Objective: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)
An objective (French: objectif) is a result to be achieved, set at a given level and for a given function. In ISO 53001, objectives express the intended contribution to the priority SDGs; they are consistent with the policy, measurable where practicable, monitored, communicated and updated in the light of results.
Updated: · edition covered: ISO/UNDP 53001:2026
In an ISO/UNDP 53001 audit
Each objective is examined for its link to a priority SDG and for the plan behind it: actions, owner, resources, deadline and a method for evaluating results. An objective with no indicator and no deadline is hard to verify and tends to attract a finding.
The auditor also weighs stated ambition against the means committed. An emissions cut announced with no budget and no identified action is not planned in the sense of the standard. These expectations belong to subclause 6.2 of clause 6; the ISO/UNDP 53001 standard links them to the policy.
Objective, target and indicator
Three levels are often confused. The SDG target describes a global result; the organisation's objective describes its own expected result, at its scale and within a deadline; the indicator measures progress. The auditor checks that each level is present and that the objective is not simply a copy of the wording of a UN target.
See also
- SDG target: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)An SDG target (French: *cible ODD*) is one of the 169 sub-goals that give detail to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
- Policy: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)A policy (French: *politique*) states the intentions and direction of an organisation, as formally expressed by its top management.
- Measurement: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)Measurement (French: *mesure*) is the process of determining a value: tonnes of CO₂ emitted, a gender pay gap, the share of suppliers assessed.
- Priority SDG: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)A priority SDG (French: *ODD prioritaire*) is a Sustainable Development Goal that the organisation treats as central to its management system, because its activities contribute strongly to it or risk harming it.
- ISO/UNDP 53001 clause 6: what the auditor checksISO 53001 clause 6 deals with planning.