide range of

data relating to children beyond SDG indicators, including through
government surveys and censuses, administrative and regulatory Resources
data, and participatory reporting by service users and citizens • SDG website: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
including parents, adolescents and children. Over the past 20 years, • IAEG website: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/iaeg-sdgs/
the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey programme has systematically
• UNDG website: https://undg.org/2030-agenda/
built the capacity of national statistical authorities around the
• UNICEF data: https://data.unicef.org/
world to collect child-related data. UNICEF also actively supports
the development of censuses and administrative data sources, • Countdown 2030: http://countdown2030.org/
including civil registration and vital statistics systems and sectoral
20 UNICEF (2018) Progress for every child in the SDG era: https://data.unicef.org/
management information systems.
resources/progress-for-every-child-2018/