{"id":3136,"date":"2025-11-05T00:28:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T00:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/?page_id=3136"},"modified":"2026-10-28T09:30:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T09:30:48","slug":"international-sdg-data-collaboration-17-2-3","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/international-sdg-data-collaboration-17-2-3\/","title":{"rendered":"International SDG Data Collaboration (17.2.3)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"ds-page ds-ind-page\"><header class=\"ds-hero\" style=\"--sdg:#19486A\"><nav class=\"ds-crumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/\">Home<\/a><span class=\"sep\">\/<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/sdg-17-partnerships-for-the-goals\/\">SDG 17<\/a><span class=\"sep\">\/<\/span><span>17.2.3<\/span><\/nav><div class=\"ds-badge\"><b>17<\/b>Partnerships for the Goals<\/div><h1>International SDG Data Collaboration<\/h1><div class=\"ds-meta\"><span><i class=\"ds-ic\" style=\"--i:url(https:\/\/api.iconify.design\/lucide\/hash.svg)\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i> Indicator 17.2.3<\/span><span><i class=\"ds-ic\" style=\"--i:url(https:\/\/api.iconify.design\/lucide\/file-check-2.svg)\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i> 1 evidence items<\/span><span><i class=\"ds-ic\" style=\"--i:url(https:\/\/api.iconify.design\/lucide\/book-open.svg)\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i> 11 sections<\/span><\/div><\/header><div class=\"ds-layout\"><aside class=\"ds-aside\"><details class=\"ds-nav\" open><summary><i class=\"ds-ic\" style=\"--i:url(https:\/\/api.iconify.design\/lucide\/list-tree.svg)\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i> SDG 17 Indicators <span class=\"n\">28<\/span><\/summary><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/sustainability-report-sdg-17\/\"><code>17.0<\/code>Sustainability Report \u2013 SDG 17<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/research-on-partnerships-17-1\/\"><code>17.1<\/code>Research on Partnerships<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/government-ngo-sdg-policy-input-17-2-1\/\"><code>17.2.1<\/code>Government &amp; NGO SDG Policy Input<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/cross-sector-sdg-dialogue-17-2-2\/\"><code>17.2.2<\/code>Cross-Sector SDG Dialogue<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/international-sdg-data-collaboration-17-2-3\/\" aria-current=\"page\"><code>17.2.3<\/code>International SDG Data Collaboration<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/best-practice-exchange-17-2-4\/\"><code>17.2.4<\/code>Best Practice Exchange<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/ngo-sdg-partnerships-17-2-5\/\"><code>17.2.5<\/code>NGO SDG Partnerships<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-1-17-3-1\/\"><code>17.3.1<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 1<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-2-17-3-2\/\"><code>17.3.2<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 2<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-3-17-3-3\/\"><code>17.3.3<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 3<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-4-17-3-4\/\"><code>17.3.4<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 4<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-5-17-3-5\/\"><code>17.3.5<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 5<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-6-17-3-6\/\"><code>17.3.6<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 6<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-7-17-3-7\/\"><code>17.3.7<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 7<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-8-17-3-8\/\"><code>17.3.8<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 8<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg9-17-3-9\/\"><code>17.3.9<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG9<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-10-17-3-10\/\"><code>17.3.10<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 10<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-11-17-3-11\/\"><code>17.3.11<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 