5.2.4 Millennium Development Goals Indicators

To help track progress on the MDGs, a monitoring framework has been developed, and statistical experts have selected indicators to assess progress over the period from 1990 to 2015. An annual report to the United Nations General Assembly provides progress, based on data on the selected indicators, aggregated at global and regional levels.

In 2007, the MDG monitoring framework was revised to include four new targets.

United Nations Statistics Division coordinates the preparation of data analysis to assess progress made towards the MDGs and maintains the database containing the data series related to the selected indicators, as well as other background series intended to supplement the official indicators. This is done in close collaboration with agencies and organizations within and outside the United Nations system.

Since the periodic assessment of progress towards the MDGs started, the international statistical community has been concerned about the lack of adequate data to compile the required indicators in many parts of the developing world. At the same time, the monitoring requirements themselves have helped focus the attention on this shortcoming and raised awareness of the urgency to launch initiatives for statistical capacity building.

It should be noted that the indicators project is a work in progress, and much remains to be done until all countries are able to produce a continuous flow of social and economic statistics needed to inform their development policies and track progress. Nonetheless, these indicators are an important baseline of information for NHRIs and for UNCTs working with them.