SDMX Metadata Concepts

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0.a. Goal

Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

0.b. Target

Target 10.6: Ensure enhanced representation and voice for developing countries in decision-making in global international economic and financial institutions in order to deliver more effective, credible, accountable and legitimate institutions

0.c. Indicator

Indicator 10.6.1: Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations

0.e. Metadata update

2022-07-07

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

Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA)

1.a. Organisation

Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA)

2.a. Definition and concepts

Definition:

The indicator Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations has two separate components: the developing country proportion of voting rights and the developing country proportion of membership in international organisations. In some institutions, these two components are identical.

The indicator is calculated independently for eleven different international institutions: The United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation, the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Trade Organisation, and the Financial Stability Board.

Concepts:

There is no established convention for the designation of "developed" and "developing" countries or areas in the United Nations system. The aggregation across all institutions is currently done according to the “historical” classification of “Developed regions” and “Developing regions” as of December 2021 in the United Nations M49 statistical standard. The removal of this classification from the M49 standard at the end of 2021 makes it more urgent to reach agreement on how to define these terms for the purposes of SDG monitoring. The designations "developed" and developing" are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgement about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process.

2.b. Unit of measure

Percentage

2.c. Classifications

Classification of countries as least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing States (SIDS) according to the United Nations M49 standard. The classification of developing countries and developed countries is based on the “historical” classification of “Developed regions” and “Developing regions” as of December 2021 in the United Nations M49 statistical standard).

3.a. Data sources

Description:

Annual reports, as presented on the website of the institution in question, are used as sources of data. Sources of information by institution:

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA): website of the General Assembly (http://www.un.org/en/member-states/index.html)

United Nations Security Council (UNSC): Report of the Security Council for the respective year (https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/sc_annual_reports)

United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Report of the Economic and Social Council for the respective year (https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/documents/reports-general-assembly)

International Monetary Fund (IMF): Annual Report for the respective year (https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/AREB)

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD): 2000: The World Bank Annual Report 2000: Financial Statement and Appendixes to the Annual Report; from 2005: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Management’s Discussion & Analysis and Financial Statements for the respective year (https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/annual-report/world-bank-group-downloads)

International Finance Corporation (IFC): IFC Annual Report (volume 2) for the respective year (https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/2128)

African Development Bank (AFDB): African Development Bank Group Annual Report for the respective year (https://www.afdb.org/en/documents-publications/annual-report)

Asian Development Bank (ADB): 2000-2017: Annual Report for the respective year; from 2018: Financial Report for the respective year (https://www.adb.org/documents/series/adb-annual-reports)

Inter-American Development Bank (IADB): Inter-American Development Bank Annual Report for the respective year (https://www.iadb.org/en/about-us/annual-reports)

World Trade Organisation (WTO): WTO Annual Report for the respective year (https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/reser_e/annual_report_e.htm)

Financial Stability Board (FSB): 2010, 2015: charter of the Financial Stability Board; 2016-2018: Financial Stability Board Financial Report for the respective year; from 2019: Financial Stability Board Financial Statements for the respective year (https://www.fsb.org/publications/)

List:

Website of the General Assembly; Report of the Security Council for the respective year; Report of the Economic and Social Council for the respective year; IMF Annual Report for the respective year; IBRD Management’s Discussion & Analysis and Financial Statements for the respective year; IFC Annual Report (volume 2) for the respective year; AFDB Annual Report for the respective year; AFDB Group Annual Report for the respective year; ADB Financial Report for the respective year; IADB Annual Report for the respective year; WTO Annual Report for the respective year; FSB Financial Statements for the respective year

3.b. Data collection method

Desk review, annually, pulling data from the above-mentioned sources.

3.c. Data collection calendar

Annually in March

3.d. Data release calendar

United Nations General Assembly: continuous

United Nations Security Council: annually in September

United Nations Economic and Social Council: annually in August

International Monetary Fund: annually in October

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development: annually in September

International Finance Corporation: annually in September

African Development Bank: annually in June

Asian Development Bank: annually in April

Inter-American Development Bank: annually in March

World Trade Organisation: annually in May

Financial Stability Board: annually in August

Next release: UNGA continuous; UNSC September 2022; ECOSOC August 2022; IMF October 2022; IBRD September 2022; IFC September 2022; AFDB June 2022; ADB April 2022; IADB March 2022; WTO May 2022; FSB August 2022.

3.e. Data providers

Name:

UNGA, UNSC, ECOSOC, IMF, IBRD, IFC, AfDB, ADB, IADB, WTO, FSB

Description:

The United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation, the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Trade Organisation, and the Financial Stability Board

3.f. Data compilers

Name:

FSDO/UN-DESA

Description:

The data is compiled and the proportions calculated by the Financing for Sustainable Development Office, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

3.g. Institutional mandate

At its second meeting in October 2015, the Inter-agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDG) agreed to a draft indicator and to UN-DESA being designated as the compiling entity. The Statistical Commission, at its 47th session in March 2016, approved the report of the IAEG-SDG containing the proposed set of indicators.

4.a. Rationale

The UN is based on a principle of sovereign equality of all its Member States (Article 2, UN Charter). This indicator aims to measure the degree to which States enjoy equal representation in international organizations.

4.b. Comment and limitations

Cross institutional comparisons need to pay attention to the different membership of the institutions. Voting rights and membership in their institutions are agreed by the Member States themselves. As a structural indicator, there will be only small changes over time to reflect agreement on new States joining as Members, suspension of voting rights, membership withdrawal and negotiated voting rights changes. The indicator is not intended for use at country-level or for cross-country comparisons.

4.c. Method of computation

The computation uses each institutions’ own published membership and voting rights data from their respective annual reports. The ratio of voting rights is computed as the number of voting rights allocated to developing countries (as classified by the “historical” classification of “Developed regions” and “Developing regions” as of December 2021 in the United Nations M49 statistical standard), divided by the total number of voting rights. The ratio of membership is calculated by taking the number of developing country members (using the same classification), divided by the total number of members. Both ratios are expressed as percentages.

4.d. Validation

Not applicable

4.e. Adjustments

Not applicable

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

• At country level

Countries which are not a member of the specific international organisation/body will not have a figure for the related sub-indicator. These are intentionally left blank.

• At regional and global levels

4.g. Regional aggregations

Aggregations are additive, with no weighting.

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

Not applicable

4.i. Quality management

Internal review undertaken by data compiler, FSDO/UN-DESA

5. Data availability and disaggregation

Data availability:

Available for all countries.

Time series:

2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and annually thereafter

Disaggregation:

Data is calculated and presented separately for each international organization.

6. Comparability/deviation from international standards

Not applicable

7. References and Documentation

URL:

https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/

Data Sources:

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA): http://www.un.org/en/member-states/index.html

United Nations Security Council (UNSC): https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/sc_annual_reports

United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/documents/reports-general-assembly

International Monetary Fund (IMF): https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/AREB

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD): https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/annual-report/world-bank-group-downloads

International Finance Corporation (IFC): https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/2128

African Development Bank (AFDB): https://www.afdb.org/en/documents-publications/annual-report

Asian Development Bank (ADB): https://www.adb.org/documents/series/adb-annual-reports

Inter-American Development Bank (IADB): https://www.iadb.org/en/about-us/annual-reports

World Trade Organisation (WTO): https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/reser_e/annual_report_e.htm

Financial Stability Board (FSB): https://www.fsb.org/publications/