The objective of the project is to develop a standard methodology to produce, analyze and deliver a database of harmonized indicators on the situation of older persons in Africa. The project is the starting point of a larger DESA initiative that aims to assist countries in collecting and analyzing data on older persons in order to more accurately monitor the changing situation of older persons during the implementation phase of the new 2030 Development Agenda. The project will conduct a review of age-related data in three African countries, with the methodology to be piloted in one of these three countries. The survey-tool is to be developed in close collaboration with national and regional policy makers, statisticians and experts dealing with issues related to older persons in Africa. The experience of international researchers and academics that have developed and deployed such tools in Africa as well as in other parts of the world will also be drawn upon. The project aims to promote the participation of all relevant stakeholders at the national and regional level towards the formulation, monitoring and implementation of more inclusive policies that are responsive to the needs and priorities of older persons in the African region. The project further aims to develop survey guidelines appropriate for African countries based on a capacity building and learning approach. The intervention will further contribute to the enhancement of the capacity of government officials, scholars and civil society in sub-Saharan Africa to formulate, monitor and implement evidence-based policies on ageing.

The project aims at enhancing the capacity of the Indigenous Peoples in selected countries in Africa and Asia to engage in constructive policy dialogues and/or participatory mechanisms with a view to develop strategies and initiatives to improve their well-being and economic and social status, including through the promotion of social integration and inclusive development. The formulation, implementation and evaluation of the project respond to the principles upheld in the UN Declaration on the Rights of indigenous Peoples and other related instruments, both international and regional. Thorough capacity building of both national and local governments and indigenous leaders, especially indigenous women and youth, the project aims to promote the participation of indigenous peoples in decision-making processes at national, regional and local levels, towards more inclusive development that is responsive to their needs and priorities. The project also intends to enhance the capacity of governments to develop policies, programmes and legislation that recognize and respect indigenous peoples' development rights and priorities and that include their full and effective participation in national socio-economic development policies. This will advance greater cooperation, national cohesion, and improve relationships between indigenous peoples and governments while also reducing tensions and misconceptions. The project will establish new consultative mechanisms, and/or strengthen existing ones where applicable, such as participatory policy dialogues, between the government representatives and representatives of indigenous peoples utilizing mediation, consensus building, constructive dialogue, participatory and inclusive development planning. The ultimate beneficiaries of the project are the indigenous peoples in the countries participating in the project.

The objective of the project is to strengthen capacities of governments, scholars and civil society as well as youth and youth-led organizations in select African countries for evidence-based formulation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programs on youth. The project will conduct a review of youth-policy related data in three African countries followed by national workshops to identify youth policy priority areas as well as data gaps based on the empirical evidence gathered. Further, the project will, in consultation with national, regional and global experts, review existing national, regional (such as the African Youth Charter (AYC) and the African Youth Decade Plan of Action) and global youth action plans and related indicators (such as the World Programme of Action on Youth (WPAY) as well as the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets and indicators), to identify suitable indicators for mainstreaming and monitoring the implementation of national, regional and global youth action plans and policies. The interventions will further develop recommendations on the application of these indicators for national youth policy formulation, monitoring and implementation and provide support to related capacity building. The project also aims to raise awareness on the use of youth indicators and support their dissemination to local youth policy makers in order to strengthen youth civic engagement at the local level. Critical to the success of the project is the active and full inclusion and participation of all relevant stakeholders, particularly youth and youth-led organizations in all steps towards the identification of relevant indicators and their application in the formulation, monitoring and implementation of more inclusive policies that are responsive to the needs and priorities of youth in Africa. Finally, the project will convene a regional workshop for project beneficiaries and additional countries as well as regional intergovernmental bodies, civil society, youth-led organisations and academia to engage in a dialogue to share best practices and to agree on a set of recommendations on evidence-based policies on youth to be presented to a wider audience in sub-Saharan Africa.

