Best Practices in Data Flows and Global Data Reporting for the Sustainable Development Goals

The Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) was tasked by the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) in its 50th session to “work jointly with custodian agencies and establish a fruitful dialogue between all parties, to further refine the guidelines by taking into account concerns raised at the forty-ninth session of the commission and to prepare criteria for implementation of the guidelines that are based on best practices and on ways to limit the burden that the
envisaged procedures may represent in terms of time and resources for both national and international statistical systems and that resolve outstanding issues (UNSC Decision 49/101(g))”.

The IAEG-SDGs, in its report to the 50th session of UNSC1, submitted for the Commission’s consideration the criteria referenced in the aforementioned decision. These criteria were prepared in collaboration with custodian agencies and were intended toprovide guidance to all parties on their roles and responsibilities in ensuring data reporting for the 2030 Agenda is as seamless as possible.

This background document serves as a companion document to both the Criteria for the implementation of the guidelines on data flows and global data reporting for the Sustainable Development Goal (included in Annex I of the Report of the IAEG-SDGs to the 50th session of UNSC) and the Guidelines on Data Flows and Global Data Reporting for Sustainable Development Goals (submitted as a background document to the 49th
session of UNSC).