NO ONE LEFT BEHIND

Workshop 1.
The relevance of “new metrics” for the evaluation of SDGs: Data for development and indicators
for equity and gender equality
Key issues
The workshop was organized around “new metrics”
within three areas of interrelated work: evaluation, data
(including data generation and data for development),
and indicators. Six questions, listed below, framed the
session, exploring the opportunities and challenges
of new metrics to advance a gender-responsive and
equity-focused evaluation of the SDGs.
The group discussed evaluation approaches to advance
a gender-responsive and equity-focused evaluation.
Highly participatory approaches (including, for example,
most significant change) that were grounded in
human rights principles and centrally featured women’s
voices and experiences were touted as effective.
Data collection methods were examined. Qualitative
methods—involving the collection, analysis and
interpretation of data that are not easily reduced to
numbers—can often offer important insights into
underlying power imbalances and ways to advance
gender equality and women’s rights. The limitations
of quantitative methods (sample size, low levels of
disaggregation) for advancing gender-responsive
and equity-focused evaluations were highlighted. It
was also noted that quantitative data often does not
capture or reflect issues of power, access, participation
and voice—essential dimensions to advancing human
rights and gender equality.
New sources of data were surfaced, with participants
discussing opportunities and challenges associated
with each.
Challenges in populating indicators—including the
availability of quality, disaggregated, comparable and
timely data—were shared. Participants noted that
indicators related to equity and equality, including
gender equality, are more challenging to populate,
requiring disaggregated data and data from remote
areas and marginalized communities. When data is
disaggregated by gender, disaggregation is often limited
to vital demographic indicators such as sex ratios
and literacy rates. This fails to capture the gendered
manner in which power and access play out or the
way in which gendered roles and expectations interact
with and play out through public policy (for example,
service provision in water and sanitation).
Participants listed key sources and repositories of
data. National census and statistical departments
were highlighted as traditional sources of important
data. Ministries, development partners, private sector
and civil society organizations were also mentioned
as sources for data related to relevant thematic areas.
Challenges, however, were noted in data collection
(what data is collected) and disaggregation (critical for
advancing equality); for many countries and in many
contexts, collecting gender sensitive data is simply
not a political priority. Participants underscored the
importance of relevant, timely and comparable data
for evidence based decision-making and underscored
the challenges faced by policy-makers and programme
implementers in accessing and using data for evidence
based decision-making. Indeed, even if data is collected
and disaggregated, limitations to use abound.
Evaluating the Sustainable Development Goals with
an Equity-focused and Gender-responsive Lens 15