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IPS124 Misha B. et al.
indicators that have multiple tiers (different components of the indicator are
classified into different tiers).
With the adoption of the SDGs comes the problem of their measurement.
The methodology for SDG indicators is developed by Custodian agencies most
of them are UN agencies or multilateral organization. These agencies have
huge experience in such work and all necessary capacities. However, there is
so much methodological and organizational work to be done that
international agencies need the support of the entire statistical community.
Academia and private institutions like Gallup Institute could provide
additional ideas about possible methodological and technical solutions based
on their experience and statistical NGOs may want to create a network for
discussion for all interested parties.
ISI is a great example of such network. At the international level, ISI plays
the unique role as the strongest and most reputable organization. Its
membership has data scientists and statisticians who should work together to
help combine the data coming from surveys, censuses, administrative sources
and the “big data” into common data bases. These data bases should serve as
a background to estimate the SDG indicators. The ISI through its Statistical
Capacity Building committee design and roll out training courses and get
involved in provision of methodological assistance.
But new methodologies are not the only problem.
What is more important is that the development of SDG indicators in many
cases require new surveys or changes in current ones. In some cases, the
questionnaires must be adjusted to get the disaggregation needed for the
indicator, in some cases the sub-national data are not representative enough
to allow for sub-regional estimates of SDG indicators. The countries are
struggling to collect data to compile the SDG indicators as they need to
introduce new surveys or adjust the ones which are in operation. These and
other issues not only require a lot of efforts from country statisticians but also
from those who are able to support capacity building in the statistical systems
in developing countries.
Beside international agencies, there are two groups of organizations who
support developing countries by providing technical assistance: statistical
agencies of statistically developed countries (public sector) and consulting
companies (private sector). The massive amount of interventions needs many
actors to work together to help. Therefore partnerships between private and
public sector entities in this endeavour are a key. They compete for projects in
an open market. Often, they create partnerships in the forms of joint ventures,
consortiums, twinning arrangement to compete. NGOs could provide support,
participating in these projects or recommend to their members (including
corporate members) to participate. For example, ISI, as a non-governmental,
not-for-profit organization, can’t compete in the market. If they have funds,

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