TABLE 1. Target-setting algorithm for Sustainable Development Goal 3 (TSA_SDG3).

Step 1: Calculate the national average annual percentage change (AAPC) of an SDG3 indicator from a known time series, with a baseline value and an annual reference value.a

Step 2: Define the geographic strata; to that end: ✓ Rank the geographic values of the health indicator at the baseline time by polarity (from highest to lowest if the indicator has negative polarity; from lowest to highest if it has positive polarity). ✓ Identify the cut points that define geographic strata, either by pre-established categories (e.g., above and below an established national reference value) or by groups according to quantiles (quintiles, quartiles, or terciles). ✓ Calculate the weighted average of the health indicator for each stratum thus defined.

Step 3: Apply the proportional progressivity criterion to the AAPC for each stratum defined; to that end: ✓ If the health indicator has negative polarity, assign an AAPC that is proportionally higher the higher the health indicator for the stratum, according to the proportionality factor. ✓ If the health indicator has positive polarity, assign an AAPC that is proportionally higher the lower the health indicator for the stratum, according to the proportionality factor. ✓ In any case, ensure that the arithmetic average of the AAPCs for all strata is equal to the national AAPC at the baseline time used in step 1.

Step 4: Set average targets at the subnational and national levels; to that end: ✓ Calculate the value of the health indicator for each territorial unit at a future time (subnational average target).b ✓ Calculate the weighted average of the health indicator values for all territorial units at a future time (national average target). ✓ These results represent the targets at the subnational and national levels for the SDG3 indicator in absolute terms. The targets in relative terms are determined by applying equation [3].c

Step 5: Establish targets for reducing geographic inequality gaps; to that end: ✓ Calculate the absolute and relative inequality gaps (AG and RG) at baseline and future times.d ✓ Calculate the percentage changes in AG and RG during the period.c ✓ These results represent the targets for reducing geographic inequality gaps in the SDG3 indicator (distributional targets) in absolute and relative terms, respectively.

Source: Prepared by the authors.

^aSee equation [1] in the text.

^bSee equation [2] in the text.

^cSee equation [3] in the text.

^dSee equations [4] and [5] in the text.