The document outlines a toolkit designed for young people to engage in tracking the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by world leaders in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It emphasizes the importance of accountability, outlining an action plan called a national accountability framework that allows citizens to hold governments accountable for their commitments to the SDGs. The toolkit provides steps for creating an accountability ecosystem, tracking progress, and advocating for policies that support inclusive development.

1. ACCOUNTABILITY IN ACTION
TRAINING

2. The Sustainable Development Goals and how to track them.
End poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change by 2030 = targets set out by
world leaders in an action plan, called the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
September 2015: they announced this agenda, which includes 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), also known as Global Goals.
WHAT’S THIS TOOLKIT ALL ABOUT?

3. The success of these goals will depend on citizens - especially young people
- playing a key role in tracking how they are put into action and persuading
governments to keep the promises they make.
This toolkit is designed for young people and their organisations who want
to play that role.
THE GOALS WORK IF WE WORK

4. WE’LL LEARN HOW TO CREATE AN ACTION PLAN
This guide will help you to build an action plan for tracking the progress that
your country is making to achieve the SDGs.
This plan is called a national accountability framework.

5. How to hold your government and other power-holders to account for their
commitments.
This means holding them responsible for their promises and demanding
that they stay on course.
This process is called seeking accountability.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

6. Sustainable development
An inclusive approach to international development.
Creating healthier and mutually supportive societies while sustaining
natural resources to allow future generations to thrive.
Taking into account the diverse needs of all people affected i.e the
needs of young people, women, people with disabilities etc.
Accountability
The process of holding governments, organisations or individuals
responsible for their commitments and actions.
KEY TERMS

7. Implementation
Putting a plan or decision into effect.
i.e. What is your government’s plan for the
implementation of the SDGs? = what is your
government’s plan for putting the SDGs into effect?
(National) Accountability framework
An action plan to monitor and seek accountability
for the implementation of sustainable development
policies and programmes.
KEY TERMS

8. THE 8 STEPS
Identifying goals
Choosing your accountability focus.
1
Your framework: where, who and how
Mapping your accountability ecosystem
2
Build your team
Forming an Accountability Network!
3
How will you track progress?
Establishing indicators.
4
Get that data!
Identify the data you need, learn where
to get it, and how to use it.
5
Seek accountability
Hold governments and others to account.
6
Speak up! Get heard!
Develop a strategy so you can make an
even bigger impact.
7
Finalise your framework
Look ahead and put your plan into action!8

9. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication ‘Accountability in action training’ reflects the views of the author, and the Commission
cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
This project is led by Restless Development and draws together a consortium
of youth-led and youth-focused organisations from around the world.
Together they have a wealth of experience in supporting young people to
play a leading role in governance and accountability.