The SDG Accelerator and Bottleneck Assessment (ABA) tool aims to support countries to identify catalytic policy and/or programme areas or ‘accelerators’ that can trigger positive multiplier effects across the SDGs, and solutions to bottlenecks that impede the optimal performance of interventions that enable the identified accelerators. The ABA builds on the methodology of the UN MDG Acceleration Framework and its application in 60 countries, and is also informed by the COMBOS methodology developed by UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, which has been applied extensively to countries in the region.

This paper suggests a framework that governments and stakeholders can use in their countries to take action to leave no one behind in a way that enables and accelerates national progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also seeks to inform the manner in which the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works with countries to implement the 2030 Agenda, in keeping with the commitment of the United Nations Development System to put the pledge to leave no one behind at the heart of its support.

This brief proposes a strategic RBLAC focus on SDG acceleration hotspots in Latin America and the Caribbean. As underlined by the SG’s reform agenda, SDG acceleration ultimately means assisting member-states to move the needle on targets and goals “making country-level delivery the litmus test for success”. In sync with UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2018-2021, acceleration also means integrating across different member-state objectives (i) leaving no one behind, tackling the hardest exclusions by gender, race, ethnicity or geographic exclusion; (ii) building resilience to natural disasters, economic downturns and social and political conflict; and (iii) promoting structural transformations that ensure sustainable development.