11<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-12-17-3-12\/\"><code>17.3.12<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 12<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-13-17-3-13\/\"><code>17.3.13<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 13<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-14-17-3-14\/\"><code>17.3.14<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 14<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-15-17-3-15\/\"><code>17.3.15<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 15<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-16-17-3-16\/\"><code>17.3.16<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 16<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/published-progress-sdg-17-17-3-17\/\"><code>17.3.17<\/code>Published Progress \u2013 SDG 17<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/commitment-to-sdg-education-17-4-1\/\"><code>17.4.1<\/code>Commitment to SDG Education<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/sdg-focused-courses-17-4-2\/\"><code>17.4.2<\/code>SDG-Focused Courses<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/community-sdg-education-17-4-3\/\"><code>17.4.3<\/code>Community SDG Education<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/sustainability-literacy-assessment-17-4-4\/\"><code>17.4.4<\/code>Sustainability Literacy Assessment<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"ds-nav-foot\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/sdg-17-partnerships-for-the-goals\/\"><i class=\"ds-ic\" style=\"--i:url(https:\/\/api.iconify.design\/lucide\/layout-grid.svg)\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i> SDG 17 overview<\/a><\/div><\/details><\/aside><div class=\"ds-main\"><nav class=\"ds-chipnav\" aria-label=\"On this page\"><b>On this page<\/b><a href=\"#1-background\">1 \u2013 Background<\/a><a href=\"#2-institutional-context-and-governance\">2 \u2013 Institutional Context and Governance<\/a><a href=\"#3-partnerships-and-collaborations\">3 \u2013 Partnerships and Collaborations<\/a><a href=\"#4-methodological-framework-and-data-systems\">4 \u2013 Methodological Framework and Data Systems<\/a><a href=\"#5-training-and-capacity-building\">5 \u2013 Training and Capacity Building<\/a><a href=\"#6-contributions-to-international-sdg-indicator-measurement\">6 \u2013 Contributions to International SDG Indicat\u2026<\/a><a href=\"#7-research-outputs-and-publications\">7 \u2013 Research Outputs and Publications<\/a><a href=\"#8-monitoring-verification-and-reporting\">8 \u2013 Monitoring, Verification, and Reporting<\/a><a href=\"#9-impact-assessment-and-key-results\">9 \u2013 Impact Assessment and Key Results<\/a><a href=\"#10-challenges-and-lessons-learned\">10 \u2013 Challenges and Lessons Learned<\/a><a href=\"#11-future-roadmap-2025-2030\">11 \u2013 Future Roadmap (2025\u20132030)<\/a><\/nav><div class=\"ds-prose\"><section class=\"ds-intro\"><figure class=\"ds-figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/photo_7_2025-08-03_04-05-27.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/figure><h3>Collaboration on Gathering or Measuring Data for SDG Progress and Indicators at the International Level<\/h3><\/section><section id=\"1-background\"><h2><span class=\"num\">01<\/span>Background<\/h2><p>Reliable, transparent, and internationally comparable data are the lifeblood of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The United Nations\u2019 2030 Agenda explicitly emphasizes the need for \u201cdata revolution for sustainable development\u201d \u2014 a call to strengthen statistical systems, harmonize indicators, and foster cross-border research collaboration.<\/p><p>The <strong>University of Al-Maarif (UoA)<\/strong> recognizes data as a strategic asset in Iraq\u2019s post-conflict reconstruction and in global sustainability efforts. Since 2021, UoA has positioned itself as an active participant in <strong>international SDG data collaboration<\/strong>, contributing to the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data supporting multiple SDG indicators, notably SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships).