Module 5 SDG follow-up and review mechanisms Technical Assistance on Evaluating SDGs: Leave No One Behind EvalGender+ Network together with UN Women, UNEG and EvalPartners

Presentation developed by Michael Bamberger and Asela Kalugampitiya based on Chapter 2 of ”Evaluating the Sustainable Development Goals within a “No-one left behind” lens through equity-focused and gender-responsive evaluations”

Outline Follow-up and review mechanisms The role of different actors Strengthening and using existing M&E systems Assessing the quality and coverage of gender equality data Assessing the quality of data on reducing inequality

1. Follow-up and review mechanisms A robust, effective, inclusive and transparent follow-up and review framework, operating at the national, regional and global levels informed by country-led evaluations calls for strengthening national evaluation capacity

Principles voluntary and country-owned open, inclusive and transparent, and support the participation of all people and all stakeholders build on existing platforms and processes, avoid duplication, respond to national circumstances rigorous and based on evidence, informed by data which is timely, reliable and disaggregated capacity building support to developing countries will be necessary

Principles [continued] people-centered gender-sensitive respect for human rights particular focus on the poorest, most vulnerable and those furthest behind

2. The role of different actors Coordination among global, regional and country level actors National governments are the key agencies Reporting is voluntary so ensuring commitment of national governments is critical Multiple national level actors Civil society will play an important role

3. Strengthening and using existing M&E systems IAEG-SDGs have developed set of basic indicators it is hoped all countries will collect Challenge is to assist countries in developing the capacity to collect and analyze the data using existing M&E systems

Challenges using existing M&E systems to collect data on gender equality and reducing inequality Political challenges Country progress on development indicators may appear less favorable when gender and reducing inequality are addressed Policy-makers and society may not wish to focus on vulnerable groups or to promote equality for women Methodological challenges Disaggregated data is required which can be more expensive and difficult to collect There may be resistance from research professionals to the use of new and unfamiliar data collection and analysis methods Behavioral change and processes of social exclusion are difficult to measure

Steps towards strengthening national M&E systems to conduct gender analysis and address inequality Draw on existing M&E guidance documents Assess the capacity and limitations of national and local systems to: Collection of data disaggregated by sex or inequality indicators Additional questions to current and planned surveys Willingness to expand sample size (if resources available) Willingness to administer special modules on gender or equality Cooperation on joint evaluations combining quantitative and qualitative methods Developing evaluation capacity initiatives

4. Assessing the quality and coverage of gender equality and data on reducing inequalities Assessing SDG coverage of gender equality and women’s empowerment The SDG’s represent a significant step forward Need commitment to ensuring implementation SDG-5 proposes broad-based indicators for assessing progress towards gender equality Priority to ensure that gender issues adequately measured and analyzed in other SDGs Priority is to fill gaps in current data on gender

5. Assessing the quality of country-level data on reducing inequalities 10 SDGs include equality-related indicators Many indicators do not focus specifically on the poorest sectors (e.g. the bottom 40%) Important to distinguish between poverty and extreme poverty Important to ensure that the data collection strategy focuses directly on vulnerable groups and on inequality gaps.