101
Columbia in Canada (Temmer 2018; Nixon and
Ruckstuhl 2016; Victoria Foundation 2018;
New York City Mayor’s Office for International
Affairs n.d.; SDSN et al. 2016; Stanford
University 2017). Local authorities and civil
society groups have adopted numerous methods
to measure the implementation of the SDGs
across the continent. According to the Taskforce
of Regional and Global Governments, despite
progress being made globally, local SDG initiatives are still limited. More support is needed in
the form of capacity and knowledge sharing,
policy guidance, and financial resources to gain
momentum for the SDGs at the local level
(UCLG 2018).
8.3.5 SDG Localization Methods
While there are few documented “best practices”
to follow when implementing the SDGs at the
community level, local governments have identified a few generic guidelines that cities can pursue. Increased participation and engagement with
citizens; coordination between all levels of government; and the adoption of a rights-based
approach and alternative policy development can
help local and regional governments play a larger
role developing more resilient and sustainable
communities and can increase momentum for
achieving the SDGs (UCLG 2018). SDG localization implementation toolkits refer to the need
for public participation and awareness raising,
development of and advocacy for a local SDG
agenda, a clear implementation plan, and mechanisms for tracking progress (SDSN 2016;
GTLRG et al. 2016).
Community Indicator Systems as a Tool
for SDG Localization
Community indicator initiatives took root in the
1960s and 1970s and have been at the forefront of
using local data to generate knowledge and action
around community sustainability and well-being
since that time (Wray et al. 2017). Web-based
Community Indicator Systems (CISs) have
developed as a logical progression in the information age. In the context of this research, CISs
are defined as online platforms that curate, and
make publicly available, data for indicators representing key aspects of well-being in a specific
geographic location. Existing CISs are wellsuited for SDG localization efforts as they provide an existing base of local, verified data that
can be aligned with the SDG framework and have
been adopted by local stakeholders. Likewise,
adoption of a localized SDG framework can provide a new lens through which to promote local
action (Iyer 2017).
By providing easy access to local-level data,
CISs help improve local government transparency and accountability; they encourage public
engagement, educate citizens, and inform
decision- making (Holman 2009). CISs also act as
a shared measurement system for collective
impact efforts. “Collecting data and measuring
results consistently on a short list of indicators at
the community level and across all participating
organizations not only ensures that all efforts
remain aligned, it also enables the participants to
hold each other accountable and learn from each
other’s successes and failures” (Kania and
Kramer 2011, p. 40).
There are three primary elements needed to
develop and maintain a CIS over time: access to
data, a data visualization website, and public
engagement and convening of stakeholders to
drive action. Each of these elements requires
computer hardware and software, data, human
resources, technical skill, and funds to support
the project (Iyer 2017; Kingsley 1999). While
technology advancements such as the development of APIs can help to reduce overall maintenance costs, CIS still require significant resources
to maintain the website, update data, deliver an
effective communication plan, and monitor
impacts.
8.4
Case Study
8.4.1 Overview
This section illustrates how a community indicator system can be used to localize the SDGs,
based on the experience with Peg (www.mypeg.
8 Data for Good for All: Enabling All Communities to Track Progress Toward SDG Implementation
Columbia in Canada (Temmer 2018; Nixon and
Ruckstuhl 2016; Victoria Foundation 2018;
New York City Mayor’s Office for International
Affairs n.d.; SDSN et al. 2016; Stanford
University 2017). Local authorities and civil
society groups have adopted numerous methods
to measure the implementation of the SDGs
across the continent. According to the Taskforce
of Regional and Global Governments, despite
progress being made globally, local SDG initiatives are still limited. More support is needed in
the form of capacity and knowledge sharing,
policy guidance, and financial resources to gain
momentum for the SDGs at the local level
(UCLG 2018).
8.3.5 SDG Localization Methods
While there are few documented “best practices”
to follow when implementing the SDGs at the
community level, local governments have identified a few generic guidelines that cities can pursue. Increased participation and engagement with
citizens; coordination between all levels of government; and the adoption of a rights-based
approach and alternative policy development can
help local and regional governments play a larger
role developing more resilient and sustainable
communities and can increase momentum for
achieving the SDGs (UCLG 2018). SDG localization implementation toolkits refer to the need
for public participation and awareness raising,
development of and advocacy for a local SDG
agenda, a clear implementation plan, and mechanisms for tracking progress (SDSN 2016;
GTLRG et al. 2016).
Community Indicator Systems as a Tool
for SDG Localization
Community indicator initiatives took root in the
1960s and 1970s and have been at the forefront of
using local data to generate knowledge and action
around community sustainability and well-being
since that time (Wray et al. 2017). Web-based
Community Indicator Systems (CISs) have
developed as a logical progression in the information age. In the context of this research, CISs
are defined as online platforms that curate, and
make publicly available, data for indicators representing key aspects of well-being in a specific
geographic location. Existing CISs are wellsuited for SDG localization efforts as they provide an existing base of local, verified data that
can be aligned with the SDG framework and have
been adopted by local stakeholders. Likewise,
adoption of a localized SDG framework can provide a new lens through which to promote local
action (Iyer 2017).
By providing easy access to local-level data,
CISs help improve local government transparency and accountability; they encourage public
engagement, educate citizens, and inform
decision- making (Holman 2009). CISs also act as
a shared measurement system for collective
impact efforts. “Collecting data and measuring
results consistently on a short list of indicators at
the community level and across all participating
organizations not only ensures that all efforts
remain aligned, it also enables the participants to
hold each other accountable and learn from each
other’s successes and failures” (Kania and
Kramer 2011, p. 40).
There are three primary elements needed to
develop and maintain a CIS over time: access to
data, a data visualization website, and public
engagement and convening of stakeholders to
drive action. Each of these elements requires
computer hardware and software, data, human
resources, technical skill, and funds to support
the project (Iyer 2017; Kingsley 1999). While
technology advancements such as the development of APIs can help to reduce overall maintenance costs, CIS still require significant resources
to maintain the website, update data, deliver an
effective communication plan, and monitor
impacts.
8.4
Case Study
8.4.1 Overview
This section illustrates how a community indicator system can be used to localize the SDGs,
based on the experience with Peg (www.mypeg.
8 Data for Good for All: Enabling All Communities to Track Progress Toward SDG Implementation