16 June 2015: Post 2015.org has released the ‘Targets Tracker,’ an online database that allows users to view country goals alongside the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets to compare the gap between existing national targets and SDG ambition. Analysis on these gaps is presented in a report by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), ‘Mind the Gap? A Comparison of international and national targets for the SDG agenda.’

The report highlights areas where political priorities are currently insufficient to meet the SDGs. The analysis also illustrates areas that represent the highest political “stretch” for each country type.

According to the report, the biggest political stretch for high-income countries will be achieving targets on renewable energy, while middle income countries (MICs) face the largest stretch on access to electricity and improved sanitation. The largest stretch for low-income countries will be targets related to pre-primary education and secondary education completion, as well as targets on extreme poverty, maternal mortality and drinking water and sanitation. The report also suggests that political contentious areas, such as climate policy, and expensive targets, such as secondary education, electricity and sanitation, will require extra efforts.

The report recommends, inter alia: aligning the post-2015 development agenda with national policymaking and planning processes, and including interim targets to help bring the SDGs into national use; and establishing common indicators to enable cross-country comparisons and increase national accountability. [Post 2015.org Press Release] [ODI Press Release] [Target Tracker] [Publication: Mind the Gap?]