Governance
Indicator 24 : Number of NSSD adopted or updated
Source: The proposed indicator is “Number of National Strategies for Sustainable Development (NSSD) adopted or updated [and number of updates since first edition]” Waiting for updated data directly provided by the national institutions, this factsheet shows an Assessment of National Green Economy (GE) and Sustainable Development (SD) Strategies published in Mediterranean Countries issued from the report referenced hereafter. The Simplified Peer Review Mechanism (SIMPEER) is a framework promoting dialogue and experience sharing on NSSD. It supports the preparation and follow-up of the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) presented to the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF). The SIMPEER pilot edition was carried out by Plan Bleu in 2016-2017 with the voluntary participation of France, Montenegro and Morocco. Albania, Egypt and Tunisia joined the second edition in 2018-2019.
Analytical part : An assessment has been made according to the quality and consistency of the national strategies reviewed. Countries’ strategies have been labeled as “Good”, “Moderate” or “Weak”, and there is one “No Data” for the case of Libya, given that the country doesn’t have a NSSD nor any sectoral plans that integrate the principles of sustainable development.
10 countries perform as “Good” in 2023 (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia and Spain) have NSSD that are complete and relevant documents, with clear goals and monitoring indicators. In 2016, 4 countries performed as “Good” (France, Italy, Morocco and Tunisia). From 2016 to 2023, 7 additional countries have adopted or updated a comprehensive NSSD.
7 countries perform as “Moderate” in 2023 (Albania, Algeria, Cyprus, Israel, Monaco, Tunisia and Türkiye) don’t have a formal NSSD as such, or the document is outdated as of 2023. However, these countries incorporate SDGs in several strategic plans and undertake monitoring of national indicators. In 2016, 9 countries performed as “Moderate” (Algeria, Croatia, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Malta, Montenegro, Spain and Türkiye).
Finally, there are 4 countries whose national strategies have been considered “Weak” in 2023 (Egypt, Lebanon, the State of Palestine and Syria), either because the country lacks a comprehensive and unified planning and progress monitoring framework (and therefore is considered weak), or because there is a legitimate assumption that the country lacks capacity to implement its strategy effectively. In 2016, 6 countries performed as “Weak” (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Egypt, Slovenia and the State of Palestine).
Also, as of 2023, all countries of the Barcelona Convention have presented Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) of the 2030 Agenda. The State of Palestine submitted its first VNR in 2018.
In 2023, 3 countries presented a new VNR (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and France).
The indicator hasn’t been updated since 2016.
Source: Eco-union, MIO-ESCDE & GEC, Towards a Green Economy in the Mediterranean, 2016.
Governance
Indicator 25 : Proportion of bank credit allocated to the private sector
Definition: Multiple indicator:
• Share of bank credit allocated to the private sector
• Existence of alternative credit systems other than bank credit Domestic credit for the private sector refers to the financial resources provided for the private sector, such as credits, purchase of non-participating securities, trade credits and other accounts that establish a repayment obligation. Public credit is included in some countries.
The alternative finance systems of bank credit may concern investments in venture capital and micro-credit allocated to those that are excluded from the conventional banking system.
Analytical part :
The development of Small and Medium Enterprise finance systems for productive and innovative activities (micro-credit, venture capital, incentives, etc.) is one of the objectives for setting up efficient banking services.
In the Mediterranean region, the share of domestic credit allocated to the private sector in 2020 and trends over time varied across countries, from 16,5 % in Libya to 108% in Cyprus and reached about 119,5% in France.
Cyprus increased by 1 percentage point while France and Spain (93% to 107%) increased by 14 percentage points.
Precautions / Notes: Alternative finance is not well defined and it could be financing from external sources other than banks or stock and bond markets. It can include fundraising via online platforms.
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Bank Database and OECD, 2022. International Finance Statistics, Global Findex database, 2021.
Governance
Indicator 26 : R&D expenditure as a proportion of GDP
Definition: SDG Indicator 9.5.1: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP.
Research and development expenditures include the operating expenditures and investments (including overheads) for creative and system-based activities dedicated to increase knowledge. This amount includes both fundamental and applied research as well as experimental development work leading to new devices, products or processes
Analytical part :
SDG Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
The Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development 2016-2025 promotes education and research for sustainable development (strategic direction 6.4) and in particular to strengthen research capabilities in the area of sustainable development, as well as the science - policy interface.
