UNSD Conference on National Reporting Platforms (NRPs) — A Recap

From January 22nd-January 24th, 2018, the UN Statistics Division (UNSD) convened the Conference on National Reporting Platforms, which gathered a small group of leading data managers and sustainable development statistics experts from around the world. The central aim of the conference was to discuss national reporting platforms (NRPs) for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to review global measurement and reporting best practices, in order to help chart the course for stronger and more efficient SDG reporting across national boarders.

The three-day conference, held at the UN international headquarters in New York City, covered a wide range of data management and reporting-related topics — from the roles of open data and global statistical standards in building strong NRPs, to linked and web disseminated data systems, to case study presentations on current reporting systems being utilized successfully within select countries (which included presentations by the US and Brazil, among several other nations). The conference concluded with sessions that brought together the key learnings and strategic approaches to SDG reporting highlighted throughout the three days, culminating with a set of clear recommendations and potential pathways forward.

Among the tangible recommendations that emerged from the sessions was the continued development of a global public information platform/“wiki” for SDG measurement data (an early stage wiki has already been set up by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE),with 15 countries’ national reporting platforms linked to it to date). You can take a look at the wiki here. Another suggested next step was the establishment of a broad “user community”/online forum, designed specifically to provide a platform for SDG-focused data managers, analysts, and reporters to share their knowledge and relevant experiences in real-time. Presenters also recommended organizing a session dedicated fully to the topic of NRPs at the upcoming UN World Data Forum (set for October 2018), which would serve to elevate the importance and urgency of building effective national reporting platforms on a more prominent global stage.

The entire collection of the conference’s featured presentation decks can be found here.