When good-quality administrative systems are in place and their information is regularly updated, they can reliably provide a full picture of key aspects of a country’s population or economy on a continuous basis. Data collected for administrative purposes can be a rich and cost-efficient source for the production of timely and high-quality official statistics, especially to address the urgent need for disaggregated data on SDG indicators to ensure no one is left behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. However, many countries still lack the infrastructure and technical and institutional arrangements needed for the efficient exchange and processing of administrative data and metadata for the production of official statistics. Moving in a direction of increased use of administrative data for statistics production will also make the statistical system more agile and resilient in times of crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic. The project supports 9 countries in addressing legal and technical challenges to administrative data sharing and processing administrative data. For each country one or two thematic areas are chosen. The results of the work will provide practical level experiences that also others can benefit from and will lead to a number of examples along the overall process of using administrative data for statistical purposes; from accessing data to processing them and publishing statistics based on them. Key stakeholders of this work will be the National Statistical Offices and the owners of the administrative data, along with the wider statistical system. Policy and decision makers will benefit from the results of the work.

The need to support countries formulating policies and strategies for MSME resilience has been recognized by the General Assembly resolution A/RES/74/270 . In the Secretary-General’s report ‘Shared responsibility, global solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic’ , supporting MSMEs is outlined as a focus area to tackle socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporting MSMEs and informal workers is also included as one of the five pillars in the UN Framework for the Immediate Socioeconomic Response to the COVID-19 crisis . In this context, this project aims to formulate enabling policy environments and strengthen capacities of policymakers and MSME entrepreneurs to enhance MSME resilience to external shocks and risks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, in Cambodia, Ethiopia, the Philippines and Zimbabwe. The project will improve the capacity of policymakers to plan and implement coherent policy mechanisms promoting MSME resilience. It will also strengthen MSME entrepreneurial capacities for resilience and competitiveness for the inclusive and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. To upscale impact and sustainability, the project will forge extensive partnerships within and across target countries. It will pursue synergies with regional MSME supporting strategies such as the African Union SMEs Strategy and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group Strategic Plan for 2021-2024, in addition to pursuing coherent interventions with MSME supporting programmes of government departments, UN Country Teams and development partners in target countries. 

The Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) was launched as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the objective to support the SDGs. It includes three major components – an Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) of over 30 UN-system agencies; an annual multi-stakeholder Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Forum; and an on-line platform that is expected to serve as a gateway for information on existing science, technology and innovation (STI) initiatives, mechanisms and programs, within and beyond the United Nations. These are advised by a 10 –Member Group of academics, policy makers, entrepreneurs and others, appointed by the Secretary-General. This project aims to strengthen the capacity of key constituents in developing countries to access, operationalize and benefit from STI for the SDGs. It will strengthen the learning and adoption of relevant innovations by developing countries across both the South and the North; improve the capacity of governments and entrepreneurs to access relevant STI solutions through on-line mechanisms (including through improving their design); and strengthen the off-line partnerships, policy supports and institutional structures needed to make these self-sustaining. Throughout, the natural synergies across the different components of the TFM will be fully utilised. The direct beneficiaries of the project are STI and SDG communities in the target countries, including government officials, academics, scientists, technologists, practitioners, business persons and community leaders. The project will enhance their capacity to develop, disseminate and adapt STI solution in key strategic SDG areas, including a better understanding of relevant policy instruments and the sustainable development implications of new technology trends. The ultimate key beneficiaries of the project are all stakeholders around the world that will use the Online Platform to increase their capacity to use STI for SDGs. 

All governments from developing countries confront the challenge of designing coherent policies that can simultaneously accelerate growth, reduce poverty and inequality, preserve and improve the environment, and help adapt/mitigate to climate change. To successfully achieve these objectives, countries need both i) sound institutional arrangements for policy integration; and ii) quantitative analytical capacities to assess policy options. The ultimate aim is to foster a cohesive policy formulation process that incorporates development objectives across the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
In response to the Government requests from Cameroon, Ethiopia and Senegal, this project aims to support policy coherence through stronger inter-agency collaboration and coordination, while building integrated assessment methodologies and capacities to address the interlinkages and tradeoffs among policies, goals and the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. A climate, land-use, energy and water systems integrated assessment (CLEWS), including socio-economic aspects, will be developed in each country within the framework of improved cooperation among institutions and public administration and integrated whole-of-government approaches. Capacity building activities will be provided to government officials, in order to address the challenges and particular policy scenarios discussed with official government counterparts, to inform evidence-based policy discussions.
The Project will result in enhanced institutional capacity and inter-agency cooperation within target countries for developing integrated approaches and tools to support evidence-based policy-making to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The project aims to enhance and strengthen knowledge, policy development and national capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to improve their policies and programmes supporting the growth of micro-, small-, and medium-enterprises (MSMEs) in order to promote productive activities, job creation, income generation and entrepreneurship especially among socially disadvantaged groups including women, youth, and to effectively contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The project activities focus on developing policy and program options to build capacities and promote MSMEs in developing countries, to develop global and regional networks for enhancing collaboration and partnerships, to exchange experiences and lessons learned, including through HLPF.
Sustainable development requires growth of economic activities, production of goods and services, creation of employment opportunities, revenue growth and infrastructure development without compromising environmental and social integrity. In this regard, the role of the private sector, in particular, of MSMEs cannot be overemphasized. Micro-, small- and medium-enterprises are present in almost every country of the world. Their role is even more vital in the developing countries. Formal SMEs contribute up to 45 percent of total employment and up to 33 percent of national income (GDP) in emerging economies. These numbers are significantly higher when micro enterprises and informal SMEs are included. MSMEs often involve people with little or no financial resources who also face tremendous barriers to access the conventional financial institutions for start-up businesses due to their poverty and lack of collateral assets. In addition, MSMEs are constrained by lack of capacity and knowledge on launching businesses, market access and other resources. Furthermore, many developing countries have not been able to fully tap the potentials of MSMEs due to weak policy, institutional and support mechanisms. MSMEs can be a powerful vehicle to improve economic and social conditions of individuals, communities and society. Accordingly, the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development has specific targets regarding MSMEs under Goal 8 but the significance of and support for MSMEs have been mentioned in many other Goals and Targets.
Add core problems/issues: lack of access to financial resources, credit, business operation capacities, market analysis skills and management skills. Lack of regional and global initiatives to strengthen the capacities of government agencies and financial sectors to provide necessary policy and operation support to the MSMEs.
Who are the key beneficiaries? The public sector agencies, in particular the ministries/agencies of planning and economic development, as well as the business association in support of MSMEs, and private sector, including the financial sector and trade associations, will be the main beneficiaries of the project. It is expected that the eventual beneficiaries of the project will be the MSME entrepreneurs including women and youth.
What/whose capacities will be strengthened by this project? Government ministries/agencies, business associations in support of MSMEs, MSME entrepreneurs, credit agencies and other lending institutions for MSMEs.
Main entities involved? DSD together with DPAD, FfD, UNDP, UNIDO, UNCTAD, ADB, AFDB and WB and other UN system partners; WBCSD and other business groups and foundations in support of MSMEs, through collaboration in desk studies, assessments, workshops and when appropriate, advisory services.
What capacities to be enhanced? Planning, policy formulation, training, market analysis, access to credit, business plan development, business management, accounting, etc. Building global and regional networks of MSME practitioners, financial sector, IT sector and relevant government agencies.