1. CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SYSTEMS USE, RESULTS AND sustainable development goals
Workshop on New Approaches to Statistical Capacity Development, December 2017, Paris
Poul Engberg-Pedersen, Results Team
Development Co-operation Directorate

2. Some lessons from 60 years of development co-operation
We (= donors) know how to develop capacity: Make full USE of national systems, including national statistical systems
But after 60 years of development co-operation: We still don’t do it – use national systems. Why?
Accountability: Donors need data for their primary purpose – Accountability back home
Projects: Despite sector programmes, capacity development, budget support, partnerships etc., donor-designed projects remain the main vehicle
It’s about politics and approaches, not primarily about more technical assistance

3. Some key challenges of capacity development
Capacity development is not achieved through more of the same (including technical assistance for capacity development), but primarily through changed behaviour
Main challenge is not the low share of national statistics in total development aid, but whether both donor and developing countries actually use national systems
How do we get donors and partners to USE national systems? Focus on common targets, indicators & data
How do we enhance capacity through development co- operation: Focus on results towards the 2030 Agenda

4. The 2030 Agenda overwhelms, but has potential for results-focused capacity development
17 SDGs, 169 targets, 232 indicators, clear deadlines, across all sectors of society
The 2030 Agenda is an internationally agreed framework for development results: substance, priorities, sequence, monitoring
If developing country authorities and donors agree on common SDG targets, they have common interests in the related SDG indicators -> capacity development

5. The 2030 Agenda is about outcomes that need to be monitored
16 of 17 SDGs and half of the 169 SDG targets are about outcome change for people, planet and societies
Pledge to Leave no one behind moves from the what to the who under all SDG targets
Our statistical systems need to monitor direction, achievements and gaps
All countries deal with lack of data for many SDG indicators
Focus on the SDG targets that have robust indicators in development priority areas

7. Development outcomes with robust indicators: SDG#1 on poverty
Target 1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
Indicator Proportion of population below the international poverty line, by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)
Clear-cut and relevant target and context for most development co-operation
All donors and partners need this information for their results frameworks
A clear priority for shared data generation and use -> capacity development

8. Development outcomes with robust indicators: SDG#3 on health
Target 3.1 By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births
Indicator Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel
Target 3.6 By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents
Indicator Death rate due to road traffic injuries
Good coverage of health targets, but selected indicators and data -> Dialogue on common needs
Avoid the risk of donor-specific health data

9. Development outcomes with robust indicators: SDG#5 on gender equality
Target 5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
Indicator Proportion of seats held by women in (a) national parliaments and (b) local governments
Indicator Proportion of women in managerial positions
These indicators do not cover all essential equality issues, due to weak indicators and data. They are indicative, at best, of the efforts of partners and providers to strengthen gender equality in all dimensions
Still a need for special efforts to generate basic data

10. Development outcomes with robust indicators: SDG#8 on growth, decent work
Target 8.1 Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries
Indicator Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita
Target 8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
Indicator Proportion of youth (aged years) not in education, employment or training
Clearly relevant for all partners and donors in development co-operation
Slowly moving beyond growth averages
Must be part of administrative data

11. Development outcomes with robust indicators: SDG#10 on reduced inequality
Target 10.1 By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average
Indicator Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total population
A strong development result, when achieved. But can it be measured by many developing countries?
Still not catching all those left behind:
A crucial decision for capacity development in statistics – How far to go in disaggregation

12. Development outcomes with robust indicators: SDG#16 on peace, inclusion, justice
Target 16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
Indicator Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age
Target 16.3 Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
Indicator Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population
Many aspects of good governance are well captured by SDG targets but not yet by robust SDG indicators
Need for further conceptual work and joint pilots

14. Linking results frameworks with the SDGs leads to capacity development
A realistic approach to the SDGs focuses on SDG targets that:
Aim at measurable outcome change
Are a shared priority of partners and donors
Have robust (tier 1) SDG indicators
Fit into the results frameworks of partners and donors
We have identified a menu of 42 SDG outcome targets with 53 robust SDG indicators. It needs operationalisation by countries
See
Donors and partners have common interests in this menu, which will lead to better use of national systems, less donor-specific data collection – and hence capacity development