Pacific Island countries are more engaged with the SDG agenda than ever before, with a record number presenting VNRs in 2019, and preparing for the SAMOA Pathway High-Level Midterm Review in September. At the regional level, the Pacific has been developing innovative approaches to measure progress on the SDGs for some years. The 2017 Pacific Roadmap for Sustainable Development and the Pacific Progress Wheels give a snap-shot of available data. However, challenges remain, including capacity constraints for many Pacific Small Island Developing States to measure progress against the SDGs. National statistics offices alone cannot bear the data collection and reporting burden.
How can countries find enough high-quality information to efficiently guide prioritisation and shape policy? What opportunities are there to use the SDGs to better promote the region’s priorities? While the realities faced by the Pacific may be unique, approaches to overcome challenges in SDG reporting are not, with lessons applicable to many countries and regions around the world.
The event will include a discussion and Q&A, featuring:
Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism of the Kingdom of Tonga, Honourable Semisi Kioa Lafu Sika
H.E. Mr Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia, Permanent Representative of the Independent State of Samoa to the UN
H.E. Ms Tegan Brink, Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the UN
Lucy Turner, Monitoring and Evaluation Expert, UNDP; Member, Think Tank on Global Education, Harvard University
Dr David Hammond, Director of Research, Institute for Economics and Peace
