Sustainable Development Council steps up efforts towards integrated SDG monitoring in Sri Lanka

The Sustainable Development Council (SDC) in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) conducted a two-day workshop for key government agencies on integrated monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Sri Lanka on 08th and 09th May in Colombo.

In order to address a critical gap highlighted in Sri Lanka/s Second Voluntary National Review (VNR) on SDG implementation in 2022, relating to monitoring and evaluation of Sri Lanka’s progress on SDGs, the SDC developed the National SDG Progress Dashboard as a first step towards comprehensive SDG progress monitoring and evaluation in Sri Lanka following a whole-of-government approach. The National SDG Progress Dashboard developed with technical support from ESCAP provides a snapshot of Sri Lanka’s progress towards achieving nationally recognized SDG targets.

The objectives of the two-day workshop held last week were to further enhance the use of data for effective monitoring of SDG implementation in Sri Lanka, including achieving increased ownership of the SDG national targets by the line ministries, and work towards an integrated approach in monitoring and evaluation of Sri Lanka’s SDG progress.

In welcoming the participants, Director General of SDC, Chamindry Saparamadu, highlighted that as the time to achieve the SDGs is running out, government institutions should focus on how accountability for the implementation of SDGs can be improved through robust monitoring and evaluation of SDG achievements.

Speaking during the Opening Session of the two-day workshop, the UN Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka, Marc- Andre Franche, emphasized that, monitoring progress towards the SDGs is a crucial part of the 2030 Agenda and the national SDG targets identified and validated by all line ministries will form the basis for future development planning.

Delivering the Key Note Remarks, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Anura Dissanayake observed that without timely statistics, including different levels of disaggregation, it is difficult to delve deeper into multifaceted and complex development challenges that are facing the society today. Dissanayake emphasized the importance of strengthening data and monitoring frameworks to improve decision-making, transparency and accountability as well as efficiency in directing policy interventions and investments towards where the needs are.

The workshop delved into understanding the flow of SDG data at global and national levels, the key components of effective SDG data coordination, regional experiences using SDG data for effective monitoring, selection of national SDG indicators and approaches towards integrated monitoring and evaluation. The workshop also featured a panel discussion with Mahinda Gunarathna, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Anuradha Kumarasiri, Director General, National Planning Department, Ms. Anoja Senevirathne, Director General, Department of Census and Statistics, D.D.Matharachchi, Additional Secretary (Planning and Development), Ministry of Urban Development & Housing. The workshop concluded with the formulation of an Action Plan to develop an integrated monitoring and evaluation framework for the SDGs in Sri Lanka.

The participants of the workshop included SDG data focal points and SDG focal points appointed by the line Ministries and government institutions and relevant officers from the Sustainable Development Council, the Department of Census and Statistics and the National Planning Department.