Better Statistics Via SDG Data

Quality data, that can be easily disaggregated, is critical to making effective decisions and monitoring the achievement of policy objectives. Trinidad and Tobago’s National Development Strategy recognises this important premise, emphasising the need for a coordinated National Statistical System that can deliver quality and timely statistics on the economy, social needs and the environment.

A crucial part of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda is ensuring that reliable, accessible, timely and disaggregated data is the cornerstone of sustainable development. This data is required to measure progress on the 232 unique indicators or ‘mile markers’ that underpin the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To support Trinidad and Tobago in this development objective, the Joint SDG Fund of the UN has allocated financial resources for a ground-breaking project to modernise, expand and strengthen the National Statistical System by improving the collection and use of data on the 17 SDGs.

Programme Strategy

The Joint Programme’s Vision is of a Trinidad and Tobago where policies, legislation, investments and partnerships are aligned with the SDGs and gender and human rights, and informed by comprehensive, timely, reliable and disaggregated data from a technologically advanced, collaborative, empowered, cost-effective and agile national statistical architecture, of which the UN Country Team is a key component.

The Joint Programme’s Mission is to support the Trinidad and Tobago Government, UN Country Team and key development stakeholders by enhancing the systems through which they produce and share the data they need for their analyses, reporting, gender and rights mainstreaming, and coordination; and to positively impact SDG-related decision making, programming, resource mobilisation and reporting within and across sectors.

Project Outcomes

• Improving the quantity, quality and pace of disaggregated data
• Facilitating more robust monitoring of Trinidad and Tobago’s progress on all 17 SDGs
• Enhancing the technological capacity and professional competency required to collect statistics
• Deepening the integration of international standards, especially those on human rights and gender equality, in the collection of statistics
• Strengthening data partnerships across sectors to foster better collaboration on data collection and sharing
• Stimulating investment in SDG-related programming
• Convening the Big Data Forum 2023 to continue consolidating Trinidad andTobago’s position as a regional centre of excellence for big data

The Joint SDG Fund Project has a duration of 24 months and will be implemented by a team of UN Agencies. The UN is also convening a coalition of development partners including national authorities such as the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Central Statistical Office, non-governmental organisations, private sector companies, international financial institutions and academia to support the rollout of this project.

Statistics is about people. When the complexity of people’s needs, circumstances and experiences is better represented, it enriches the process that shapes public policy. Join the Joint SDG Fund and the United Nations in supporting this initiative by using the hashtag #CountMeIn.

Coverage of the Joint SDG Fund project launch,  Modernising Trinidad and Tobago’s Statistical Ecosystem through Enhanced SDG Data Development on Tuesday 26^th July, 2022. PAHO/WHO Trinidad and Tobago and partner agencies, ILO, UNEC, ECLAC will implement the project with coordination support from the UN Trinidad and Tobago.