<\/p><p>Under <strong>Indicator 17.2.3<\/strong>, UoA\u2019s mandate involves joint initiatives with multilateral agencies, universities, and research consortia to develop methodologies, share datasets, and validate national progress indicators. These activities are coordinated through the <strong>Office of Data Innovation and Sustainable Development Analytics (ODISDA)<\/strong>\u2014established in 2022 to institutionalize international data cooperation.<\/p><p>Key achievements (2021\u20132024):<\/p><ul class=\"ds-list\"><li><strong>Participation in five international data partnerships<\/strong>, including UNDP\u2019s Iraq SDG Data Lab and the Arab SDG Statistical Network (ASSN).<\/li><li><strong>Joint development of SDG indicator methodologies<\/strong>, notably for renewable-energy intensity (SDG 7.3.1) and local poverty indices (SDG 1.2.1).<\/li><li><strong>Co-publication of open datasets<\/strong> on energy, education, and environmental indicators with partners in Jordan, Lebanon, and Germany.<\/li><li><strong>Integration of UoA datasets<\/strong> into the UN Global SDG Data Portal (2023 submission for energy and climate).<\/li><li><strong>Training of over 450 Iraqi and regional officials<\/strong> in SDG data methods, GIS mapping, and metadata documentation.<\/li><\/ul><p>Through these collaborations, UoA has enhanced national data quality and contributed to Iraq\u2019s Voluntary National Review (VNR 2023) submitted to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum. The University\u2019s datasets and analytical models were explicitly cited in the VNR sections on energy access and education equity, marking a significant achievement for an Iraqi university in international data collaboration.<\/p><p>This report provides a comprehensive overview of UoA\u2019s structures, partnerships, methodologies, outputs, and future roadmap for SDG data collaboration, demonstrating how a regional university can contribute to global data governance and the evidence base for sustainable development.<\/p><\/section><section id=\"2-institutional-context-and-governance\"><h2><span class=\"num\">02<\/span>Institutional Context and Governance<\/h2><h3>2.1 National and Global Context<\/h3><p>Iraq\u2019s National Development Plan 2030 identifies the weakness of statistical systems and data fragmentation as major barriers to effective SDG implementation. In response, the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) and the Ministry of Planning have invited academic institutions to participate in data generation and indicator monitoring. University of Al-Maarif was among the first private universities to answer that call.<\/p><p>Globally, UoA\u2019s efforts align with the UN Global Data Action Plan and the Cape Town Global Action Plan for Sustainable Development Data (2017). These frameworks promote the integration of academic data producers into national and international statistical ecosystems.<\/p><h3>2.2 Institutional Framework<\/h3><p>The <strong>Office of Data Innovation and Sustainable Development Analytics (ODISDA)<\/strong> was established in 2022 by Senate Resolution 5\/2022 as the University\u2019s dedicated unit for SDG data collaboration. Its mandate is to:<\/p><ul class=\"ds-list\"><li>Develop and standardize data collection methods aligned with UN metadata standards.<\/li><li>Coordinate international data-sharing agreements and MoUs.<\/li><li>Manage the <strong>UoA Open SDG Data Portal<\/strong>, the country\u2019s first university-based repository of SDG datasets.<\/li><li>Provide training and capacity-building to national and regional partners.<\/li><li>Contribute to the validation of SDG indicators through joint research.<\/li><\/ul><h3>2.3 Organizational Structure<\/h3><p>ODISDA reports to the Vice-President for Research and Innovation and is guided by the <strong>SDG Data Advisory Council<\/strong> comprising:<\/p><ul class=\"ds-list\"><li>Three faculty data scientists (RERIC, CSES, IEC).<\/li><li>Representatives from the Ministry of Planning and CSO.<\/li><li>Two international advisors (UNDP and UNESCO Iraq offices).<\/li><\/ul><p>A dedicated <strong>Data Ethics and Quality Committee<\/strong> ensures compliance with open-data principles and GDPR-style privacy protections.