Towards A Strategy for the Data Revolution: Outcomes from the July Experts Workshop

Transcription

1 Twards A Strategy fr the Data Revlutin: Outcmes frm the July Experts Wrkshp We are in the midst f a data revlutin. Technlgical innvatin has led t a massive increase in the availability and use f data. But there is n guarantee that this will lead t imprved develpment utcmes withut a cncerted effrt t invest in the prductin, disclsure and use f high quality data. An unprecedented interest in data fr develpment presents a huge pprtunity t imprve the quality, availability and usefulness f infrmatin shaping the well-being f peple, but there is an urgent need fr new fficial data t mnitr the implementatin f new develpment gals after 2015 but it ges beynd that new reliable, regular data, prvide gvernments the capacity t design better plicies and prgrams. Data accessible t the public culd catalyze effective actin at many levels. T take advantage f this interest, experts frm internatinal and bilateral develpment agencies, civil sciety, gvernments, and academia met t chart a curse twards slving existing prblems and ensuring that the data revlutin is beneficial t develpment utcmes. This nte describes the utcmes frm the wrkshp that prvides the fundatin fr actin ver the next tw years. What is the data revlutin? A Data Revlutin fr develpment requires a leap frward in the quality and availability f infrmatin that is useful fr and used fr decisin making at all levels. It must cmbine bth evlutin and revlutin. Twards mre and better data: The revlutin requires majr imprvements in the number, quality and reach f traditinal statistical systems, such as censuses, civil registratin and vital statistics, administrative data frm gvernment run prgrams such as scial prtectin schemes, and husehld surveys, as well as the generatin and use f data frm new innvative surces (e.g. cnsumer transactins, satellite imagery, patterns f scial netwrking). Data that is used fr actin and accuntability: A partnership that draws n the best assets f public and private sectrs wuld engender a change in the cllective understanding f the value f data, its disclsure t the public in useable frmats, and the imprtance f ethical data capture and use. It culd transfrm the enabling envirnment fr using the best available data fr sund decisins, and accuntability fr thse decisins, ultimately imprving scial and ecnmic utcmes glbally. Principles fr sustained imprvements and t maximize value f develpment data Maximize value frm the data prduced: Data that is cllected needs t be the mst relevant fr decisin making and available in a frmat that can be easily used fr multiple purpses; it shuld be pen, disaggregated and interperable. Gvernments, civil sciety, and the private sectr need technical capacity and the means necessary t use data fr planning, measurement and accuntability. Cntinuusly imprve data prductin and use: Cntinual imprvement requires strengthening the capacity f traditinal actrs and welcming new partners, including the private sectrs and citizens/nn-prfit rganizatins. Feedback lps between these actrs 1

2 are necessary t ensure the right data is prduced at the right time fr curse crrectins and decisin making. Distrted incentives that hinder quality, cverage r relevance f data prductin shuld be minimized. A new generatin f leaders in data prductin, analysis, visualizatin and use shuld be fstered. Ensure imprvements are sustained: Predictable resurces frm gvernments and internatinal institutins are required and shuld be used t supprt cuntry systems, t prduce data that can make a difference at the natinal and lcal level while als mnitring internatinal cmmitments. Funds shuld be invested in new cst-effective ways t prduce the essential data cuntries need t make basic develpment decisins, and peple need t hld gvernments accuntable. Balancing technlgical innvatins with institutinal change: A technlgy revlutin alne will nt be sufficient t prduce mre timely data fr effective plicy use. Changing institutinal structures and mind-sets f decisin makers t take accunt f new kinds f infrmatin will be critical. Cncerns regarding ethics and privacy shuld be addressed: the data revlutin shuld nt be a new extractive industry. What binding cnstraints need t be vercme? Inadequate capacity t prduce, use and interpret data: In many lw-incme cuntries, the demand fr statistics has riginated frm the internatinal develpment cmmunity. Limited capacity fr analysis and use has tended t undervalue the imprtance f statistics, and led t a lack f dmestic resurces fr statistical prgrams. Similar cnstraints are faced by gvernments pening up ther surces f data. The net effect n statistical prducers has been inadequate budgets and prblems in attracting and retaining qualified staff. Universities and prfessinal training centres are als finding it increasingly difficult t maintain and expand training prgrammes. Lack f plitical leadership t invest in and use statistics: A lack f stable funding fr natinal statistical systems, minimal checks and balances t ensure that the data are accurate and timely, and the lack f autnmy f natinal statistical ffices are nt nly a cause f pr quality data, but a signal that independent and reliable data is nt valued by plitical leaders. Failure t make the case: Increased demand fr tracking and accuntability fr results has led dnrs t increase investments in mnitring and evaluatin fr individual prjects, rather than investments in data and statistics as a public gd. Evidence fr the intrinsic value f statistics fr ecnmic and scial develpment is lacking. There is a need t make the case fr why statistics and data is an investment wrth priritizing ver ther interventins. Nt turning data int infrmatin fr plicy making & actin: Many f the incentives, created by dnrs and statistical agencies have been twards data cllectin, rather than imprving dmestic capacity fr analysis and use. This has ften been at the expense f develping analytical prducts and tls that substantiate the investments in data systems by infrming plicy decisins and helping the public in cnducting day t day decisins. Lack f harmnizatin f methds and standards 2

