The LGBTI Inclusion Index serves as a global benchmark and guide for countries to assess their progress toward achieving full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people. This comprehensive index evaluates 51 indicators across five strategic areas: political and civic participation, education, health, personal security and violence, and economic well-being. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) successfully rolled out the pilot phase of the Index, engaging participants from 52 countries and implementing a robust training program on data collection and index calculation. This report elaborates on the key findings and lessons from these pilots, along with recommendations for scaling up safe data collection and use to advance the inclusive development of LGBTI people. This article summarises the key findings from the report.

Developing the LGBTI Inclusion Index

Designing the Index and the Pilot Version
The LGBTI Inclusion Index is designed to provide a single numerical value summarizing whether a country is inclusive of LGBTI people across 51 indicators. These indicators are divided into five dimensions: education, health, economic well-being, political and civic participation, and personal security and violence. The pilot phase focused on a subset of 22 indicators, chosen for their feasibility and relevance (UNDP, 2024)​​.

Training Stakeholders
A comprehensive training program was developed to teach stakeholders from 52 countries how to develop and use the pilot version of the Index. The training included online modules and real-time webinars, covering the dimensions, indicators, and scales for the Index, methods for data collection, and practical issues related to adding sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) questions to surveys (UNDP, 2024)​​.

Pilot Process in Countries
The pilot process was conducted in four main steps: convening working groups, collecting data, validating data, and analyzing the pilot data. These steps were carried out in six countries: the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guyana, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Vietnam. Working groups included representatives from civil society, government agencies, and other stakeholders, ensuring a collaborative and inclusive approach (UNDP, 2024)​​.

Review of the Pilot Process

Immediate Usefulness of the Index and Pilot Data
The data gathered during the pilot phase proved immediately useful for planning and funding purposes. In several countries, the data corroborated anecdotal information, leading to expanded UNDP work and securing external funding for LGBTI-related initiatives. Valuable networks were built, enhancing collaboration among diverse stakeholders and raising awareness about policy gaps and statistical data deficiencies (UNDP, 2024)​​.

Process Issues Within Working Groups
The pilot process highlighted challenges in engaging government agencies and civil society. Some countries faced difficulties in securing active participation from government representatives, while others encountered reluctance from civil society due to concerns about backlash or lack of trust. Effective coordination and leadership by UNDP were crucial in overcoming these challenges and ensuring the successful completion of the pilot process (UNDP, 2024)​​.

Shortcomings of the Index
The pilot revealed some limitations of the Index, such as its inability to capture all nuances of the legal and social landscape for LGBTI people. Additionally, the Index does not account for the dynamic nature of advocacy and social movements, which can significantly impact LGBTI inclusion. Future iterations of the Index should address these gaps and provide more comprehensive guidance for culturally appropriate data collection (UNDP, 2024)​​.

Key Findings from the Pilot Implementation

Inclusion Levels
The pilot implementation showed that no country is completely inclusive of LGBTI people. The degree of inclusion varies greatly between sectors, with health being the most inclusive dimension and personal security and violence the least inclusive. The Index also highlighted lower levels of inclusion for transgender and intersex people compared to the broader LGBTI community (UNDP, 2024)​​.

Indicator Feasibility
Most countries were able to measure Tier 1 and Tier 2 indicators, which are based on existing data or easily obtainable information. However, Tier 3 indicators, which require representative survey data, were more challenging to measure. This finding underscores the need for improved data collection practices and increased investment in statistical inclusion for LGBTI people (UNDP, 2024)​​.

Recommendations for Future Work

Scaling Up the Pilot Process
The next phase of the pilot process should be scaled up to include more countries and a broader range of indicators. This expansion will require greater engagement from national statistics offices and the inclusion of civil society organizations, especially those representing transgender and intersex communities. Ensuring meaningful participation from these groups is essential for the success of the Index (UNDP, 2024)​​.

Enhancing Data Collection and Use
Improving data collection methods and ensuring the availability of disaggregated data on LGBTI people are critical for the effective use of the Index. Countries should be encouraged to integrate SOGIESC questions into national surveys and statistical reporting systems. Additionally, the collaborative process of developing the Index should be maintained to foster strong networks and promote better data collection practices (UNDP, 2024)​​.

Addressing Policy Gaps
The Index has highlighted significant policy gaps that need to be addressed to improve LGBTI inclusion. Countries should focus on developing and implementing policies that promote the inclusion of intersex and transgender people, address school bullying and discrimination, and ensure access to health services for LGBTI individuals. Governments and civil society must work together to close these gaps and create a more inclusive environment for all (UNDP, 2024)​​.

Conclusion
The pilot implementation of the LGBTI Inclusion Index has provided valuable insights into the current state of LGBTI inclusion across different countries. The collaborative and participatory approach used in the pilot phase has proven effective in producing meaningful data and fostering networks that can drive further progress. Moving forward, the Index should be scaled up to include more countries and indicators, with a focus on improving data collection practices and addressing policy gaps. By doing so, the LGBTI Inclusion Index can become a powerful tool for promoting the inclusion and well-being of LGBTI people worldwide.

The full report can be accessed here. 

References
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