<\/p><h3>2.4 Integration with University Policy<\/h3><p>Data collaboration is embedded within UoA\u2019s Sustainability Policy Framework and Research Strategy (2023\u20132030). Every research center is required to contribute at least one dataset annually to the Open SDG Portal, encouraging a culture of transparency and data-driven learning.<\/p><\/section><section id=\"3-partnerships-and-collaborations\"><h2><span class=\"num\">03<\/span>Partnerships and Collaborations<\/h2><h3>3.1 United Nations and Inter-Agency Cooperation<\/h3><div class=\"ds-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Partner Agency<\/th><th>Area of Collaboration<\/th><th>Outputs \/ Results<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>UNDP Iraq SDG Data Lab<\/strong><\/td><td>Joint development of SDG energy and education indicators; pilot testing data validation protocols.<\/td><td>3 datasets accepted into UNDP SDG Lab repository (2022\u20132024).<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)<\/strong><\/td><td>Harmonizing education indicators (4.3.1, 4.4.1).<\/td><td>Methodological brief published (2023).<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>UN ESCWA (Arab Region Data Platform)<\/strong><\/td><td>Regional data exchange and metadata training.<\/td><td>2 joint workshops; ESCWA newsletter feature on UoA data portal.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>FAO Iraq Office<\/strong><\/td><td>Collaboration on SDG 2.4.1 (agricultural sustainability) and SDG 6.4.2 (water stress).<\/td><td>Technical note on irrigation efficiency data collection.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>IRENA \u2013 Abu Dhabi<\/strong><\/td><td>Renewable energy statistics and capacity database.<\/td><td>UoA submitted solar and wind capacity data for 2022\u20132023 regional report.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><h3>3.2 Academic and Research Partnerships<\/h3><ul class=\"ds-list\"><li><strong>University of Jordan and German Jordanian University<\/strong> \u2013 joint project on regional energy-data harmonization.<\/li><li><strong>American University of Beirut (AUB)<\/strong> \u2013 data modelling for air-quality indicators (SDG 11.6.2).<\/li><li><strong>Technical University of Berlin<\/strong> \u2013 data architecture for open-SDG platforms.<\/li><li><strong>University of Basrah and Mosul University<\/strong> \u2013 national academic network for SDG data.<\/li><\/ul><h3>3.3 NGO and Private-Sector Cooperation<\/h3><p>UoA collaborates with <strong>Iraqi NGOs<\/strong> such as the Green Society for Sustainable Development and the Iraqi Innovation Forum to collect grassroots data on youth employment and renewable-energy adoption.<br>Private-sector partners including Zain Telecom and SolarTech Iraq provide mobile and IoT data for energy-usage analytics under strict data-sharing agreements.<\/p><h3>3.4 Data Collaboration Consortia Memberships<\/h3><ul class=\"ds-list\"><li>Member of the <strong>Arab SDG Statistical Network (ASSN)<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Participant in the <strong>Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD)<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Contributor to the <strong>Open Data for Development (OD4D)<\/strong> network.<\/li><li>Institutional member of the <strong>UN Big Data Task Team for the Arab Region<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul><p>Through these consortia, UoA shares datasets and methodologies, ensuring interoperability with international metadata standards and enhancing Iraq\u2019s visibility in the global data ecosystem.<\/p><\/section><section id=\"4-methodological-framework-and-data-systems\"><h2><span class=\"num\">04<\/span>Methodological Framework and Data Systems<\/h2><h3>4.1 Data Domains and Indicators<\/h3><p>UoA focuses on five priority data domains linked to key SDG indicators:<\/p><ol class=\"ds-olist\"><li><strong>Energy and Climate<\/strong> (SDG 7 &amp; 13) \u2013 renewable capacity, CO\u2082 intensity, energy-use per GDP unit.<\/li><li><strong>Education and Skills<\/strong> (SDG 4) \u2013 enrolment, literacy, digital skills data.<\/li><li><strong>Health and Well-Being<\/strong> (SDG 3) \u2013 community health access, disease tracking.<\/li><li><strong>Economic Resilience<\/strong> (SDG 8) \u2013 employment in green industries.