World Data Forum
Three simple ways to join in
Data and the Global Goals
In September 2015, world leaders adopted the Global Goals which frame development for the next 15 years. The Global Goals focus on equity and universality in order to ensure that the furthest behind are reached and that no one is left behind. In order to track progress at the national, regional and global level, a large amount of high quality, timely and disaggregated data is needed. Low Income Countries must be supported to build their statistical capacity in order to increase the availability of good data. While it may be complex and costly, it will not be possible to realise and evidence delivery of the Global Goals without significant improvements in the gathering, analysis and use of disaggregated data.
World Data Forum
To deliver on these objectives the first UN World Data Forum will be hosted by Statistics South Africa from 15 to 18 January 2017, with support from the Statistics Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, under the guidance of the United Nations Statistical Commission and the High-level Group for Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building for Statistics for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
We can’t all be there in person but we can all have our say! Here are three easy ways you can get involved.
Twitter accounts to follow
Whether its people or organisations you can follow these thought leading accounts to stay tuned in to the World Data Forum as it unfolds. Here are the top five Twitter accounts that we will be tuned in to.
- Kim Bradford Smith, Senior Statistician and Evidence Lead, Department for International Development. Kim leads a team of cross cutting advisers from Economists to Evaluation Specialists who are at the coal face, delivering on the promise to leave no one behind under the Global Goals in DFID. Kim will be moving and shaking at the World Data Forum and is definitely one to watch. @KimBradfordSmit
- Development Initiatives is an independent international development organisation that focuses on the role of data in driving poverty eradication and sustainable development. Their vision is a world without poverty that invests in human security and where everyone shares the benefits of opportunity and growth. High quality technical input and expertise is their hallmark and so we will be following their attendance at the World Data Forum closely for updates and you should too. @DevInitOrg
- Office for National Statistics. The Office for National Statistics is the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics and the recognised national statistical institute of the UK. John Pullinger is the UK’s National Statistician and is in charge over at the Office for National Statistics. They’ll be leading the UK’s delegation to the World Data Forum and so we will be following their account to stay tuned in every step of the way. @ONS
- Stefan Schweinfest has been the Director of the United Nations Statistics Division, Department of Economics and Social Affairs since 2014. Stefan joined the Statistics Division in 1989 and worked in various areas, such as national and environmental accounting, statistical capacity building programmes, and indicator frameworks. Stefan will be taking a leading role in the World Data Forum. Tune in to his Tweets by following the UN Statistics official account. @UNStats
- UN Data Forum, has an official Twitter account. We’ll be following their account which will be jam packed with live streams, event updates and photos from the World Data Forum. @UNDataForum
The Twitter- Sphere will be buzzing but you may also want to check out some of the DFID partner organisations who will represented at the forum like HelpAge and Sightsavers (policy).
Join in on Twitter
With hundreds of people live Tweeting through the World Data Forum it will be tough to stay plugged in to all of the conversations and ensure you can share your views. The official hash tag to follow for all World Data Forum updates is #UNDataForum. Use this hash tag to tune in and to ensure that people can easily find .your contribution to the debate. We’ll also be using #LeaveNoOneBehind for our Tweets.
Inform yourself
So that you can ensure that you can take advantage of this opportunity to share your views and be part of shaping and evolving global data you need to be informed. There’s a wealth of information out there and sometimes it is hard to know where to start. To help you along we have whittled it down to our top three to get you started.
- The Secretary-General’s Independent Expert Advisory Group on a Data Revolution for Sustainable Development (IEAG) culminating report A World That Counts: Mobilising The Data Revolution for Sustainable Development.
- The speech by International Development Secretary Justine Greening at the launch of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data clearly sets out how data is at the heart of ensuring that we succeed in our goal to end extreme poverty by 2030. Read the speech online here.
- Our Data Disaggregation Action Plan sets out the actions we will take inside DFID as well as through our work with partners to ensure that global data architecture can be strengthened to ensure that EVERYONE enjoys the benefits of the Global Goals. The Action Plan will be officially launched at the World Data Forum by the UK’s National Statistician. So have a peek. We would love to know what you think. Click here.
So what are you waiting for? Get involved and have your say.
