Addressing capacity gaps in the production of the SDG indicators in the Caribbean

Abstract

The Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Indicator Framework is endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission as the monitoring mechanism for the 169 targets and more than 230 indicators of the SDGs. Reporting of these indicators will pose a formidable challenge to the Caribbean given the statistical capacity of countries of the subregion. The results of an ECLAC survey show that only three of the eleven countries that participated reported having the capacity to produce at least 50 per cent of the indicators. The capacities of National Statistical Offices will need to be significantly enhanced to meet the data requirement of the SDGs. Addressing the legislation and policies issues relating to data collection, processing and dissemination will be a desirable first step in this direction.