<\/li><li><strong>Gender and Inclusion<\/strong> (SDG 5) \u2013 women in STEM, leadership representation.<\/li><\/ol><h3>4.2 Data Collection Methods<\/h3><ul class=\"ds-list\"><li><strong>Remote-sensing and GIS:<\/strong> satellite imagery for renewable-energy and land-use indicators (ArcGIS Pro and Google Earth Engine).<\/li><li><strong>Survey Instruments:<\/strong> household and enterprise surveys aligned with UN metadata guidelines.<\/li><li><strong>Administrative Data Linkage:<\/strong> integration of government records with university datasets using API bridges.<\/li><li><strong>Crowdsourced Data:<\/strong> mobile applications for community energy usage reporting.<\/li><li><strong>Sensor Networks:<\/strong> IoT devices installed on campus and partner facilities to monitor air quality and energy flows.<\/li><\/ul><h3>4.3 Data Quality and Validation<\/h3><p>The <strong>UoA Data Quality Assurance Protocol (DQAP)<\/strong> applies the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). Each dataset passes four validation stages: metadata review, automated error detection, peer review by ODISDA, and external verification by partners.<\/p><h3>4.4 Open SDG Data Portal<\/h3><p>Launched in 2023 (https:\/\/sdgdata.uoa.edu.iq), the portal hosts over 120 datasets with interactive dashboards visualizing progress towards SDGs 4, 7, 8, 11 and 13. The platform uses open-source software (OpenSDG framework and CKAN). All datasets include metadata following UNSD format and license (CC-BY 4.0).<\/p><h3>4.5 Data Interoperability and Exchange<\/h3><p>UoA developed API integration with the UNDP Iraq SDG Data Hub and ESCWA Data Portal. This ensures that national and regional partners can directly access updated datasets for policy analysis. Regular data-exchange protocols enable quarterly synchronization.<\/p><h3>4.6 Ethics and Security<\/h3><p>ODISDA implements a Data Governance Policy covering privacy, security, and ethical review. All human-subject data are anonymized. The University applies ISO\/IEC 27001 standards for information security management.<\/p><\/section><section id=\"5-training-and-capacity-building\"><h2><span class=\"num\">05<\/span>Training and Capacity Building<\/h2><h3>5.1 Regional Training Programs<\/h3><p>Between 2021 and 2024, UoA organized or co-hosted more than 20 training events on SDG data management:<\/p><div class=\"ds-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Year<\/th><th>Program<\/th><th>Partners<\/th><th>Participants<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>2021<\/td><td>Intro to SDG Indicator Metadata<\/td><td>UNDP Iraq<\/td><td>45<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2022<\/td><td>GIS for SDG Monitoring<\/td><td>ESCWA, Min. of Planning<\/td><td>62<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2023<\/td><td>Data Visualization and Open Dashboards<\/td><td>OD4D, AUB<\/td><td>110<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2023<\/td><td>Renewable Energy Statistics Workshop<\/td><td>IRENA<\/td><td>78<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2024<\/td><td>Gender Data for Policy<\/td><td>UN Women &amp; GIZ<\/td><td>95<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><h3>5.2 National Capacity Building<\/h3><p>UoA\u2019s train-the-trainer model empowers government statisticians and NGO data officers to replicate training in their agencies. Evaluation surveys show a 96 % increase in self-rated competence in metadata preparation and data visualization.<\/p><h3>5.3 Student Engagement<\/h3><p>Students from engineering and IT faculties contribute to data projects through the <strong>SDG Data Fellows Program<\/strong>. Each fellow interns for three months with ODISDA or an external partner organization, assisting in data cleaning and analytics. Since 2022, 84 students have participated, with 20 continuing in data-related careers.<\/p><h3>5.4 Knowledge Products<\/h3><p>ODISDA publishes the <strong>UoA SDG Data Bulletin<\/strong> (quarterly), summarizing indicator trends, research findings, and case studies. The bulletin circulates among government and UN partners, enhancing visibility of Iraq\u2019s progress and challenges.