But data of 2 countries with low rates is not considered.
In Israel, where Research and Development expenditure was 5.4% of GDP in 2020 (4.79% in 2018), this percentage is between 1% and 2.5% in Croatia, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Turkiye. In the other Mediterranean countries it is less than 1%.
Precautions / Notes: Research and development expenditures are not necessarily oriented to the sectors supporting sustainable development or contributing to SDGs and MSSD goals.
This indicator could be refined to focus on sustainable development aspects and include resource mobilization by the private sector for Research and development as well as innovation.
Data is missing for 13 countries (2 more than in 2019).
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2022.
World Bank national accounts data. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.
Governance
Indicator 27 : Public participation & public access to environmental information
Definition: SDG Indicator 16.10.2. Number of countries that adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information. The focus of this indicator is thus on the status of adoption and implementation of constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information. The definition relates directly to “public access to information”, which is wider than, but is also very much based upon, the established fundamental freedoms of expression and association. Conversely, these freedoms also both impact the environment for public access to information.
Analytical part :
SDG Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
UNESCO’s reports to the UN on global monitoring of 16.10.2 have accordingly been compiled and submitted by the International Programme for the Development of Communication secretariat.
According to UNESCO’s preliminary assessment, Indicator 16.10.2 seeks to establish the state of public access to information in terms of three key variables:
1. Whether a country (or at the global level, the number of countries) has constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
2. The extent to which such national guarantees reflect ‘international agreements’ (such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
3. The implementation mechanisms in place for such guarantees, including the following variables:
- Government efforts to publicly promote the right to information.
- The capacity of public bodies to provide information upon request by the public
Precautions / Notes: This indicator does not assess the totality of the “public access to information” component of the SDG Target 16.10. Nevertheless, it focusses on a key determinant of the wider information environment.
This indicator is still classified as Tier II Indicator: conceptually clear, has an internationally established methodology and standards are available, but data are not regularly produced by countries
Source: UNESCO World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development (raw research records); Global Right to Information Rating (Access Info & Center for Law and Democracy) http://www.rti-rating.org/by-section/; Freedominfo; Article24. UN SDG website
Governance
Indicator 28 : Education for Sustainable Development
Definition: Number of countries that have National Strategies/Action Plans on Education for Sustainable Development in place. The Mediterranean Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (MSESD) was unanimously endorsed on 13 May 2014 by the UfM Ministers of Environment & Climate Change and accepted as an integral part of the “Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development” (2016-2025) in the Barcelona Convention’s COP19 (Athens, February 2016). Then, the Action Plan of the MSESD was developed, and endorsed in December by Mediterranean Ministers of Education, in Cyprus. The overall aim is to encourage the countries to develop and incorporate ESD into formal, non-formal and informal education.
The Mediterranean Education and Environment Ministers met on the 6 th of October 2022 in a High-Level Meeting within the EfE9 Conference in Nicosia (Cyprus) and adopted the “Action Plan towards 2030 of the MSESD”. The revised Action Plan took into consideration the key provisions and updates of the international and regional frameworks that the MSESD is closely linked to, such as the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (2016-2025) of the Barcelona Convention, UfM GreenerMedAgenda, the UNESCO ESDfor2030, the Recommendation on learning for environmental sustainability of the Council of the EU and the UNECE Framework for the implementation of the Strategy for ESD (2021-2030).
Analytical part : In October 2022, 16 (73%) Mediterranean countries had a legal framework for ESD. 1 more country since June 2019. UNESCO’s reports to the UN on global monitoring of SDG 4 indicators. SDG Target 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and nonviolence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.”
The global indicator used for monitoring this Target: Indicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development, including gender equality and human rights, are mainstreamed at all levels in: (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment.
Latest UNESCO Report with recent data for this indicator is available. Most countries have already or are in the process of elaborating National Strategies or Plans on ESD in accordance with the provisions of the Action Plan of the MSESD.
Precautions / Notes: The existence of a strategy or a plan does not automatically imply efficient Education for Sustainable Development in the country. Other indicators are necessary to monitor Education for Sustainable Development.
Source: High-Level Event of Education and Environment Ministers on the Mediterranean Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development and its Action Plan towards 2030, 6 October 2022 Mediterranean Preparatory Webinar for #ESDfor2030, 20 April 2021, by the Mediterranean Committee on ESD Learn for our planet- A global review of how environmental issues are integrated in education, UNESCO 2021
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