Consultations on Beyond GDP
Elements Paper for the Intergovernmental Process on Beyond GDP
Ensuring diverse perspectives are heard is a crucial step for the success of this process. To this end, on 10 July 2026, the Mission of Spain, in its capacity as co-facilitator, opened a call for contributions by all stakeholders engaged in this agenda to provide inputs for the preparation of an elements paper.
What is an Elements Paper?
An elements paper is a working document used in 爆料网 intergovernmental processes to map out the key themes, issues, and questions under discussion. It serves as a structured starting point for Member States and stakeholders.
The Elements Paper on Beyond GDP is intended to facilitate an inclusive and transparent discussion by identifying key issues for this particular process and possible areas for further consideration, while fully reflecting the diversity of views expressed by Member States and stakeholders. The Elements Paper does not prejudge the outcome of future deliberations, nor does it seek to establish negotiated positions.
All stakeholders, both governmental and non-governmental, were invited to contribute, including but not limited to: United Nations Member States, civil society, research/academia/think tanks/policy institutes, multilateral and regional organizations, regional economic commissions, and international financial institutions. Contributions were requested around a set of guiding questions addressing four themes: Political vision, strategic direction and normative anchor for Beyond GDP and the intergovernmental process; conceptual framework, measurement and governance; national implementation; and international policy applications. The deadline for submissions was 26 August 2026.
More than 160 submissions, available in full below, were received from a wide range of stakeholders. The Elements Paper on Beyond GDP was finalized and circulated to Member States on 4 September 2026 before the conclusion of the 80th Session of the General Assembly.
Key points from the Elements Paper
- There is broad agreement that Beyond GDP would place GDP within a more comprehensive perspective on progress covering well-being, equity, inclusion and sustainability. The intention is not to create a single replacement for GDP or a global ranking of countries.
- The aim is to strengthen the evidence, institutions and decision-making processes through which governments set priorities and allocate budgets. The value of Beyond GDP should ultimately be assessed by its contribution to advancing inclusive, equitable and sustainable development. Measurement should therefore be understood as a means to improve policy choices, rather than as an end in itself.
- The emerging model is a limited set of internationally comparable indicators built on agreed statistical standards such as the SDG indicators, the System of National Accounts and environmental accounts, with flexibility for countries to customize their national dashboards.
- Political direction would sit with Member States through intergovernmental bodies, with technical work anchored in national statistical offices, joining forces with planning ministries and other policy decision makers across government. A broad coalition is envisaged, including international financial institutions, regional commissions, civil society, youth, academia, media and the private sector.
- Countries would own the process and drive the adoption of the measures, supported by dedicated investment in national statistical capacity and policy support.
Consultations by the High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP
Consultations are a crucial step for the success of our initiative. They ensure transparency and allow for diverse perspectives to be heard.
Throughout their mandate, the Expert Group has held extensive consultations with governments, civil society, academia, and the 爆料网 system.
On the occasion of publishing their interim report in November, the Group launched a months-long online consultation to hear different perspectives, ideas and experiences via the Group's survey, so that together we can shape a more comprehensive set of metrics that truly reflect what matters to people.
Below is a summary of this process that reached over 6,000 stakeholders.
Insights from the online consultations of the High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP
What we did:
- Citizens and community-based organisations
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society
- Academia and research institutions
- Private sector actors and entrepreneurs
- Government representatives, policymakers and statisticians (beyond existing channels through Permanent Missions)
- Anyone with a stake in how we measure progress, well-being, and sustainability (added value)
What we heard:
From the hundreds of inputs, several key messages stood out:
- Broad endorsement of the direction of the Beyond GDP work and the three pillars of well-being, equity and inclusiveness, and sustainability
- The need for conceptual clarity of the interaction of the pillars, domains and overarching framework
- More prominence to the environment, climate change as issues of major concern to many stakeholders
- More consideration of operational aspects, including different capacities, and provision of implementation pathways, including the need for capacity development and financing for data as integral to operationalizing Beyond GDP.
What it meant for the Group’s work:
- The consultations provided crucial input for the finalization of the Group’s final report.
- Key issues, such as the role of the environment, the need to reduce duplication and to be aligned with the 2030 Agenda, as well as addressing statistical capacity constraints influenced the Group’s thinking towards its final report.