Progress of the Sustainable Development Agenda (i.e. post-2015) is conditioned in large measureby the ability of Member States to monitor, report on -- and learn lessons from -- theimplementation of their National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS) and assess theireffectiveness against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is thus critical for policymakers and other stakeholders to have access to effective statistics and data, monitoring andreporting tools, frameworks and systems in order to make timely, evidence-based policydecisions. Experience from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and a recent surveyfrom the United Nations Statistical Commission illustrate the enormous challenges for, andcapacity gaps remaining within, Member States, particularly developing countries, to establishand operationalize such national monitoring and reporting systems. As Member States movecloser to adopting the post-2015 sustainable development agenda -- which aims to besignificantly more ambitious in the number of SDGs, targets and indicators, compared to theMDGs -- many developing country Member States will need both capacity development andfinancial support to transform and enhance the capability of existing monitoring and reportingsystems and government institutions (e.g. national statistical offices). This project seeks toaddress these capacity deficits by supporting and assisting national governments andstakeholders to design and adopt integrated frameworks for monitoring and reporting onsustainable development progress, including the achievement of the SDGs. It aims to do so bydeveloping monitoring and reporting tools, guidelines, methodologies and case studies. Theproject will be informed by an analysis of capacity needs and gaps in the six pilot countries,followed with training workshops and advisory missions to assist governments to operationalizethe SDGs. At the end of the project, an interregional workshop for upscaling and sharing ofearly findings will be held.

The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) face multiple development challenges with limited resources, capacities and access to technologies. E-government can be leveraged to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Targets . It is, therefore, critical that LDCs have the technical know-how to take advantage of this opportunity. Therefore, there is a need for knowledge transfer through development assistance, smart investments in information communications technology (ICT) infrastructure as well as flexible and effective use of e-government to bring about substantial returns on investment supporting the sustainable development agenda. Under the right conditions, such efforts will in turn deliver multiple benefits such as better access to essential services, including for the poorest and most disadvantaged groups. It can create savings by streamlining and simplifying government processes as well as enhance accountability and transparency.
In order to steadily build capacity in the area of e-government and identify areas of strength and weaknesses, LDCs need to measure their degree of e-government development. This requires using not just supply-side metrics but also demand-side metrics, such as the impact, usage and user satisfaction of online services in supporting the SDGs.
The objective of the Project 1617B is to support decision making to support the sustainable development agenda by building institutional capacity to collect analyse and use data on e-government. It is structured around two expected accomplishments, namely: (i.) to improve institutional capacity in target countries to collect, use and publish relevant e-government data and compile indicators for analysis, monitoring and evaluation of progress in e-government; and (ii) to strengthen institutional capacity, frameworks and approaches in target countries to implement e-government policies and strategies in support of selected SDGs and Targets and related decision-making based on data. Recipient countries will also be encouraged to participate and present their digital strategy and e-government initiatives in the annual review process of the SDGs through the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), as well as to feature their e-government tools to support specific SDGs and Targets through the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM).

The least developed countries (LDCs) represent the poorest and weakest segment of the international community, with limited human and institutional capacities, high levels of poverty, scarcity of financial resources, and often undiversified economies dominated by the agricultural or natural resource sectors. LDCs benefit from a range of international support measures (ISMs), and LDCs in the process of graduation often poorly understand the potential impacts of graduation in terms of reduction of access to ISMs. This project will support three target countries—Bhutan, Nepal and Uganda—to collect data and information on available ISMs and the degree to which they are used in different sectors, and to use this information in impact assessment and evidence-based policies. In addition, the project will support these countries to identify key productive sectors where ISMs and national policies could have the greatest impact to support smooth transition, and will work with national stakeholders to develop national reports and recommendations that target countries may adopt to develop elements of smooth transition strategies themselves. The project will work not only with government stakeholders but also, importantly, with chambers of commerce and/or sector associations in each country, given their important role in providing information and advice to the private sector, and obtaining information from the private sector regarding real-life issues, barriers and constraints. Finally, the project will work closely with UN and bilateral development partners in each country, to develop links with their future support to the target LDCs and promote sustainability.