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In a blog post from November 2017, SEI presented a framework for assessing interactions between the Sustainable Development Goals to help countries design more coherent policies to achieve them. Since then, SEI and UNDP have started to test the framework in Sri Lanka and Mongolia. What have we learned so far?
This was originally posted on 22 March by UNDP Asia and the Pacific and was written by Annie Sturesson, SEI and Scott Standley, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub.
Photo: Courtesy UNDP.
The 2030 Agenda recognizes that developments in one policy domain can influence developments in a range of others, positively or negatively. Better understanding these interactions can help governments prioritize highly influential targets and strengthen cross-sectoral coordination.
The SDG interactions framework supports this understanding. The framework uses a seven-point typology to assess how progress in one target affects progress in another. When the interactions between SDG targets have been assessed, systems analysis methods are then used to better understand the network of direct and indirect interactions between these targets.
In December 2017, SEI and UNDP worked with the Government of Mongolia to apply the framework in a first test-run workshop with a specific focus on water related targets. The process in Sri Lanka is more comprehensive. SEI, UNDP and CEPA (a Sri Lanka-based research institute) are working closely with the government to use the framework to support the national planning process. This is done by assessing interactions between SDG targets across multiple sectors. The process is ongoing, but a few observations can already be made.
The SDG interactions framework demands strong government commitment from multiple ministries and departments to ensure sufficient expertise and avoid sector-driven biases. If key stakeholders are missing from the process, this can risk the quality and credibility of the results.
The impact of the exercise will likely be affected by the level of government ownership in the selection of targets to be analyzed. Strong commitment and a more formal process might strengthen policy impact but risk a political and time-consuming exercise. Conversely, framing the selection process as one input into a broader investigation of SDG target interactions can make it easier to execute but may limit the potential impact of the analysis.
A core strength of the framework is its ability to be adjusted to different national contexts. In Sri Lanka, it is being applied on SDG targets to support overall national planning. In Mongolia, it was applied on a set of targets derived from their national development vision and focused specifically on water.
Photo from the workshop in Mongolia, December 2017. Photo: UNDP Mongolia.
The process of applying the framework may be just as important as the resulting analysis. By bringing together government stakeholders it provides a new platform for cross-sector dialogue and can contribute to consensus building around policy priorities.
The exercise requires considerable investment of time. Perhaps our biggest challenge going forward is to find a balance between a process that is inclusive and comprehensive, and based on sound arguments and evidence, while at the same time not being overly complex and time-consuming.
Regardless, the experience has been encouraging, and we look forward to testing and refining the approach further, together with UNDP country offices, government partners, and other stakeholders.
Perspective / Annie Sturesson on an SEI-UNDP pilot project helping Sri Lanka's government to build interactions between the SDGs into national implementation plans.
Our work supports the integration of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into policy and action.
Other publication / The report examines the interactions between the goals and targets in the Sustainable Development Goals, determining to what extent they reinforce or conflict
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