<\/p><\/section><section id=\"6-contributions-to-international-sdg-indicator-measurement\"><h2><span class=\"num\">06<\/span>Contributions to International SDG Indicator Measurement<\/h2><p>UoA\u2019s data collaboration extends beyond national reporting to directly contribute to <strong>international SDG indicator methodologies and databases<\/strong>.<\/p><h3>6.1 SDG 7 \u2013 Affordable and Clean Energy<\/h3><ul class=\"ds-list\"><li><strong>Indicator 7.2.1 \u2013 Renewable Energy Share in Total Final Energy Consumption:<\/strong><br>UoA provided sub-national data on solar microgrid output in Al-Anbar. This dataset was aggregated by IRENA and published in the <em>Renewable Energy Statistics Yearbook 2024.<\/em><\/li><li><strong>Indicator 7.3.1 \u2013 Energy Intensity (Energy per GDP):<\/strong><br>UoA\u2019s econometric model developed in collaboration with the University of Jordan was accepted as a regional best practice in ESCWA\u2019s <em>Energy Efficiency Metrics Compendium.<\/em><\/li><\/ul><h3>6.2 SDG 4 \u2013 Quality Education<\/h3><p>UoA co-developed methods with UNESCO and MoHESR to harmonize data on tertiary-education enrolment (4.3.1) and digital literacy (4.4.1). Data from 18 Iraqi universities were standardized through UoA\u2019s platform and shared with the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), improving Iraq\u2019s reporting accuracy for SDG 4 indicators by 35 %.<\/p><h3>6.3 SDG 13 \u2013 Climate Action<\/h3><p>Working with UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, UoA contributed atmospheric and temperature data from its on-campus monitoring stations to the global database used for Indicator 13.3.2 (climate education initiatives).<\/p><h3>6.4 SDG 11 \u2013 Sustainable Cities<\/h3><p>Through a pilot with GIZ and the Baghdad Municipality, UoA provided satellite-derived urban-heat maps for Indicator 11.6.2 (air-quality monitoring). These datasets were uploaded to the <strong>OpenAQ Global Air Quality Platform<\/strong>, making UoA the first Iraqi university represented in that repository.<\/p><h3>6.5 Data Visualization for the Arab Region<\/h3><p>UoA\u2019s software engineers contributed open-source visualization templates to the <strong>ESCWA SDG Tracker<\/strong>. These dashboards are now used by 12 Arab countries for official reporting.<\/p><\/section><section id=\"7-research-outputs-and-publications\"><h2><span class=\"num\">07<\/span>Research Outputs and Publications<\/h2><p>UoA\u2019s data collaborations have produced a growing body of academic and technical literature:<\/p><div class=\"ds-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Publication \/ Product<\/th><th>Year<\/th><th>Collaborators<\/th><th>Focus<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u201cRenewable Energy Data Harmonization in the Arab Region\u201d<\/td><td>2023<\/td><td>UoA, IRENA, University of Jordan<\/td><td>Cross-country energy-intensity metrics<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u201cIraq\u2019s Higher-Education Data Ecosystem: Challenges and Opportunities\u201d<\/td><td>2023<\/td><td>UoA, UNESCO, MoHESR<\/td><td>SDG 4 indicator alignment<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u201cSDG Data Gaps and Digital Transformation\u201d<\/td><td>2024<\/td><td>UoA, ESCWA<\/td><td>Metadata standardization<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u201cUoA Open Data Portal User Manual\u201d<\/td><td>2024<\/td><td>ODISDA<\/td><td>Public-access datasets and visualization tools<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u201cClimate Data for Post-Conflict Reconstruction\u201d<\/td><td>2024<\/td><td>UoA, UNEP<\/td><td>Integrating satellite and ground-level readings<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p>In total, 27 peer-reviewed articles and 18 technical notes have been published under UoA\u2019s SDG Data Program, disseminated in international conferences and repositories.<\/p><\/section><section id=\"8-monitoring-verification-and-reporting\"><h2><span class=\"num\">08<\/span>Monitoring, Verification, and Reporting<\/h2><h3>8.1 Data Verification and Validation<\/h3><p>Each dataset produced by UoA includes a \u201cData Lineage Sheet\u201d documenting source, methodology, date of collection, and verification partner.<br>Validation steps include:<\/p><ol class=\"ds-olist\"><li>Cross-check with government statistics.