In September 2015, the UN Sustainable Development Summit adopted a new framework to guide development efforts between 2016 and 2030, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. Building on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the 2030 Agenda seeks to guide Member States to transform their approach to achieve inclusive, people-centred and sustainable development with no one left behind. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 Goals with 169 targets that all 193 UN Member States have agreed to strive to achieve by the year 2030.

Indicators are realistic, well-defined and measurable criteria of progress. SDG indicators are the backbone of monitoring of action and progress on SDGs at State, district & sub-district levels. They act as precise report card of progress to calibrate achievement of SDGs and help ensure accountability of all stakeholders.

Indicators can be of multiple types, such as:

• Input Indicator
• Process Indicator
• Output Indicator
• Outcome Indicator

While the SDGs are global, their achievement will depend on the ability to make them a reality in constituent States, cities, districts and villages. Localization is described as "the process of defining, implementing and monitoring strategies at the local level for achieving subnational sustainable development goals and targets".

Localization takes into account sub-national contexts for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, from the setting of goals and targets to determining the means of implementation and using indicators to measure and monitor progress.

While the 17 goals and 169 associated targets are fixed globally and are non-negotiable, the indicators to measure and monitor the progress can be developed taking into account the local conditions. The iterative process linking the global indicators and national indicators till the grassroots level until Gram Panchayats is ensured in the localization of SDGs. Localization relates both to how local and sub-national governments can support the achievement of the SDGs through bottom-up action as well as how the SDGs can provide a framework for local development policy. These entail participatory planning, means of implementation, and evaluation.

In the light of the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and National Indicator Framework (NIF), the Planning & Convergence Department, in consultation with all Departments of Government of Odisha, has developed the Odisha SDG Indicator Framework. It is a monitoring framework, incorporating indicators from NIF as well as adding the state’s own localized, specific indicators, along with identified data sources and periodicity, for facilitating the monitoring of 17 SDGs at the state level.

It is imperative to do follow-up and review, with regard to the progress made in implementing the SDG goals and targets and their achievements. It is thus important for States to develop its own State Indicator Framework (SIF) based on critical development priorities, data requirements, available infrastructure, and resources.

The State Government has adopted a three-pronged strategy of Monitoring, Convergence and Localisation of SDGs to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

• Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of performance in all sectors with respect to SDG targets and identifying/addressing remedial measures.
• Convergence: Convergence of efforts across Departments at the State and sub-state level.
• Localisation: Strengthening initiatives and efforts at grass root level.

While the targets are broadly distributed across 17 Goals, they are inherently interlinked, and the nature of interaction is also dynamic in nature. There are targets which complement each other and further pursuit of one goal or target enables the achievement of others. However, at the same time there are goals/targets which restrict or act as an impediment to the progress of other goals or targets. Therefore, it is imperative to carefully understand the nature of a target, its implication (positive or negative) on the pursuit of other targets.

There is no provision of separate funds at the National/ State level for achieving the SDGs. The idea is to map the existing schemes, innovations and programs of the Central/State Government to the SDG framework and link the intended outcomes of such schemes/programs to the SDG targets and goals.

This idea is being brought to fruition through the SDG Budget Document published by the Finance Department. This exercise is being undertaken annually by the Finance Department and supported by the Planning & Convergence Department wherein the SDGs are being integrated effectively into the State’s budgetary and planning process for the achievement of 2030 Agenda.

Focusing on income alone is not enough to capture the true reality of poverty. Poverty involves multiple disadvantages at the same time which restrict the functioning and capabilities of a human being.

Multidimensional poverty measures complement monetary measures by capturing information they lack –such as broader qualitative aspects of life such as child mortality, housing conditions, and other basic services such as water and sanitation.

The multidimensionality of poverty is an integral part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Target 1.2. refers to reducing “at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions”. Without addressing the multidimensionality of poverty, it can not be truly eliminated.