This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from Kenya statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from Kenyan statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other Kenyan-specific metadata information.
| Indicator information |
Number of countries that adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for developing countries, including the least developed countries |
|---|---|
| Goal |
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development |
| Target |
Adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries |
| Indicator |
Number |
| Metadata update |
2023 |
| Related indicators |
Indicator 10.b.1: Total resource flows for development, by recipient and donor countries and type of flow (e.g. official development assistance, foreign direct investment and other flows) (metadata). Indicator 17.3.1: Additional financial resources mobilized for developing countries from multiple sources. |
| Data reporter |
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics |
| Organisation |
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics |
| Contact person(s) |
Director Macroeconomic Statistics |
| Contact organisation unit |
Directorate of Macroeconomic Statistics |
| Contact person function |
Production and Dissemination of Macroeconomic Statistics |
| Contact phone |
+254 20 2911000 |
| Contact mail |
30266 – 00100 Nairobi, Kenya |
| Contact email |
macro@knbs.or.ke |
| Definition, concepts, and classifications |
DEFINITION, CONCEPTS AND CLASSIFICATION |
| Definition and concepts |
Definition: The indicator provides the number of countries that have adopted and implemented investment promotion regimes for developing countries, including least developed countries (LDCs). Concepts: Investment promotion regimes Instruments that directly aim at encouraging outward or inward foreign investment through particular measures of the home or host countries of investment. For LDCs these are instruments that home countries of investors have put in place to encourage outward investment in LDCs directly or through measures intended for developing countries. Home country Countries that put in place investment promotion regimes to encourage outward investment which can benefit developing countries, including LDCs. Foreign direct investment involves a long-term relationship and reflects a lasting interest and control by a resident entity in one economy (foreign direct investor or parent enterprise) in an enterprise resident in an economy other than that of the foreign direct investor (FDI enterprise or affiliate enterprise or foreign affiliate). Adoption means that a country has put in place such a system i.e. through the formal adoption of a law, regulation or programme to encourage investment in developing countries, including LDCs. Implementation means that a country has actually started to promote individual investments in developing countries, including LDCs, on the basis of the relevant legislation. Instruments used under investment promotion regimes include investment guarantees, financial or fiscal support for outward investors. Besides these legal instruments, countries often also provide information and other advisory and investment facilitation services for their outward investors. Investment guarantee is an insurance, offered by governments of the home country or other institutions, to investors to protect against certain political risks in host countries, such as the risk of discrimination, expropriation, transfer restrictions or breach of contract. |
| Unit of measure |
Number of countries] |
| Classifications |
Target economies and their numerical codes applied as in the UNCTADStat and in line with the ISO 3166-1 standard and the Standard Country or Area Codes for Statistical Use (M49) of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)]. |
| Data source type and collection method |
DATA SOURCE, TYPE AND COLLECTION METHOD |
| Data sources |
● Survey responses on investment guarantee schemes for outward investment in LDCs specifically or developing countries in general. ● Survey responses on fiscal or financial support for outward investors in LDCs specially or developing countries in general. ● Internet research carried out by UNCTAD to complement survey responses. UNCTAD research complements survey responses in cases where information from official government websites confirms that an outward investment promotion scheme is in place, but the concerned country has not responded to the survey. |
| Data collection method |
● An in-depth online questionnaire circulated to SDG focal points in statistical offices worldwide. ● Internet research carried out by UNCTAD. |
| Data collection calendar |
Annual data collection in Q4 of the year preceding the reporting.] |
| Data release calendar |
Annual release, in Q1 of the reporting year.] |
| Data providers |
Data providers include national ministries, outward investment promotion agencies and other international organisations.] |
| Data compilers |
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will compile the national data to report it globally.] |
| Institutional mandate |
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics is mandated by the Statistics Act, 2006, to collect, compile, analyze, publish and disseminate official statistics for public use.] |
| Other methodological considerations |
OTHER METHOD] |
| Rationale |
Target 17.5 aims to adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for the least developed countries (LDCs). It is necessary to find out how many countries have put in place investment promotion regimes that may benefit LDCs directly. The number of countries that adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for developing countries, including least developed countries, has been selected onto the indicator framework to assess the achievement of this target.] |
| Comment and limitations |
Comment [SDG indicator 17.5.1 calls for the measurement of both adoption and implementation of investment promotion regimes.] Limitations
|
| Method of computation |
The indicator methodology covers both:-
The measurement should include outward investment promotion regimes that do not exclude developing countries. Only this approach ensures getting a full picture of outward investment promotion with LDCs as beneficiaries, which is better aligned with Target 17.5.