<\/li><li>Peer review by ODISDA.<\/li><li>Independent review by international partner (e.g., UNDP, ESCWA).<\/li><li>Publication with open metadata and DOI.<\/li><\/ol><h3>8.2 Evidence for THE Impact Ranking<\/h3><p>Evidence for SDG 17.2.3 includes:<\/p><ul class=\"ds-list\"><li>MoUs with UNDP, ESCWA, and IRENA.<\/li><li>Screenshots of UoA datasets on UN or regional data portals.<\/li><li>Joint publications in recognized repositories.<\/li><li>Letters of acknowledgment from partners verifying UoA\u2019s data contributions.<\/li><\/ul><h3>8.3 Integration into National Reporting<\/h3><p>The Ministry of Planning formally recognized UoA as a data contributor to the <strong>Iraq SDG Reporting Platform<\/strong> (Decree 22\/2023).<br>UoA datasets for energy and education indicators were used in Iraq\u2019s <strong>Voluntary National Review 2023<\/strong>, cited in pages 42\u201343.<\/p><\/section><section id=\"9-impact-assessment-and-key-results\"><h2><span class=\"num\">09<\/span>Impact Assessment and Key Results<\/h2><div class=\"ds-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Indicator<\/th><th>2021<\/th><th>2024<\/th><th>Change (%)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>International data collaborations<\/td><td>2<\/td><td>12<\/td><td>+500 %<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Datasets published (public)<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>120<\/td><td>+380 %<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Joint publications or briefs<\/td><td>5<\/td><td>45<\/td><td>+800 %<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ministries \/ agencies using UoA data<\/td><td>3<\/td><td>10<\/td><td>+233 %<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Students trained in SDG data<\/td><td>40<\/td><td>220<\/td><td>+450 %<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><h3>9.1 Policy and Institutional Impacts<\/h3><ul class=\"ds-list\"><li>Iraq\u2019s renewable-energy policy (2024 draft) adopted UoA\u2019s solar-intensity metrics.<\/li><li>MoHESR applied UoA\u2019s education datasets in its digital-education strategy.<\/li><li>ESCWA and UNDP recognized UoA as a national data partner for SDG 7 and SDG 4.<\/li><\/ul><h3>9.2 International Recognition<\/h3><p>In 2024, UoA was featured in the <strong>UN Global Partnership for Sustainable Data Report<\/strong> as one of five Arab universities contributing to cross-border SDG data collaboration.<\/p><h3>9.3 Societal Impact<\/h3><p>Improved data transparency enhances governance, supports evidence-based policymaking, and builds public trust. Students trained in these methods become data stewards capable of continuing this work in government or the private sector.<\/p><\/section><section id=\"10-challenges-and-lessons-learned\"><h2><span class=\"num\">10<\/span>Challenges and Lessons Learned<\/h2><ul class=\"ds-list\"><li><strong>Data Gaps:<\/strong> Inconsistent government records and limited disaggregation remain barriers. UoA compensates through field data collection and remote sensing.<\/li><li><strong>Technical Infrastructure:<\/strong> Connectivity and hardware limitations challenge real-time data exchange; solutions include cloud-based storage (AWS Educate partnership).<\/li><li><strong>Sustainability of Funding:<\/strong> Most collaborations rely on donor support; UoA is developing fee-for-service models.<\/li><li><strong>Coordination Complexity:<\/strong> Multiple stakeholders require standard templates and metadata protocols\u2014ODISDA\u2019s framework addresses this.<\/li><li><strong>Capacity and Turnover:<\/strong> Staff training is continuous; digital manuals and MOOCs are under development to retain institutional memory.<\/li><\/ul><\/section><section id=\"11-future-roadmap-2025-2030\"><h2><span class=\"num\">11<\/span>Future Roadmap (2025\u20132030)<\/h2><h3>11.1 Vision<\/h3><p>By 2030, University of Al-Maarif aims to be recognized as <strong>Iraq\u2019s leading center of excellence for SDG Data Collaboration<\/strong>, integrated within global data ecosystems.<\/p><h3>11.2 Strategic Goals<\/h3><ol class=\"ds-olist\"><li><strong>Expand Global Collaborations:<\/strong> Join the UN World Data Forum and contribute to at least five global indicator working groups.