3 Crdinatin within the internatinal statistical system remains limited, bth in terms f internatinal data prgrams and the prvisin f technical assistance and the develpment f standards and recmmendatins. T much data cllectin is driven by the needs and interests f external agencies, is nt dne in a way that different surces can be cmbined t give a bigger picture (e.g. the different husehld survey instruments), Data cllectin is fcused n particular sectrs r regins, nt giving plicy makers the full range f infrmatin n which t act. Effrts t link new mechanisms fr cllecting data thrugh technlgy with fficial statistics are in a nascent stage. The agenda fr actin The expert grup agreed the fllwing deliverables are necessary (under 5 themes) and will wrk twards making them a reality in the next tw years. The participatin and engagement in partner cuntry gvernments, agencies, academia, and think tanks is an essential ingredient fr effective implementatin: Accelerating prgress n basic activities at the natinal level Supprt Gvernments in x cuntries t include in Open Data Prtals: Dcumentatin f data sets, particularly administrative data Ge-reference existing survey and admin data, mapping key indicatrs and services at relevant plitical levels Create inter-perable existing data surces and deply analytical techniques such as small area estimatin t prduce estimates f marginalized r uncunted grups. Mdernize the NSDS Mdularize and sequence NSDS prep and implementatin Refrm legal framewrks where necessary Create pprtunities fr nn-gvernmental and media tracking and feedback n prgress Empwer new initiatives r cllabratives t deal with the thrny prblems: Rebasing GDP - if yu cmmit t a rebase, yu get xyz Create a frum fr CSOs t validate fficial statistics. Innvatin A scping dcument (published at the Glbal Open Data Cnference in Mexic in December 2014) which wuld: define innvatin types and take stck f existing innvatins. be used t cnvene business, NGOs and gvernments t discuss the integratin f fficial statistics and these innvative appraches with a view t launching new initiatives at the Wrld Frum n Develpment Data. Expand netwrks and cllabratins t unleash the full ptential f data and digital assets held by the private and public sectrs. Here, develping the incentives t sustain these cllabratins will be key. New partnerships and financing A financing facility wuld utilize a range f financial mechanisms (lending, grants, private sectr funds, etc). 3

4 A cmpetitive applicatin prcess that leads t sme financial incentive culd create quality, multi-stakehlder prpsals. The type f financing wuld vary based n prpsed apprach and incentivize the cmmitments f dmestic resurces, It shuld be available t mre than just cuntry gvernments, but include citizens, civil sciety, and private sectr. Funding wuld, at first supprt, three streams cre/basic data, innvatin, and pen data/accuntability. An Innvatin Lab wuld fster and facilitate innvative appraches and investment in develpment data. This culd include a challenge fund r grants arund a defined prblem set. Pst-2015 Sustainable Develpment Gals Influence the glbal panel f data experts cnvened by the UN Secretary General t infrm his Synthesis Reprt and ensure the views f reginal cmmissins are included Draft a set f 2-page cncept ntes n specific issues t be develped t infrm the UNSG s high level grup. Ensure that key elements f disaggregatin f indicatrs, and investment in statistics and tracked indicatrs (input frm stats cmmunity) remain in the SDG plitical utcme dcument. Influence the UN Financing Fr Develpment cnference t secure adequate funding frm tracking the SDGs. Develp a baseline, invlving external stakehlders, including civil sciety rganisatins, as well as the UN Statistical Cmmissin Cnduct csting exercise which maps required funding fr investment in fficial statistical capacity. Plitical Strategy Cnvene the inaugural Wrld Frum n Develpment Data n Wrld Ppulatin Day (11 th July 2015). This wuld: Secure a 'data cmpact' with cmmitments frm business, NGOs and gvernments with a clear accuntability framewrk. This wuld: Secure cmmitments t an pen surce data manifest which seeks t establish glbal nrms n the ethics, wnership and use f data in gvernment, business and civil sciety with accmpanying cmmitments frm businesses and dnrs. Build n Natinal Strategies fr the Develpment f Statistics (NSDS): the main vehicle fr priritising data accrding t natinal needs, and t crdinating dnr supprt. Secure Presidential level cmmitment t gd data, plitical leadership arund natinal level actin plans n mutually agreed (mdularized) gals n what prgress twards gd data lks like Secure cmmitments t flexible, lng-term funding t NSS against prgress n mutually agreed gals in the frm f challenge grants, requiring cunterpart funding frm gvernments Secure funding f quality standards, cre infrastructure, prcesses, i.e. sampling frame. 4

5 Create a CSO windw fr data analysis and use t influence debate and plicy (develping intermediaries t make data digestible). Include cmmitments t a payment by results apprach Create an annual event t track cmmitments and channel energy/attentin arund particular prblems. Next steps: Wrkshp participants will cntinue t refine and circulate specifics with a view develping key messages and will establish wrking grups that seek t deliver n agreed cncrete actins. The grup will als develp ways t ensure actins develped under the five themes are, t the extent pssible, mutually reinfrcing t ensure the cllective effrt is greater than the sum f its parts. 5

6 Timeline: 2014 (Q4) 2015 (Q1) 2015 (Q2) 2015 (Q3) 2015 (Q4) 2016 (Q1) 2016 (Q2) 2016 (Q3) 2016 (Q4) Partnerships Embed partnership int UNSG s Synthesis Reprt Davs launch f partnership idea Embed partnership in UN Financing fr Develpment utcme Launch glbal partnership n develpment data in NY First Annual Wrld Frum n Develpment Data Plitical Visibility Cnvene data revlutin advcacy grup; Launch a Data manifest n the ethics and nrms f data cllectin and use at UNGA. High level Actin Frcing Mment n Wrld Ppulatin Day (11 th July 2015) 6

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