Premium
Commentary on Special Issue: Knowledge and Politics in Setting and Measuring SDG s Numbers and Norms
Author(s) -
Adams Barbara
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
global policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.602
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1758-5899
pISSN - 1758-5880
DOI - 10.1111/1758-5899.12639
Subject(s) - proxy (statistics) , politics , unintended consequences , reductionism , public relations , civil society , process (computing) , political science , political process , public administration , computer science , law , operating system , philosophy , epistemology , machine learning
This Special Issue usefully analyses the links between statistics, knowledge, policy making and politics, and uncovers intended and unintended consequences of using indicators to frame policy. Many civil society organizations ( CSO s) were actively involved in the Open Working Group, and some have continued their advocacy into the ongoing process of developing the SDG indicator framework. Some indicators are being reconsidered; but despite repeated efforts there is still no indicator to measure inequality between countries. There is a recognized need for innovative ways to supplement already existing data. The use of proxy measurements is already underway, and initiatives such as a collaboration between some UN agencies and Gallup. The active public engagement in the process that determined the SDG s may help to resist the reductionism often evident in translating from the goals to the targets to the indicators. The 2019 meeting of the High‐Level Political Forum ( HLPF ) will be an essential occasion to address some of these issues and to chart a correction course.