Evaluating under fragility: Lessons from the Palestinian context

This chapter explores the challenges of monitoring and evaluating SDGs in fragile contexts, using Palestine as a case study.

It addresses governance issues, institutional frameworks, and data limitations in politically unstable environments. The resource offers practical lessons for M&E practitioners working in FCV settings to adapt SDG monitoring frameworks.

This chapter provides insights into the challenges of monitoring and evaluating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in fragile contexts, using the Palestinian experience as a case study. It explores the institutional frameworks, governance issues, and economic and environmental constraints that impact SDG monitoring and achievement. The resource is valuable for M&E practitioners working in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCV), as it highlights the difficulties of conducting evaluations under conditions of occupation, political instability, and economic dependence on foreign aid.

Key features

The resource offers several key insights relevant to M&E in FCV settings, particularly in the context of Palestine:

• Institutional challenges: Explores Palestine's complex governance structure, affected by political divisions and Israeli control, which hampers effective service delivery and SDG monitoring.
• Institutional frameworks: Despite these challenges, Palestine has developed mechanisms for SDG monitoring, such as the National SDG Team and sectoral working groups, which coordinate with civil society, private sector, and international partners.
• Efforts to localize SDGs: Examines Palestine's approach to integrating the SDGs into national development plans, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity, partnerships, and prioritising local targets.
• Data limitations: Addresses the difficulties in accessing reliable data, especially in areas under Israeli control, and outlines steps taken by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics to monitor SDG indicators.

How would you use the resource?

M&E practitioners can use this resource to understand the specific challenges of monitoring and evaluating SDG progress in fragile and conflict-affected environments. It provides practical guidance and insights on setting realistic goals, engaging stakeholders in fragile contexts, adapting SDG monitoring frameworks to overcome limited institutional capacity, and developing data collection strategies for difficult-to-access areas.

Why are we recommending it?

This resource is recommended for its detailed exploration of the intersection between fragility, governance, and sustainable development. It provides practical lessons for M&E practitioners working in contexts where political conflict and instability present significant obstacles to achieving sustainable development goals.