This project aims to enhance the capacity of Malawi, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to utilize non-traditional data and integrated data sources for evidence-informed policy formulation in response to national and global crises. It underscores the critical importance of informed policymaking, aiming to bridge the gap between data developers and users while fostering effective coordination among stakeholders. By equipping these countries with tools and knowledge, the objective is to mitigate the impacts of food, fuel, and finance crises and contribute towards the achievement of the SDGs. The cost-of-living crisis, characterized by rising food prices, increasing energy costs, and tightening financial conditions, disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and perpetuates poverty cycles, impacting approximately 1.6 billion people.The project will support the three countries in building national statistical capacities, leveraging innovative sources, methods, and tools. It will draw upon experiences such as the Data for Now Initiative, guidance materials from the Inter-Secretariat Working Group on Household Surveys, and ongoing work on citizen-generated data and fast economic indicators under the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science in Official Statistics. The project will also build on DESA’s experience in supporting countries in evidence-informed policy making.The project seeks to strengthen national statistical and data eco-systems and foster collaboration among different stakeholders. The project also aims to enhance data usage for crisis response policies by effectively utilizing data produced from nontraditional data sources and integration across data sources. The expected progress includes increasing the capacity of Malawi, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to produce and effectively utilize non-traditional data effectively for evidence-informed policy formulation. In this context, capacity-building programs for government officials and policymakers to enhance their data analysis skills and use of innovative data sources will be undertaken. This will help to enhance the use of innovative approaches, integration of data sources, in-depth analysis, and fostering stakeholder coordination and collaboration. The project will generate valuable insights through pilot and case studies, empowering these countries to develop and use evidence to make informed decisions and formulate policies for sustainable development.

The 75th session of the UN General Assembly recognized that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was one of the most significant global challenges in the United Nations' history and noted with deep concern its impact on people the society, and the economy. Thus, at the same session, the General Assembly endorsed a comprehensive and coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic (A/RES/74/306) that calls, i.e. for the development of new interoperable data tools and the strengthening of platforms to inform mitigation and response actions and continuously monitor the impact of the pandemic, mainly to assist people in vulnerable situations and the poorest and most vulnerable countries, to build a more equitable, inclusive, sustainable and resilient future. The Resolution further encourages building resilient, inclusive and integrated data and statistical systems, under the leadership of national statistical offices (NSOs), that can respond to the increased and urgent data demands in times of disaster and ensure a path towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. The Project will explicitly address the call of the 75th session of the General Assembly to leverage SDG mechanisms and instruments, including statistics and data, to inform the COVID-19 response and recovery policy. It will also respond to the request addressed by NSOs in both surveys conducted by the WB and UNSD, jointly with the 5 UN Regional Commissions, to consolidate the institutional and organizational frameworks supporting efficient and effective governance and coordination mechanisms of NSS (NSS) and enhance the technical capacity to continue operating effectively and take advantage of the fast-evolving data ecosystem and digital infrastructure. The proposed Project will build on the successes and lessons learned from the Development Account 10th tranche on Statistics and Data (hereafter DA10 Statistics and Data), including the draft final evaluation findings regarding governance, coordination, and implementation modalities. The Project will bring together eight implementing entities of the Secretariat, capitalizing on their technical expertise and comparative advantages, with a common objective to help developing countries face the data challenges of the short- and longer-term development agenda. The specific data needs will also inform COVID-19 response and recovery policy at local, national, regional, and global levels. The Project is expected to improve the resilience and flexibility of NSS to collect, process and communicate data and statistics to inform COVID-19 response and recovery policy at local, national, regional, and global levels. Thus, the Project will address i) the infrastructure underlying the production of official statistics, such as the institutional environment in which NSS operate, quality standards, and the use of new technologies and innovative data sources such as Big Data and geospatial information, supported by agile and resilient statistical production architecture and IT infrastructure; and ii) specific data gaps that will require conceptual and methodological development and leveraging the leadership of the implementing entities in specific sectoral/thematic areas. The Project aims to leverage other initiatives to strengthen statistical capacities to have a higher multiplier effect and work in close partnership with the United Nations system, including the UN resident coordinator system, and other relevant multilateral and bilateral partners. The Project will target more specifically NSS and national geospatial agencies of least developed countries (LDCs), small island developing states (SIDS) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) as well as operate at inter-regional, regional, and sub-regional levels, where relevant.

