1. An assessment of the situation regarding the principle of “ensuring that no one is left behind” at the global level:

The full implementation of the 2030 agenda and its principle that no one should be left behind will require a solid base of data on all groups of the population. The IAEG-SDGs has extensively discussed these data needs and identified the necessary elements of disaggregation for the implementation of the SDG indicators. The UNSC reviewed the work plan of the IAEG-SDGs, including the development of a work stream on data disaggregation, and agreed that the IAEG should establish a sub-group on data disaggregation.

It is also recognized that the necessary data production and analysis to ensure the desired level of disaggregation will pose challenges to many countries and that appropriate capacity development efforts will need to be put in place.

To meet said end, a new subgroup work-team on data disaggregation has been created in the IAEG-SDGs context and it will be responsible for evaluating how indicators portray the population subgroups.

2. The identification of gaps, areas requiring urgent attention, risks and challenges:

The IAEG-SDG/HLG joint-group was created in order to identify gaps in information production and prioritize them in the framework and in the capacity building actions designed within the HLG context.

Timely, reliable, quality and disaggregated data will be needed to inform all necessary policies for the implementation of the 2030 agenda and for its follow ups and reviews, at the global, regional and national levels. Data gaps and issues of data quality, including their timeliness and accessibility, will need to be addressed. This includes the development of indicators today classified as tier III, which do not have associated methodology and data source.

Efforts will have to be intensified and appropriate resources mobilized to allow all countries to produce and utilize data in all areas covered by the 2030 agenda. The UNSC through its High-level Group on Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building for data for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is considering how to address these needs, including by developing a Global Action Plan for Statistics.

3. Valuable lessons learned on ensuring that no one is left behind:

The IAEG-SDGs has been trying to ensure stakeholders’ participation in the indicators definition process, as well as civil society representatives. That includes implementing consultations and open sessions during the group’s meetings.

The UNSC is also considering how to increase the use and integration of administrative data sources, of geo-spatial information, and of innovative sources such as big data, which have shown to be have enormous potential for the production of disaggregated data.

The development of gender statistics and indicators, for instance, including in areas that were until recently not well developed, such as violence against women, shows how tools can be improved and data production programmes expanded to adequately cover all segments of the population. Lessons learnt throughout the development of gender indicators can be applied to initiatives aimed at expanding the availability of disaggregated data for SDGs.

4. Emerging issues likely to affect the realization of this principle: 


5. Areas where political guidance by the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is required: 


6. Policy recommendations on ways to accelerate progress for those at risk of being left behind: