Measuring progress "Composite indicators - a tool to evaluate progress towards the SDGs"

The University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the United Nations Office at Geneva were pleased to extend an invitation to the fourth session of the Conversations with Academia series, which took place in the past.

This session centered on the significance of composite indicators for monitoring and evaluation, particularly in measuring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With the increasing construction and utilization of composite indicators internationally, the complexity of quantitative techniques has grown substantially. However, education and training in this field have lagged behind, leaving a gap between the sophisticated nature of these indicators and the limited understanding of them.

The panel of experts addressed the challenge of compiling and disseminating composite indicators, with a specific focus on the guidelines for Leading, Composite, and Sentiment (LCS) indicators. This initiative, spearheaded by the Bureau of the Conference of European Statisticians, aimed to provide clarity on the presentation and interpretation of composite indicators.

The session was thoughtfully designed to cater to both non-statisticians and statisticians, offering a comprehensive exploration of the complexities and nuances associated with composite indicators in the context of monitoring and evaluating progress towards the SDGs.

Participating in this session:

Speakers

Ms. Evita SISENE, Economic Statistics Section, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe 
Mr. Carsten BOLDSEN, Chief, Economic Statistics Section, Statistical Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe 
Mr. Stefan SPERLICH, Professor of statistics & econometrics, Geneva School of Economics and Management, University of Geneva 

Moderator

Natalie ALEXANDER, Knowledge & Learning Commons, UN Library & Archives Geneva.