Yes we can: Good Governance Data Exists For Countries to Track Goal 16

Governance data has been criticised in some policy circles as not being good enough or available for all countries. This was one of the arguments that almost lead to Goal 16 – which covers targets on everything from peace and justiceTo address barriers that prevent citizens from having their justice needs met, OGP participating governments are working to expand transparency, accountability, and inclusion into all systems of justi..., to corruption and transparent institutions – to being dropped from the Sustainable Development GoalsOGP countries are experimenting with open government innovations to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16+ which includes peaceful, just and inclusive societies... (SDGs). A new initiative by various organizations show that good data does exist. And that many of the targets of Goal 16 can be measured.

The new SDG16 Data Initiative (http://www.sdg16.org), profiles all currently available data on all SDG16 targets. Official data (produced by governments) and nongovernmental sources are included. Data sets matching the agreed targets and indicators were put together by the fourteen independent organizations forming part of this initiative.

This snapshot of progress is key for seeing whether countries are delivering on Goal 16. The UN is convening its members in New York this week and next to check-in on SDG progress https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf. While 22 countries have voluntarily presented reports, few are providing hard numbers for any of the goals, particularly SDG16.

The goal which provides a commitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action... to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies” is intricately tied to many of the principles of the Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More and which its members signed up to. The national action plans provide a key channel for embedding SDG 16 targets into policies and actions. And the SDG indicators can be used as a way to track progress.

The world needs good measurements to really get at the entrenched development challenges every country is facing. Measuring progress on SDG 16 is part of this. For TransparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More International, you cannot end poverty without ending corruption.

Transparency International joins the  other following organisations in this initiative: International IDEA; Institute for Economics and Peace; Global Forum for Media Development; Governance Data Alliance; Namati; Open Society Foundations; Peace Research Institute Oslo; Results for Development Institute; Saferworld; Small Arms Survey; Sustainable Development Solutions Network; TAP Network; and the World Justice Project)