Indicator 17.5.1 will focus on the legal investment instruments, since relevant information is usually publicly available, and thus feasible to compile. To be included in the number of countries that have adopted and implemented investment promotion regimes, the existence of at least one type of promotion instrument (e.g. an investment guarantee scheme or financial support for outward investment that can benefit developing countries, including LDCs) would be sufficient. c. Adoption vs. implementation of outward investment promotion regimes The research should focus on the adoption of a promotion system as information on the actual stage of implementation in individual countries is usually not publicly available. Furthermore, scattered data about the situation in some countries could not provide a comprehensive and reliable picture of the overall situation. However, it may be possible to come up with some aggregate data at the regional or global level. d. Coverage of home countries of outward investment promotion regimes The indicator will not only include measures put in place by developed countries but also by emerging economies, thus measuring South-South cooperation in this respect in addition. |
| Validation |
UNCTAD’s research is complemented by annual surveys to ensure the accuracy of the reported information. The information collected through internet research is then verified with the national authorities.] |
| Methods and guidance available to countries for the compilation of the data at the national level |
Specific guidance for countries on how to compile data at the national level is contained in the questionnaire that UNCTAD has developed and sent to outward investment promotion agencies. UNCTAD has published guidance documents specifically on outward investment promotion, related definitions and data:
|
| Quality management |
To manage the quality of the indicator data, and as part of UNCTAD’s broader mandate, UNCTAD works in close collaboration with member States international investment policies and their reform, the provision of technical assistance and intergovernmental meetings.] |
| Quality assurance |
The data received from member States will go through a thorough validation process. Once the information has been validated and information from additional sources incorporated, any questions for clarification or proposals are shared with member States for their review.] |
| Quality assessment |
Work continues to improve reporting on the type of outward investment regimes, as well as the eligibility criteria to access those schemes, jointly with member States.] |
| Data availability and disaggregation |
Data availability: Currently, results are available based on a detailed online questionnaire on existing outward investment promotion regimes which can benefit developing countries, including LDCs. Replies have been received from 35 countries. The answers received vary considerably in their degree of substance and detail. Further data will be available on the government websites of home countries. In 2022, in-house internet research provided information on 15 additional countries. Disaggregation: Indicator 17.5.1 can be disaggregated by type of investment promotion regimes that home countries adopt for developing countries, including LDCs (e.g. investment guarantees, fiscal and financial aid and investment facilitation). A geographical breakdown of the adoption of investment promotion schemes would also be possible.] |
| Comparability/deviation from international standards |
Deviation from international standards: ● The specificity of the system – does it target exclusively investment in LDCs or investment in any developing country? ● The type and number of investment promotion instruments (investment guarantees, fiscal or financial support, IIAs) ● The degree of investment promotion (how much support does the individual promotion measure provide?) ● The actual impact of the investment promotion regime (how many investments have been made under the promotion regime and what effect do they have in the LDCs?). Disaggregation of the indicator should be gradually increased as more data become available. Further work to measure the “implementation” of investment promotion regimes for developing countries, including LDCs, could be pursued in the longer-term. |
| References and Documentation |
URL: https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international-investment-agreements |
| Metadata last updated | Aug 28, 2025 |