There are a range of indicators that have been used to measure progress in these themes, and increasing recognition of the merits of measuring achievements and progress toward goals. Global targets and indicators can play an important role in fostering collaboration, aiding prioritisation, and informing and directing flows of resources to particular contexts or problems.
The quality of evidence available on indicators is highly variable. While some organisations have produced comprehensive guidance on the methodological strategies behind their indicators, others fail to identify the data used to inform their systems, or how achievements are assessed. Similarly, the status of indicators (whether they are currently being used or not) is often unclear, and there are a limited number of evaluations.
Examples of indicators that have been identified in this report include:
- Conflict and violence indicators: Measuring Progress in Conflict Environments (MPICE); Minorities at risk project (MAR); Uppsala Data Conflict Program (UDCP); Heidelberg Conflict Barometer; and Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED).
- Peacebuilding indicators: Everyday Peace Indicator Project; ‘New Deal’ technical working group common indicators; Globally-Accepted Indicators for Peacebuilding (GAIN); Global Peace Index.
- Stability indicators: Fragile States Index; Political Stability Index; Index of State Weakness in Developing World.
- Justice: Rule of Law Index; UN Rule of Law Indicators; Harvard Kennedy School – Indicators in Development: Safety and Justice.