The General Statistics Office (GSO) is in the process of finalising a set of statistical indicators for Viet Nam’s sustainable development goals (SDGs), the office said.

The set of SDGs indicators is expected to be issued within this month.

According to the GSO, the set of SDGs indicator will include indicators for the monitoring and evaluation of the National Action Plan for implementation of the 2030 Agenda on SDGs, indicators of the global monitoring framework, issued by the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which Viet Nam will compile for the purpose of evaluating the implementation of the SDGs.

In order to assess the feasibility of the indicators of the global monitoring framework, the GSO and international experts have worked with relevant ministries and agencies to review the feasibility of indicators directly managed by competent ministries and branches.

Among the 232 statistical indicators of the global monitoring framework, 129 indicators are feasible, of which 93 indicators have database while 36 indicators do not.

Eight indicators are not applicable in Viet Nam while 95 indicators have not been yet applicable in Viet Nam, including 38 indicators that have not been defined methodologically and others need to be further studied and adjusted.

GSO said the feasible indicators are found mostly in the fields of education, health, labour, war invalids and social insurance. The unfeasible indicators are seen in the fields of natural resources and environment, agriculture and rural areas.

The office also studies Viet Nam’s statistical indicators for sustainable development (SDGs), such as the national statistical indicators system, the provincial-level, district-level and commune-level statistical indicators system.

To monitor and evaluate the implementation of the SDGs, and to provide evidence of the authenticity of this process, GSO recommended that ministries and agencies improve their capabilities and perfect their organisation, and at the same time, boost the collection of data for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of SDGs. — VNS