1. International Statistical Classifications for SDG Indicators
Valentina Ramaschiello
Office of the Chief Statistician
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Meeting of the Expert Group on International Statistical Classifications
New York, 6-8 September 2017

2. 2030 Agenda
25 September 2015: 193 UN Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that includes:
17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
169 targets
232 SDG indicators that 50 organizations are responsible for coordinated by the Inter-agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) created by United Nations Statistical Commission/46th session.

3. FAO custodian of 21 indicators in 6 goals
FAO inficators measure:
the prevalence of undernourishment and the state of food insecurity (2.1.1, 2.1.2)
income and productivity of small-scale food producers (2.3.1, 2.3.2)
the sustainability of agricultural production (2.4.1)
the biodiversity of plants and animals (2.5.1, 2.5.2)
investment in agriculture (2.a.1)
food price volatility (2.c.1)
women’s access to agricultural land ownership (5.a.1, 5.a.2),
water use efficiency and water stress (6.4.1, 6.4.2)
food loss and waste (12.3.1)
fish stocks, sustainable fisheries, illegal fishing and access rights for small-scale fishers (14.4.1, , , 14.b.1)
sustainable forests and mountains (15.1.1, and )

4. Problem
As indicators are compiled by a large number of international, regional and national agencies around the world, using a variety of methodologies:
SDG indicators are characterized by a high heterogeneity and different degree of statistical soundness or nature
Also in FAO, statistical divisions compile some indicators but, in other cases, SDG indicators are compiled by technical departments, which may not be fully aware or familiar with statistical standards and methods.

5. Recommended actions
raise awareness and promote the utilization of international statistical classifications, definitions and concepts for SDG indicators is essential to improve data comparability and coherence.
avoid the proliferation of ad hoc lists as well as the uncoordinated use of (non-standard) classifications

6. Recommended actions
use the same classifications, concepts and definitions to describe the same variables across different Goals and targets
reference international classifications for SDG indicators to be identified by EG in consultation with the IAEG-SDGs, in case more than one international standard classification exist in the same statistical domain (e.g. M49 and ISO, HS and SITC),

7. Benefits from adopting international classifications for SDG indicators
improve data quality (comparability and coherence)
facilitate data and metadata exchange
SDMX identified by the IAEG-SDGs as the standard format to exchange SDG indicators
a SDMX-SDGs Working Group created in 2016
allow better maintenance of the standard
only by using international statistical classifications it is possible to identify areas for further improvement of the standard, thus activating a positive cycle that makes the standards fit for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) over time
ensure better visibility to the work on international classifications
possibly providing opportunities for funding, thus supporting the sustainability of this work in the future

8. Benefits from adopting international classifications for SDG indicators
improve data quality (comparability and coherence)
facilitate data and metadata exchange
SDMX identified by the IAEG-SDGs as the standard format to exchange SDG indicators
a SDMX-SDGs Working Group created in 2016
allow better maintenance of the standard
only by using international statistical classifications it is possible to identify areas for further improvement of the standard, thus activating a positive cycle that makes the standards fit for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) over time
ensure better visibility to the work on international classifications
possibly providing opportunities for funding, thus supporting the sustainability of this work in the future

9. Proposal to the EG
The EG on to work closely with the Inter-agency and Expert Group on SDG indicators (IAEG-SDGs) in order to:
SDG indicators metadata template to include a field on classifications
(where the classifications used for compiling the indicator is indicated along with the one used the source data)
The EG and IAEG-SDGs, possibly with the SDMX-SDGs Working Group, to collaborate to identify standards and produce guidelines on the classifications, concepts and definitions to be used for indicators in all goals and targets