<\/li><li><strong>Develop a Regional SDG Data Innovation Hub:<\/strong> Host annual <em>Arab SDG Data Hackathon<\/em> for students and professionals.<\/li><li><strong>Advance Data Science for Sustainability Curriculum:<\/strong> Introduce new Master\u2019s program in \u201cSustainable Development Data Analytics.\u201d<\/li><li><strong>AI for SDG Monitoring:<\/strong> Integrate machine learning to predict SDG progress scenarios and identify data anomalies.<\/li><li><strong>Carbon-Neutral Data Center:<\/strong> Construct an energy-efficient, renewable-powered data center to host national open data.<\/li><\/ol><h3>11.3 Monitoring Framework<\/h3><ul class=\"ds-list\"><li>Annual publication of <strong>UoA SDG Data Report<\/strong> summarizing indicators and partnerships.<\/li><li>Biannual stakeholder feedback surveys.<\/li><li>Five-year external review by UNDP or ESCWA.<\/li><\/ul><h3>11.4 Long-Term Impact<\/h3><p>The University\u2019s sustained data collaboration will improve Iraq\u2019s statistical capacities, support evidence-based governance, and strengthen global understanding of sustainability trends in fragile and post-conflict contexts.<\/p><p>Through knowledge, data, and partnership, University of Al-Maarif exemplifies the principle of SDG 17: <em>\u201cPartnerships that produce measurable progress.\u201d<\/em><\/p><div class=\"ds-grid c2\"><article class=\"ds-card\"><div class=\"ds-body\"><h3><a class=\"stretch\" href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/2024\/12\/04\/al-maarif-universitys-role-in-international-collaboration-for-sustainable-development-goals-sdgs\/\">Al-Maarif University\u2019s Role in International Collaboration for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<\/a><\/h3><p>Al-Maarif University fosters international collaboration to collect and measure Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) data. Through partnerships with global universities and research institutions, it enhances expertise and knowledge exchange. By participating in joint research programs, the university develops reliable indicators that support informed decision-making for sustainable development locally, regionally, and globally.<\/p><span class=\"ds-more\">Read more <i class=\"ds-ic\" style=\"--i:url(https:\/\/api.iconify.design\/lucide\/arrow-right.svg)\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/section><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home\/SDG 17\/17.2.3 17Partnerships for the Goals International SDG Data Collaboration Indicator 17.2.3 1 evidence items 11 sections SDG 17 Indicators 28 17.0Sustainability Report \u2013 SDG 17 17.1Research on Partnerships 17.2.1Government &amp; NGO SDG Policy Input 17.2.2Cross-Sector SDG Dialogue 17.2.3International SDG Data Collaboration 17.2.4Best Practice Exchange 17.2.5NGO SDG Partnerships 17.3.1Published Progress \u2013 SDG 1 17.3.2Published Progress &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/international-sdg-data-collaboration-17-2-3\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">International SDG Data Collaboration (17.2.3)<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3136","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Dr.Alaa","author_link":"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/author\/dr-ahmad\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":" <a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/\" rel=\"tag\">English<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Home\/SDG 17\/17.2.3 17Partnerships for the Goals International SDG Data Collaboration Indicator 17.2.3 1 evidence items 11 sections SDG 17 Indicators 28 17.0Sustainability Report \u2013 SDG 17 17.1Research on Partnerships 17.2.1Government &amp; NGO SDG Policy Input 17.2.2Cross-Sector SDG Dialogue 17.2.3International SDG Data Collaboration 17.2.4Best Practice Exchange 17.2.5NGO SDG Partnerships 17.3.1Published Progress \u2013 SDG 1 17.3.2Published Progress&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3136"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7613,"href":"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3136\/revisions\/7613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sustainability.uoa.edu.iq\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}