SDMX Metadata Concepts

Indicator: 1.4.1

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0.a. Goal

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere

0.b. Target

Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance

0.c. Indicator

Indicator 1.4.1: Proportion of population living in households with access to basic services

0.e. Metadata update

2023-07-18

0.g. International organisations(s) responsible for global monitoring

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (1.4.1a, b and c)

1.a. Organisation

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

2.a. Definition and concepts

Definition:

The proportion of population living in households with access to basic services is defined as the proportion of population using public service provision systems that meet basic human needs including drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, energy, mobility, waste collection, health care, education and information technologies. The basic services indicator is therefore based on 9 components. These components are captured in various standalone indicators of the SDGs, which means that the concepts and definitions of SDG indicator 1.4.1 will be derived from or are the same as those of these specific SDG indicators.

Concepts:

The term ‘access to basic services’ implies that sufficient and affordable service is reliably available with adequate quality.

  1. Access to Basic Drinking Water Services refers to the use of drinking water from an improved source with a collection time of not more than 30 minutes for a round trip, including queuing. ‘Improved’ drinking water sources include the following:: piped water, boreholes or tube wells, protected dug wells, protected springs, rainwater, water kiosks, and packaged or delivered water. This definition is based on the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) drinking water ladder and is the foundation for SDG indicator 6.1.1 - Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services[1].
  2. Access to Basic Sanitation Services refers to the use of improved facilities that are not shared with other households. An ‘improved sanitation facility’ is defined as one designed to hygienically separate human excreta from human contact. Improved sanitation facilities include wet sanitation technologies such as flush or pour flush toilets connected to sewer systems, septic tanks or pit latrines; and dry sanitation technologies such as dry pit latrines with slabs (constructed from materials that are durable and easy to clean), ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines, pit latrines with a slab, composting toilets and container-based sanitation. If a household uses a flush or pour flush toilet but does not know where it is flushed to, the sanitation facility is considered to be improved since the household may not be aware about whether it flushes to a sewer, septic tank or pit latrine. This definition is based on the JMP sanitation ladder and is the foundation for SDG indicator 6.2.1a - Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services [2].
  3. Access to Basic Hygiene Facilities refers to availability of a handwashing facility with soap and water at home. Handwashing facilities may be located within the dwelling, yard or plot. Handwashing facilities may be fixed or mobile and include a sink with tap water, buckets with taps, tippy-taps, and jugs or basins designated for handwashing. Soap includes bar soap, liquid soap, powder detergent, and soapy water but does not include ash, soil, sand or other handwashing agents. This definition is based on the JMP hygiene ladder and is the foundation for SDG indicator 6.2.1b - Proportion of population with handwashing facilities with soap and water available at home[3].

For many low and middle-income countries, achieving universal access to basic drinking water, sanitation and hygiene remains a high priority, which will help them achieve access to ‘safely managed services’, the target for SDG targets 6.1 and 6.2.

  1. Access to clean fuels and technology refers to use of fuels and technology that are defined by the emission rate targets and specific fuel recommendations (i.e., against unprocessed coal and kerosene) included in the normative guidance WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion. This component will be captured through SDG 7.1.2 - Percentage of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology.
  2. Access to Basic Mobility refers to having convenient access to transport in a rural context (SDG 9.1.1) or having convenient access to public transport in an urban context (SDG 11.2.1).
  • Access to mobility rural context

To eradicate poverty, communities need to be connected to socio-economic opportunities by roads that are passable all season and attract reliable and affordable public transport services. In many areas, safe footpaths, footbridges and waterways may be required in conjunction with, or as an alternative, to roads. For reasons of simplification, specific emphasis was given to roads in this definition (based on the Rural Access Index - RAI - percentage of the population <2km from an all-season road (equivalent to a walk of 20-25 mins)[4])[5] since road transport reflects accessibility for the great majority of people in rural contexts. In those situations where another mode, such as water transport is dominant the definition will be modified and contextualized to reflect and capture those aspects.

Access to mobility has shown some of the largest impacts on poverty reduction and has a strong correlation to educational, economic and health outcomes (“transport as an enabler”).

RAI is the most widely accepted metric for tracking access to transport in rural areas and has been included in the SDGs as SDG indicator 9.1.1 - Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road. This component will be therefore captured through SDG 9.1.1.

The existing RAI methodology relies on household level survey data – however, is currently being revised into a GIS-based index that exploits advances in digital technology with the aim to create a more accurate and cost-effective tool.