The 2020-2022 World Social Protection Report noted that globally, only 46.9% of the population was effectively covered by at least one social protection benefit, and in Africa and Asia and the Pacific, this is even lower, at 17.4% and 44.1%, respectively. Evidence suggests that countries with better social protection policies and programmes are better at curbing the effects of the Triple Crisis, with overall positive effects on health, education, labour market outcomes, income inequality, and social cohesion. Hence, it is imperative to build countries’ capacity to build robust, sustainable, gender-sensitive and crisis-responsive social protection policies and programmes.   This project will support six selected countries in the regions of Africa and Asia and the Pacific to strengthen their social protection systems and programmes’ capacities to identify, reach out and expand to those left behind and build robust, sustainable, inclusive and crisis responsive policies and programmes by training policy makers on the use of already existing digital platforms that can provide useful guidance on monitoring SDG progress and acceleration by identifying those groups left furthest behind, understanding the factors and circumstances behind the Triple Crisis that affects them and help building the national capacities to accelerate participant countries development plans. Furthermore, the project will help developing local capacities to use the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) as an analytical tool to identify the most vulnerable people, show aspects in which they are deprived and, consequently, target resources and design policies more effectively. This work is expected to enhance capacities of target countries to develop integrated social protection policies and strategies that enhance the delivery of social protection services and increase resilience to future crises in the six selected countries in the regions of Africa and Asia and the Pacific, which would be demonstrated by the enhanced capacity of selected countries to design and implement public policies and programmes towards universal social protection, with a focus on identifying and incorporating into the policies and programmes the most affected people and people in vulnerable situations who are disproportionately impacted by the Triple Crisis

This project aims to strengthen capacity of four developing countries to develop and implement integrated forest landscape restoration plans to halt deforestation, tackle its drivers and its intensifying factors, and make progress towards the forest-related SDGs. It also aims to build capacity for developing and implementing policy measures for enhancing mobilization of public and private sector investments into forest landscape restoration. The expected outputs include background situation analysis studies on the status of forests, levels and drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, forest management and forest landscape restoration and other measures to combat deforestation; national experts with capacity to develop and implement integrated forest landscape restoration plans; national policy frameworks and  measures for attracting and harnessing public and private sector investments in forest landscape restoration; and development and dissemination of tool kits and training materials to other additional countries to promote upscaling of these activities beyond the project countries.

SIDS have been persistently lagging other comparable economies in the developing world on the path to sustainable development. This is caused in part by the diverse characteristics of SIDS, which include low- and below sea-level- lying coastal communities, multi-island jurisdictions, and their attendant vulnerabilities. Many also have small populations or limited usable land area, which limits their development options. The COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have further aggravated this situation by hampering the sustainable economic growth of these island economies and undermining the security of their populations. Promoting innovation and digital transformation in the Caribbean can help countries to ‘build back better’ by delivering services in a more effective and inclusive way, particularly to underserved, rural, physically disconnected, and otherwise marginalized segments of society.However, the public sector in the Caribbean appears to be facing a capacity challenge in delivering change and transformation, with challenges being experienced in relation to mindsets, capacity, processes, and right skillsets. Implementing effective, accountable, and inclusive governance and institutions, and pursuing opportunities for innovation and digital transformation, including digital services, could build resilience      through progressive structural changes, and mitigate geographical remoteness. Their populations could then be provided with reliable, fast, and affordable connectivity and better access to services, such as health and education.Implemented by UN DESA and ECLAC Caribbean, with the collaboration of the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), this project aims to strengthen public sector national capacities for Innovation, Digital Government Transformation and Changing Mindsets in three Caribbean SIDS after the pandemic by: (i )strengthening public servants’ skills, knowledge, and understanding of the importance of public sector transformation by promoting changing mindsets strategies and approaches in support of innovation and digital transformation  to support the implementation of the SDGs ; and (ii) strengthening institutional arrangements, structures, mechanisms and approaches to promote innovation and digital governance transformation to improve public service delivery, leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first. In this regard, multi-island jurisdictions are likely to especially benefit from improved governance and institutional service delivery modalities.

This project will contribute to strengthened capacity of developing countries to identify and address the vulnerabilities to aggressive tax avoidance that produce the greatest risks based on the country’s economic circumstances, which would be demonstrated by the application by each country of a risk assessment tool to identify its most significant risks from aggressive tax avoidance. Second, the project will assist each country in developing a customized action plan to address those risks. Third, the project will provide technical assistance to each target country to support implementation of the action plan.This project will complement recent UN projects that have focused on various aspects of IFFs, including measurement, reporting, data and statistical capacity. It will do so through close engagement with the target countries to identify the specific tax avoidance structures used by MNEs in those target countries and then assisting them, including through technical assistance, in addressing the related vulnerabilities in their tax policy and administration.Accordingly, the project will also promote sustainable development by helping to reduce risk and build resilience and preparedness to deal with aggressive tax avoidance from MNEs in developing countries facing different geographic and economic circumstances. The target countries will encompass a range of industries and engage with multiple trading partners so that the experience, materials and tools developed during this project will respond to the different challenges faced by a broad range of developing countries.The project will be implemented by UNDESA/FSDO. In planning, implementing and learning from project activities, UNDESA/FSDO will closely collaborate with ECA, ECLAC, ESCAP, UNCTAD and UNSD, as well as the Resident Coordinator Offices.

