The Second Expert Meeting on Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 18 to 19 April 2018, back-to-back to the meeting of CES Steering Group on Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including  17 Sustainable Development Goals, is a global plan of action aiming to eradicate poverty, safeguard our planet and ensure prosperity in every society by 2030, by means of building a more inclusive and peaceful world where protection of natural resources and decent life for all people are priorities.

All UN states have committed themselves to contribute to a full implementation of the Agenda 2030, following „Leave no one behind” principle. All stakeholders, ranging from governments to non-governmental organizations and citizens, can advance the realisation of the Agenda through their everyday activities. Countries are currently setting their national sustainable development strategies. They also undergo voluntary national reviews (VNRs) which help to evaluate their achievements in a field of SDGs.

A key role in this respect is entrusted to the official statistics. National Statistical Offices under the umbrella of the United Nations have accepted a challenge to develop a set of indicators, making it possible to monitor progress in SDGs and allowing decision-makers to rely on good quality data, so they could act in accordance with the principles of evidence-based policy.

The Expert Meeting on Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals  focused on work required to ensure SDGs monitoring, which is carried out at global and European level. This topic belongs to the most important areas when it comes to the activity of Statistics Poland in international fora. The representative of Statistics Poland has been elected co-chair of the Steering Group on Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals.

The attendees of the meeting discussed how official statistics can be optimally involved in a preparation of SDGs progress national reports used in voluntary national reviews. The Polish review is due to be presented in July, during  this year session of the High Level Political Forum.

Statistics Poland acting as the process coordinator of national reporting of SGDs indicators, participates in the preparation of a report on Poland, being responsible for the statistical annex, and cooperates with the relevant units of the Polish public administration. The arrangements made at the meeting in Geneva will be used in the aforementioned works.

The Expert Meeting  was also an excellent opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Statistics Poland together with our colleagues and friends from international statistical community and with the participation of Mr. Ambassador Zbigniew Czech - Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

In his speech Mr. Dominik Rozkrut, President of Statistics Poland,  stressed the meaning  of collaboration and friendship, as an important part of each venture - at the same time being the foundations of contemporary international relations in statistics.