  • Access to mobility urban context

The urban context of access to transport is measured utilizing the methodology of SDG 11.2.1 –Proportion of the population that has convenient access to public transport by sex, age and persons with disabilities.

The metadata methodology[6] is available (UN-Habitat being the custodian agency). City delimitation is conducted to identify the urban area which will act as the spatial analysis scope as inventory of available public stops in the service areas is collected. Identification of population served by available street network allows for measurement 500m and/or 1km walkable distance to nearest stop (“service area”). We know that measuring spatial access is not sufficient and does not address the temporal dimension associated with the availability of public transport. Complementary to the above, other parameters of tracking the transport target related to street density/no. of intersections, affordability, or quality in terms of safety, travel time, universal access, are all tracked.

  1. Access to Basic Waste Collection Services refers to the access that the population have to a reliable waste collection service, including both formal municipal and informal sector services. This is connected to and will be captured through SDG Indicator 11.6.1 - Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities. A ‘collection service’ may be ‘door to door’ or by deposit into a community container. ‘Collection’ includes collection for recycling as well as for treatment and disposal (includes e.g., collection of recyclables by itinerant waste buyers). ‘Reliable’ means regular - frequency will depend on local conditions and on any pre-separation of the waste. For example, both mixed waste and organic waste are often collected daily in tropical climates for public health reasons, and generally at least weekly; source-separated dry recyclables may be collected less frequently.
  2. Access to Basic Health Care Services refers to access to services that cover in and out-of-area emergency services, in-patient hospital and physician care, outpatient medical services, laboratory and radiology services, and preventive health services. Basic health care services also extend to access to limited treatment of mental illness and substance abuse in accordance with minimum standards prescribed by local and national ministries of health. This is connected to and will be measured through SDG indicator 3.8.1 – Coverage of essential health services.
  3. Access to Basic Education refers to access to education services that provides all learners with capabilities they require to become economically productive, develop sustainable livelihoods, contribute to peaceful and democratic societies and enhance individual well-being. This is connected to and will be captured through SDG 4.1.1 - Proportion of children and young people (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex.
  4. Access to Basic Information Services refers to having a broadband internet access. Broadband is defined as technologies that deliver advertised download speeds of at least 256 kbit/s. Connecting the 50% of the world that is still offline means, in large part, ensuring that everyone, everywhere is able to access an internet that is affordable. The main types of broadband services are: 1) Fixed (wired) broadband network, such as DSL, cable modem, high speed leased lines, fibre to-the-home/building, powerline and other fixed (wired) broadband; 2) Terrestrial fixed (wireless) broadband network, such as WiMAX, fixed CDMA; 3) Satellite broadband network (via a satellite connection); 4) Mobile broadband network (at least 3G, e.g. UMTS) via a handset and 5) Mobile broadband network (at least 3G, e.g. UMTS) via a card (e.g. integrated SIM card in a computer) or USB modem. This is connected to and will be captured through SDG 9.c.1 - Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology.
1

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-06-01-01.docx ↑

2

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-06-02-01a.docx ↑

3

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-06-02-01b.docx ↑

4

https://www.ssatp.org/sites/ssatp/files/publications/HTML/Gender-RG/index.html ↑

6

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-11-02-01.pdf ↑

2.b. Unit of measure

Proportion of population

3.a. Data sources

The main sources of data for this indicator remain censuses and household surveys (including DHS, MICS, LSMS)and administrative data. Other datasets could also be used, such as compilations by international or regional initiatives (e.g., Eurostat), studies conducted by research institutes, or technical advice received during country consultations.

The data sources used for each of the constituent measures are described in more detail in the reference metadata.

3.b. Data collection method

National data for each of the constituent measures are compiled by the relevant custodian agencies. See reference metadata for information on data collection methods for each of the constituent measures.

3.c. Data collection calendar

Data for constituent measures are collected at intervals of between 2 and 5 years. See reference metadata for information on the data collection calendar for each constituent measure.

3.d. Data release calendar

Every 2-5 years.

3.e. Data providers

The main data source for the generation of indicators are national statistics offices; ministries of water, health, education, and environment; regulators of drinking water service providers.

UN-Habitat and various supporting agencies such as WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP), UNEP, World Bank, AfDB, IDB, EBRD and ADB and bilateral donors (JICA, GIZ, etc.) provide the estimates for the indicators.

