By Alberto Isgut, UNESCAP

1. ASIA-PACIFIC COUNTRIES WITH SPECIAL
NEEDS DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2016
Adapting the
2030 Agenda for
Sustainable
Development at
the National
Level
Presentation by
Alberto Isgut
UNESCAP

3. Ch. 3: Pathways to enhance capacities for
sustainable development
• Analytical framework for the
prioritization and sequencing of
SDGs at the country level
• Identification of possible synergies
across SDGs
• Differences in implementation
strategies according to countries’
capacities and levels of
development

4. Data and methodology
Data
Cross-section of 82 indicators (representing the 17 SDGs) and 174 countries,
spanning from 2006 to 2014
Methodology
Step 1 Build a SDG network of indicators to identify potential synergies across
SDGs
Step 2 Construct a measure of SDG capacities of countries, a comprehensive
indicator of the capacities of individual countries to achieve the SDGs
Step 3 Set up an optimization problem to identify optimal pathways –
prioritization and of SDGs indicators

5. Network of indicators shows a clear core-
periphery structure
Example of
network of
indicators for
the average
of the Asia-
Pacific
countries
with special
needs
Reference
group: all
countries in
the world

6. Electricity access is at the core of the network
Indicator:
Access to
electricity as
percentage of
the
population
Source:
World Bank

7. Renewable energy and energy intensity are at
the periphery of the network
Indicators:
Renewable
electricity output
Renewable energy
consumption
Primary energy
over GDP
measured in
purchasing power
parity
Source:
International
Energy Agency

8. SDG capacities for Asia-Pacific CSNs

9. SDG capacity is correlated to GNI per capita
and the HDI – but the relation is not linear
SDG capacities versus GNI per capita and HDI

10. Model-proposed areas of prioritization and
sequencing in the case of Bangladesh
First phase (2016-2020) Second phase (2021-2025) Third phase (2026-2030)
SDG Indicator
Priority
level (%)
SDG Indicator
Priority
level (%)
SDG Indicator
Priority
level (%)
4
Education index (years of
schooling)
12.1 8
Ease of doing business
index (regulations)
17.2 16
Overall life satisfaction
index
12.1
4 Secondary education 11.5 3 Infant mortality 12.1 6 Improved sanitation 9.7
10
Human inequality (health,
education and income)
10.6 6 Water productivity 10 3
Health index (life
expectancy)
8.3
9 Internet users 10.1 2 Food supply 5.5 9 Internet users 7.2
9
Trade and transport-related
infrastructure
8.3 16
Overall life satisfaction
index
5.5 9 Air transportation 6.9
5
Gender inequality (health,
empowerment and labour)
8 9
Trade and transport-related
infrastructure
5.2 9
Scientific and technical
journal articles
6.6
8 GDP per capita 7.8 8 GDP per capita 4.8 2 Agriculture value added 5.2
2 Food supply 7.5 4
Education index (years of
schooling)
4.5 3 Infant mortality 4.8
8 Commercial banking 6.3 4 Secondary education 4.5 4 Secondary education 4.8
10
Human inequality (health,
education and income)
4.1 10
Human inequality (health,
education and income)
4.8
Other 17.8 Other 26.6 Other 29.7

11. Progress across indicators in Bangladesh
Initial high attainment (2015)
Predicted high attainment (2030)
Low attainment (2015 – 2030)

12. Concluding remarks
• The proposed analytical framework allows…
• The identification of connections and potential synergies across different
indicators,
• The measurement of countries’ performance in attaining the SDGs based
on all available indicators,
• The formulation of an optimal plan for the prioritization and sequencing of
SDG indicators
• Advantages: (i) Integrative perspectives – beyond sectorial silos, (ii) Inputs for
discussions with government policy makers and stakeholders, (iii) Allows
consideration of different scenarios.
• Disadvantages: (i) Results depends on the indicators and countries included in
database, as well as on the quality of the data; (ii) No monetary costs, (iii)
Cannot be used to guide policy without further studies and validation.

13. ASIA-PACIFIC COUNTRIES WITH SPECIAL
NEEDS DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2016
Adapting the
2030 Agenda for
Sustainable
Development at
the National
Level
Thank you!
www.unescap.org
twitter.com/unescap
facebook.com/unescap
youtube.com/unescap