Open Development Mekong joined IDRC, OD4D and UNFPA in the 2020 Virtual UN World Data Forum
The pre-recorded session for the upcoming 2020 Virtual UN World Data Forum on (TA1) Data for Development: towards a more integrated agenda from the global south is now available.
About the session:
Data is a crucial resource for the 21st century, for monitoring and achieving the SDGs, and for realizing our full potential. Data for development and the use of new technologies is creating new opportunities for economic and civil participation, better decision making and greater inclusion on the one hand, and new barriers on the other. Many important global efforts have emerged around civil registration and vital statistics, open government data, big data and aritificial intelligence as well as privacy and data protection. Yet, many of these efforts work in silos, and also face interconnected barriers to advancing a transformative agenda on data for sustainable development. How can we ensure coordinated perspectives and research from the global south inform holistic approaches to data governance, innovation, and use?
Over the past 10 years, IDRC has invested more than US$ 30M to build expertise and thought leadership on Data for Development across different programs. This session will showcase 4 short TED-style talks from researchers around the world on lessons and experiences in building data ecosystems and in using data to foster social good. Researchers, innovators, and activists from across Africa, Asia, and Latin America will share experiences from their own unique perspectives. From civil registration enabling human rights and contributing to economic empowerment, to open data combatting corruption and addressing gender data gaps, to artificial intelligence enabling access of key public service in local languages, these innovators will share findings on what is needed to enable the use of data. They will explore the opportunities for a more coherent effort that reflects the mature work developed by different communities. The session will also launch a policy publication that shares these experiences and findings with key recommendations for further work.
The speakers will showcase key findings and primary research they have conducted on :
- how data is produced, analysed and used;
- supporting regulation that upholds privacy and prevents discrimination;
- building capacity and data literacy in “small data” and big data analytics;
- strengthening information systems in development sectors and the use of data to benefit vulnerable populations;
- modernizing systems of data collection and unlocking data to promote transparency and accountability;
- new ways of tracking progress and supporting the achievement of the SDGs.
