Kyiv, 12 November 2019 – The United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine and the State Statistics Service of Ukraine (SSSU) signed a memorandum of understanding on 12 November to bolster their cooperation to ensure Ukraine meets the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs.

The memorandum was signed by UNDP Resident Representative Dafina Gercheva and the head of the SSSU, Ihor Verner.

According to its text, the memorandum’s purpose is to set out a framework for the two sides’ cooperation in areas of joint interest, noting that the United Nations Agenda 2030 for sustainable development “clearly recognizes the essential role of high-quality, timely and reliable statistical data in implementing the SDGs.”

Under the agreement, the SSSU will provide statistics to UNDP to help the organization assess Ukraine’s progress in meeting the SDGs. The two sides will also work together to facilitate the professional development of state statisticians, ensure the data they produce is transparent and accessible, and to jointly draft policies and legislation that improves work in the area of statistics collection.

UNDP Resident Representative Gercheva thanked Verner for their cooperation, noting that the memorandum foresaw the possibility of the two sides expanding their cooperation in future.

“Accurate and disaggregated statistics are essential for evidence-based policy making and M&E, and are thus a vital tool in helping Ukraine achieve the SDGs”, Gercheva said. “Investing in statistical ability through partnerships will further advance country’s social transformation and ensure no one is left behind.”  The memorandum is in effect for five years from the date of signing, and can be extended on mutual agreement by the two sides.

Ihor Verner thanked Dafina Gercheva for the support provided by UNDP, adding: “We welcome today’s initiative, and we have high hopes for our fruitful cooperation for the wellbeing of the Ukrainian people and the modernization of the state statistics in Ukraine. On our side, we want to reaffirm our very strong commitment to achieving this.”   

Background:

UNDP is the leading operational arm of the United Nations at the country level, working with partners in numerous countries to promote sustainable development, eradication of poverty, advancement of women, good governance and the rule of law.

The SSSU produces a wide range of statistics for the government of Ukraine. It was tasked with collecting data to monitor the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Ukraine under a degree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine issued on 21 August 2019 (No. 686-p).

Media inquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Communications Specialist, yuliia.samus@undp.org, +38 097 139 14 75