The project aims at enhancing the capacity of the target groups in the following selected countries in Africa: Angola, Namibia, Uganda and Zimbabwe to engage in constructive policy dialogues and/or participatory mechanisms, with a view to develop strategies and initiatives to advance inclusive development and SDG achievement for indigenous peoples in the framework of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Through capacity building of both national and local governments and indigenous leaders, the project aims to promote the participation of indigenous peoples in decision-making processes at all levels, with a special focus at the local level, where the most vulnerable indigenous peoples live. The project also intends to enhance the capacity of governments to develop and implement policies, programmes and legislation that recognize and respect indigenous peoples’ development priorities and rights, that include their full and effective participation in national socio-economic development policies, enhancing dialogue mechanisms among indigenous peoples, the government and UNCTs. The project also aims to strengthen the capacities of stakeholders in targeted countries to engage in those processes, as well as to work in the implementation of national action plans, policies and measures on the Declaration.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to government capacity to effectively produce and use time-use data in policy formulation for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Africa, Latin America and Western Asia. More specifically, in collaboration with ECA, ECLAC and ESCWA, the project will contribute to building capacity in countries to produce and use time-use statistics, in support of measuring and monitoring their national development plans and indicators, including SDG 5.4.1 on unpaid work, as well as indicators on other development issues such as employment and learning. This will be achieved through the development and testing of methodological guidelines on how to modernize the collection, analysis and use of time-use data based on assessments of national capacity and needs in the following regions Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Asia (one project country per region). The resulting guidelines will cover cost-effective tools and a sustainable model to institutionalize the systematic collection of time-use data. As part of the rollout phase, the guidelines will be available for use by all countries and will be widely promoted through regional training workshops and national events in the project countries (one project country per region) to promote stronger collaboration between users and producers of time-use data where participants will also identify/map time-use data needs to national development policies. This way, the project will also contribute to improved data/policies integration.

As a set of interconnected goals, monitoring and measuring the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals necessitates the use of integrated frameworks. The United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) is an international statistical standard which integrates economic and environmental information into a common framework to measure the contribution of the environment to the economy and the impact of the economy on the environment. The SEEA provides countries with a framework to derive internationally comparable sets of statistics and indicators, supporting measurement of progress towards the SDGs as well as the Aichi Targets, green growth etc.  The project aims to address the technical and institutional barriers to the establishment of routinely produced environmental-economic accounts at the national level by national statistical offices. Project activities will focus on: building the institutional framework in support of SEEA implementation, taking into consideration existing initiatives and activities in the countries and policy priorities; building capacity in the countries to compile selected accounts on a regular basis, while contributing to the development of SEEA compliant global databases; fostering inter-institutional relationships to promote collaboration and data-sharing in producing the accounts; and promoting the effective communication and use of the accounts in supporting evidence-based policy and the SDGs. The project will support up to six developing countries from four different sub-regions—Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, Eastern Asia and Southern Asia—to ensure geographic diversity and multiplication effects in the various regions. Of these six countries, the project will build on initial assistance provided to two countries in Eastern Africa, Kenya and Uganda, during the 9th tranche of the Development Account. Finally, the project will include South-South collaboration fellowships, to allow project countries to visit and learn from each other. 

This project’s objective is to enhance the capacity of governments in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America and Caribbean regions to develop evidence-based, intergenerational policies for inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the context of population ageing. The Secretary-General’s report on Our Common Agenda highlighted the importance of strengthening capacities to understand and assess the future, building long-term intergenerational thinking into important policies and decision-making.  This project directly responds to this call by using disaggregated National Accounts data to address the twin goals of inclusion and sustainability in the context of population ageing.  National Inclusion Accounts (NIAs) disaggregate national economic statistics by age and socioeconomic status. NIAs help identify and describe how economic resources are shared between population groups. This type of accounting is needed for long-term forecasts of the costs and funding sources for social protection, education, and health care programmes to ensure their fiscal sustainability and distributional equity. This project will support eight developing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia and the Pacific to strengthen capacity to produce National Inclusion Accounts, analyze the impacts of population ageing on inclusive and sustainable development, and formulate public policies and plans to achieve these goals.