Only 27 countries,53 however, made specific reference to the need for disaggregated data in their reviews – even though this does not preclude that others consider data disaggregation necessary, even though they do not mention it. Moreover, many reviews do not clarify how governments understand the concept of ‘disaggregation’, in particular whether they consider it to include geographical disaggregation broken down to the regional and municipal levels to guarantee the effective participation of sub-national governments in the monitoring process. A few countries – such as Finland – have already made overt reference to the need to include sub-national tiers of government in order to improve the availability of reliable disaggregated data. Colombia, as mentioned above, has already involved LRGs in the monitoring process, and is currently developing a strategy to improve the ability of sub-national governments to collect data and use it in the policy-making process. The Colombian National Planning Department (DNP) is reporting difficulties in the localization of certain indicators, and is exploring ways to ensure follow-up on at least those indicators that could be applied at the local level. Mexico has emphasized the need for localized indicators to be able to reflect certain vulnerabilities – e.g., regional inequalities – in the context in which they are applied. Peru is following the same path. In Africa, Kenya is developing a County Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation System (CIMES) to track relevant indicators at the county level. Zimbabwe’s VNR mentions ‘focal points’ appointed by local authorities to support the national State Statistical Committee in data collection and processing, as well as to introduce new indicators for SDG monitoring and evaluation at subnational level. Nigeria has shared the responsibility of mapping and data supply for SDG indicators with regions. The Philippines’ national statistical agencies will oversee local government units and provide them assistance in data generation and collection. Many countries, however, still consider the availability of disaggregated data and the reliability of data collection capacities and resources as one of the key vulnerabilities of the localization process. A few examples are worth some additional attention. Egypt, for instance, has adopted the City Prosperity Index (CPI), developed by UN-Habitat, to monitor the implementation of Goal 11 in 35 cities and collect disaggregated data on the process at the regional level.54 The Index also allows for data to be broken down to the municipal level and, of course, to be aggregated for the country as a whole. In parallel, UN-Habitat is also supporting a monitoring system at the global level which assesses the implementation of Goal 11 via a tiered sample of 200 cities, out of a larger group of 4,200 cities of more than 100,000 inhabitants worldwide.55 This kind of approach could be a starting point for LRGs interested in taking part in the monitoring phase, but its output should be linked more systematically to the decision-making process if it is to be a blueprint or guide for action. As mentioned in previous sections, about half of the reporting countries are involving LRGs in the consultation process for their VNRs, and just one third in follow-up mechanisms. LRG associations in 30 countries, upon request of either their national governments or UCLG, have drawn up reports and notes – with a quite diverse degree of detail and accuracy – about the activities undertaken by their members (Section 4 above explains this methodology in detail, while Table 3 breaks down the type of activity by the association that reported about it).
53 Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Georgia, Germany, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. 54 The CPI is a composite index made of six dimensions: infrastructure, productivity, quality of life, equity, environmental sustainability and governance. It also offers the opportunity to disaggregate each individual indicator. 55 UN Habitat, Proposal to create a National Sample of Cities to enable National Governments to monitor and report on Goal 11 indicators and to produce national aggregates in a consistent and systemic manner, Working paper, February 2017.
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