Indicators Framework and Assessment

The first question requires indicators covering a broad range of social issues. As social development requires health, education, economic resources and a stable basis for social interactions, indicators need to inform on all these dimensions. The second question is more challenging. Societies try to influence social outcomes, usually through government policy, and the question is whether such policies are effective in achieving their aims. Indicators help in making that assessment. A first step is to compare the changes in social outcomes that social policies try to influence with the scale of the resources that are used to that effect. While this comparison does not allow a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of a particular programme, indicators can highlight areas where more analysis is needed.