Page 14 - U4SSC KPIs Verification Manual - A guide for verifiers

3 Key Performance Indicators

3.1 Introduction

The key performance indicators (KPIs) enable cities to measure their progress over time, compare
their performance to other cities and, through analysis and sharing, allow for the dissemination
of best practices and set standards for progress in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) at the city level.

Each KPI forms a part of a holistic view of a city’s performance in three dimensions, Economy,
Environment, and Society and Culture. Each of these dimensions provides a separate view of
progress and when reported together, they provide a holistic view of a smart sustainable city.

Within each dimension, there are sub-dimensions that focus on more specific areas of performance
and progress. An example is the ICT Infrastructure category which provides a more in-depth view
of how ICTs are deployed and used within a city.

The KPIs are further sub-divided into core and advanced KPIs. Core KPIs should be capable of
being reported on by all cities. They provide a basic outline of smartness and sustainability, and
generally higher levels of performance can be achievable. Advanced KPIs provide a more in-depth
view of a city and measure progress on more advanced initiatives; however, they may be beyond
the current capabilities of some cities to report or implement.

The KPIs are further segregated into the following types: smart, sustainable and structural. These
types provide additional ways to analyse the results of the KPI data.

Each KPI has been chosen through a process of review and input by ITU members as well as
international experts and UN agencies, programmes and secretariats to ensure that the data
collected supports the SDGs, and are relevant to measuring progress towards becoming smarter
and more sustainable and provides a basis for comparison.

The Verifiers must familiarize themselves with the content and structure of the KPIs.

4 U4SSC KPIs Verification Manual-A guide for verifiers