3.f. Data compilers

National statistical offices and relevant ministries lead the compilation and reporting at a national level with support from custodian agencies. Global and regional reporting is led by UN-Habitat. The collection of the data is supported by collaborative efforts of several international institutions (UN-Habitat, WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP),UNEP, World Bank, AfDB, IDB, EBRD and ADB) and bilateral donors (JICA, GIZ, etc.).

3.g. Institutional mandate

This is described in the reference metadata for each of the constituent measures used to report on this indicator

4.a. Rationale

Poverty has many dimensions. It is not only a lack of material well-being but also a lack of opportunities to live a tolerable life. The international extreme poverty line was updated in 2015 to 1.90 USD per day using 2011 purchasing power parity (World Bank, 2015). Living under the extreme poverty line often encompasses deprivations of safe drinking water, proper sanitation, access to modern energy, sustainable mobility to economic resources, information technology, healthcare, education, etc. Poverty is also a manifestation of hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making. In other words, poverty is multidimensional and covers many aspects of life ranging from access to opportunities, livelihoods and means of survival.

Among the different aspects of poverty, this indicator focuses on ‘access to basic services. Providing access to basic services such as safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services, sustainable energy and mobility, housing, education, healthcare etc, helps to improve the quality of life of the poor. The lack of basic services provision and the lack of empowerment and involvement of local governments in basic service delivery undermine the economic growth and quality of life in any community. Adequate basic service delivery systems promote socio-economic improvements and help to achieve economic growth, social inclusion, poverty reduction and equality. More specifically, improved basic services can help to raise well-being and productivity of communities, create jobs, save time and human effort in transporting water, support food security, better use of energy, production of essential commodities, improve health (by making medical care, clean water or solid waste collection available) or enhance the level of education.

In the Quito implementation plan for the New Urban Agenda (NUA) adopted in the Habitat III conference, Member States commit to “promoting equitable and affordable access to sustainable basic physical and social infrastructure for all, without discrimination, including affordable serviced land, housing, modern and renewable energy, safe drinking water and sanitation, safe, nutritious and adequate food, waste disposal, sustainable mobility, health care and family planning, education, culture, and information and communications technologies”. They further commit to “ensuring that these services are responsive to the rights and needs of women, children and youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, migrants, indigenous peoples and local communities, as appropriate, and to those of others in vulnerable situations”.

Basic service delivery must move towards a demand-driven approach, which is appropriate for the local needs – and hence able to respond to the concept of “Access for all” – as stated in the NUA. Basic services are fundamental to improving living standards. Governments have the responsibility for their provision. This indicator will measure levels of accessibility to basic services and guide the efforts of governments for provision of equitable basic services for all to eradicate poverty.

4.b. Comment and limitations

Different local characteristics of what constitutes “basic services” around the world by some concerned authorities and stakeholders compelled the team to work on modules and global guides for this indicator. This draws on definitions available for many other SDG indicators. For example, elements of basic services are measured under indicators 3.8.1 (health), 4.1.1 (education), 6.1.1 (drinking water), 6.2.1 (sanitation and hygiene), 7.1.1 (energy), 11.2.1 (public transport), etc.

Finally, many countries still have limited capacities for data management, data collection and monitoring, and continue to struggle with limited data. This means that complementarity in data reporting in a few exceptions is needed to ensure that both national and global figures achieve consistencies in the final reported data for access to basic services.

See the original reference metadata for each of the measures for more details.

4.c. Method of computation

This indicator is a combination of various components of basic services which on their own are mostly existing as standalone indicators of the SDGs. As a result, the team of experts advised and agreed that these should be presented as a dashboard. Their metadata provide the specific methodologies for computing each of the constituent measures used to report on this indicator.

Data presentation

Individual components of access to basic services will be computed separately from various data sources over the years. However, the dashboard is configured to display the most recent data points, but with the possibility to visualize data for earlier years through a drilled down access.

Data will be presented or visualized as a dashboard but with the possibility to map it out through various visualization tools such as spider web and stellar charts of the achievement of access to different basic services in a country through plotting the various components of the indicators. In this way, policy makers can be informed of most needed intervention areas for any region and country.

4.d. Validation

For different measures, national authorities are consulted on the estimates generated from national data sources through country consultation process facilitated by the custodian agencies. See the original reference metadata for each of the measures for more details.

