April 2014: In a briefing note for SDplanNet, László Pintér of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) recommends strategies for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ‘Monitoring and Reporting on Sustainable Development Goals: Cross-scale linkages’ reviews the challenges, opportunities, and preparations required for monitoring and reporting on progress towards the SDGs.

The document suggests balancing the need to maintain continuity with what is already being monitored, and the need for innovation in measuring new issue areas for the SDGs. It points to a growing understanding of the importance of policies that support measurement, as well as increasing examples of well-managed “evidence-based policies” using indicator systems and reporting.

Also examined is the need to build capacity for monitoring at the international, regional and national levels. At the global level, the briefing emphasizes the need to integrate monitoring activities across the dimensions of sustainable development, and to coordinate among various monitoring frameworks being established in the UN system. At the national and subnational scale, the author stresses the need to build capacity, address critical gaps, budget, and develop work plans for monitoring and reporting capacities.

Finally, the briefing paper calls on National Sustainable Development Strategy practitioners and networks to lead a discussion about the nature of reporting systems and their implementation. [Publication: Monitoring and Reporting on Sustainable Development Goals: Cross-scale linkages] [Publication Webpage]