1. Real Context of the Intervention
The project was carried out for PAL to align its territorial development policies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. The objectives were:
- Define a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to measure performance in sustainability, innovation, and social inclusion.
- Draw inspiration from international metrics and best practices, particularly those collected in the SDG Index & Dashboards Report, to compare progress with broader trends and standards.
- Create a Management Dashboard that allows municipal managers and councilors to access data in real-time, set targets, and monitor progress.
Before the intervention, PAL had only a fragmented view of sustainable initiatives: individual areas (Environment, Public Works, Social Services) managed data separately, making long-term strategic planning and transparent reporting to citizens difficult.
2. Main Objectives
Alignment with SDGs
- Translate global goals (2030 Agenda) into actions and indicators at the municipal level.
- Clearly communicate results to citizens.
Integrated Monitoring
- Bring together environmental, social, and economic data on a single platform, inspired by the SDG Index & Dashboards Report methodology.
Decision Support
- Provide political decision-makers (Mayor, Councilors) and municipal managers with a summary dashboard that facilitates the planning and evaluation of public policies.
Engagement and Participation
- Offer a transparent tool to citizens, promoting participation and accountability initiatives.
3. Implemented Solution
Dashboard Structure
A Management Dashboard was developed with various thematic sections, each linked to one or more SDGs. Some examples:
“Sustainable City” Section
- KPI: annual reduction of CO₂ emissions (Goal 13), percentage of electric/hybrid public vehicle fleet (Goal 11 and Goal 7).
- OKR: “Reduce carbon dioxide emissions from public transport by 20% in 4 years by converting at least 30% of the fleet to electric vehicles.”
“Resources and Environment” Section
- KPI: waste separation, water dispersion, quality of wastewater (Goal 6, Goal 12).
- OKR: “Achieve 80% waste separation by 2025, reducing unsorted waste by 50%.”
“Inclusion and Social Innovation” Section
- KPI: number of community energy projects, energy poverty rate (Goal 1, Goal 7, Goal 11), percentage of digitized services (Goal 9).
- OKR: “Activate at least 3 local energy communities within 2 years and reduce energy poverty by 15% in the municipal area.”
“Smart City” Section
- KPI: number of municipal services provided online, spread of IoT sensors for traffic and pollution monitoring (Goal 9, Goal 11).
- OKR: “Digitize 60% of citizen services within 3 years and implement IoT solutions for intelligent public lighting management.”
Technologies and Integration
- Data Integration: through API and ETL connectors, data from various sources were centralized:
- Internal systems (environmental registry, tax office for TARI data, local public transport management).
- External sources (ARPA for air and water quality, regional research bodies, ISTAT data).
- SDG Index Inspired Methodology: sustainability and innovation metrics were calibrated based on the guidelines of the SDG Index & Dashboards Report, providing more solid benchmarks.
- Responsive Front-end: the dashboard is accessible via desktop and mobile, with different access levels (Managers/Administrators, Employees, Citizens).
4. Achieved Results
Better Internal Coordination
Municipal departments (Environment, Public Works, Social Services, Innovation) collaborate on a single platform. This has led to faster decisions and better-coordinated actions, such as planning green areas and extending the bike network.
Reduced Analysis Time
Integrating data into a single “point of truth” has reduced the need for manual information exchanges, facilitating the production of reports and the sharing of results in the Council.
Transparent Performance
The dashboard has a public section available on the Municipality’s website, where citizens can see the progress of various indicators (e.g., waste separation rate) in near real-time, fostering a trust relationship with the administration.
Strategic Alignment with the 2030 Agenda
By adopting KPIs/OKRs inspired by the SDG Index & Dashboards Report, the Municipality has been able to demonstrate the methodological solidity of its sustainable actions to potential funding bodies (Region, PNRR funds, European programs).
New Funding Opportunities
Transparency on data and project planning based on SDG objectives have favored participation in regional and national calls, increasing the success rate in applications.
5. Overall Benefits and Prospects
- Data-Driven Approach: The Council and offices operate on reliable data, managing to define clear priorities (e.g., investing more in electric mobility where pollution is higher).
- Better Reporting: The dashboard supports the drafting of the DUP (Single Programming Document) with measurable performance indicators, in line with local development plans and the principles of the 2030 Agenda.
- Citizen Participation: Data accessibility has created a virtuous dialogue with associations and citizen groups, who can now propose more informed projects (e.g., urban garden campaigns, sustainable mobility events).
- Continuous Evolution: The Municipality plans to expand the dashboard with predictive analysis and machine learning solutions (e.g., predicting public transport demand or identifying areas at risk of environmental illegality).
Conclusion
This case study demonstrates how a medium-sized Municipality can create a Management Dashboard that monitors Innovation and Sustainability Indicators in real-time, inspired by the principles of the 2030 Agenda and the metrics of the SDG Index & Dashboards Report. The initiative has generated:
- More effective governance, thanks to the sharing of clear data and transparent objectives.
- Greater accountability to citizens, who can see the concrete administrative action in environmental and social areas.
- Tangible local contribution to the advancement of the SDGs, transforming the global vision into measurable results at the territorial level.