4.e. Adjustments

Not applicable

4.f. Treatment of missing values (i) at country level and (ii) at regional level

• At country level

Treatment of missing values varies among different measures and is provided in relevant metadata for each individual indicator.

• At regional and global levels

Treatment of missing values varies among different measures and is provided in relevant metadata for each individual indicator.

4.g. Regional aggregations

Aggregation methods for each measure are presented in relevant metadata for each individual indicator.

4.h. Methods and guidance available to countries for the compilation of the data at the national level

Custodian agencies have provided technical guidance for national authorities on the collection and analysis of data required to report on each indicator. Countries are expected to present this data in dashboards they developed. Examples of easy-to-use tools for presenting the data as a dashboard will be provided to countries via the national statistical systems/offices.

4.i. Quality management

Original data quality management is managed by the custodian agencies for each indicator that is presented under the 1.4.1 dashboard.

4.j. Quality assurance

Original data quality assurance is managed by the custodian agencies for each indicator that is presented under the 1.4.1 dashboard.

4.k. Quality assessment

See quality assurance.

5. Data availability and disaggregation

Data availability:

Data for a large set of indicators such as drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, energy and information are readily available and already included in different international household survey frameworks. Refinement of definitions of different types of basic services and inclusion of the newly developed survey items in the existing household surveys was completed. Data compilation has shown that more than 143 countries have data at the national level.

Time series:

Time series data are produced for the periods running from 1990 to present. This is available based on the richness of the data sources for each indicator.

Disaggregation:

Disaggregation by geographic location (urban/rural, sub-national regions, etc.) and by socioeconomic characteristics (wealth, education, ethnicity, etc.) is possible in a growing number of indicators and countries (see further details in metadata for each indicator). However, the dashboard does not provide disaggregated data for each individual indicator.

6. Comparability/deviation from international standards

See further details in metadata for each indicator.

7. References and Documentation

  1. World Bank, 2015 The International Poverty Line, http://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/brief/poverty-line
  2. WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP)

JMP Website: https://www.washdata.org/

JMP Data: https://washdata.org/data

JMP Reports: https://washdata.org/reports

JMP Methods: https://washdata.org/monitoring/methods

JMP Methodology: 2017 update and SDG baselines

https://washdata.org/report/jmp-methodology-2017-update

JMP Core questions on water, sanitation and hygiene for household surveys: https://washdata.org/report/jmp-2018-core-questions-household-surveys

  1. UNDP 2016 Technical Notes Calculating the Human Development Indices, https://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2021-22_HDR/hdr2021-22_technical_notes.pdf
  2. The World Bank Group, ESMAP, 2015 Beyond Connections Energy Access Redefined http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy/publication/energy-access-redefined
  3. ITU, 2015 ICT Indicators for the SDG Monitoring Framework , http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/intlcoop/sdgs/ITU-ICT-technical-information-sheets-for-the-SDG-indicators.pdf
  4. Wilson et al - Wasteaware ISWM indicators - doi10.1016j.wasman.2014.10.006 - January 2015, https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/85319/9/Wilson_et_al_Supplementary_information_Wasteaware_ISWM_Benchmark_Indicators_User_Manual_FINAL.pdf

Gender and Transport Resource Guide. https://www.ssatp.org/sites/ssatp/files/publications/HTML/Gender-RG/index.html

Transport brief: World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/transport

Table 1. Links to methodologies for Indicator 1.4.1 components.

Component

Measured by:

Link to methodology

Basic drinking water services

Proportion of population with access to an improved source with collection time of not more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip including queuing (Part of SDG 6.1.1)

https://washdata.org/monitoring/drinking-water

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-06-01-01.pdf

Basic sanitation services

Proportion of population using improved facilities which are not shared with other households (Part of SDG 6.2.1a)

https://washdata.org/monitoring/sanitation

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-06-02-01a.docx

Basic hygiene services

Proportion of population with a handwashing facility with soap and water available at home (SDG 6.2.1b)

https://washdata.org/monitoring/hygiene

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-06-02-01b.docx

Waste collection

11.6.1 Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-11-06-01.pdf

Mobility and transport

9.1.1 Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road

11.2.1 Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-09-01-01.pdf

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-11-02-01.pdf

Modern energy

7.1.2 Percentage of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-07-01-02.pdf

ICT

9.c.1 Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-09-0C-01.pdf

Education

4.1.1 Proportion of children and young people (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-04-01-01A.pdf

Health

3.8.1 Coverage of essential health services

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-03-08-01.pdf