Country:
Qatar
Implementing Entity:
Policy and Planning Sector within the National Planning Council (NPC)National Statistics Center (NSC)
Partners:
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), sectoral ministries and agencies providing SDG data, Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), Qatar University, and regional and international statistical bodies (e.g., United Nations Statistics Division, ESCWA).
Beneficiaries:
Government entities and the general public.
For more information:

Data-driven approach to monitoring SDG implementation

Objective

To enable systematic and transparent monitoring of SDG implementation by ensuring that responsible government entities provide accurate, timely and disaggregated data. This, in turn, establishes a robust foundation for tracking progress towards the 2030 Agenda and supports evidence-based policy adjustments.

Overview

By adopting a data-driven approach to monitoring SDG implementation, Qatar is reaffirming its commitment to accelerating progress, fostering innovation and embedding sustainable development at the core of its future vision. The country has introduced a comprehensive tracking framework that integrates two methodologies:
• SDG data dashboards and performance metrics for real-time progress assessment, managed by the NSC through the Qatar SDGs Data Hub. SDG data availability currently stands at 88.7 per cent.1  Selected indicators can be visualized on maps and disaggregated by region across Qatar.2
The Qatar SDGs Data Hub is part of Qatar Open Data Platform (www.data.gov.qa), a national data and information system launched in 2019 and operated by the NPC since 2023. The platform is enabled by Qatar Open Data Policy and a national partnership with the relevant ministries and government agencies to provide thematic datasets displayed in formats suited to the nature of the materials and user needs.3
The Open Data Policy includes provisions on public feedback and the voluntary release of information, enabling interaction with data users. It also sets out guidelines for data assessment and policy compliance to promote optimal data transparency.4 
• Annual progress reports and policy reviews to evaluate national implementation efforts, jointly led by the Policy and Planning Sector within NPC and the NSC.
The Policy and Planning Sector works closely with government entities to collect and validate data, establishing a reliable foundation for assessing national progress towards sustainability targets. In addition to data collection, the Sector analyses and evaluates the information received, identifying trends, measuring impact and detecting gaps that may impede progress. This analytical function enables the Sector to provide insights and evidence-based recommendations, supporting policy adjustments and ensuring that national efforts remain aligned with Qatar strategic objectives and international SDG commitments.

1https://sdg-en-psaqatar.opendata.arcgis.com/
2https://sdg-en-psaqatar.opendata.arcgis.com/pages/maps
3https://www.data.gov.qa/pages/about/ 
4https://www.data.gov.qa/pages/open_data_policy1/ 


 

Challenges
  • Variability in data readiness and quality across ministries.
  • Need for technical capacity-building in some reporting entities
  • Limited availability of disaggregated data for certain population groups.
  • Challenges in aligning national indicators with evolving global SDG metadata standards.
     
Funding
Although no single cost figure is published, the SDG Data Hub and monitoring activities are financed through national funding under NPC and NSC mandates, complemented by Qatar’s broader Open Data and e Government digital transformation investments.
Implementation Phase
VNR process
Post-VNR
Guiding Principles
Data and statistics/evidence-based approach