January 2014: A report released by the German Development Institute (DIE) details potential options for Member States in designing the goals of a post-2015 development agenda. ‘Post 2015: How to Design Goals for (Inter)National Action’ evaluates how different approaches to identifying goals, targets and indicators can encourage national and international action, foster coherence between these different levels, and encourage accountability across governments.

The report acknowledges that crafting a single proposal to include both international goals and nationally-specific targets in one agenda is challenging, as it is difficult to find the right balance between accountability and flexibility, and to encourage unified ambition. Three approaches to designing goals are examined: the “top-down” approach of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); a “bottom-up,” inductive approach; and a hybrid, “two-tier” approach. It evaluates each approach on the basis of linkages, sector-specificity, cross-cutting natures, accountability and their ability to communicate.

Finding that the two-tier approach offers a unique ability to combine global goals with nationally-set targets and indicators, the report suggests that this option offers the greatest potential for an ambitious, accountable and communicable post-2015 development agenda. The authors see this approach as the most feasible way to construct a new global development narrative with strong public support and engagement. [Publication: Post 2015: How to Design Goals for (Inter)National Action] [German Development Institute Website]