Wednesday, October 7, 2015

UN to hold inaugural World Data Forum in September 2016


TWS||Nick Waigwa

World Leaders have launched a data revolution partnership for sustainable development.
United States of America is among countries championing for a global partnership to close critical data gaps likely to undermine effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).


The US joined other champions including Civil Society Organizations, Private Sector, International Agencies and the Governments of Kenya, Columbia, France, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Senegal and United Kingdom on September 28, to launch a Global Partnership for Sustainable Data, which will harness the data revolution to fill gaps and ensure data is more open and usable to end extreme poverty and combat climate change.

“A data revolution is sweeping the globe with new technologies, skills, and opportunities to connect official statistics, big data, citizen-generated data, and geospatial and earth observation data for the public good.” Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data

 

The Global Partnership launched in New York,  just three days after the adoption of SDGs at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA September 2015), is expected to work with the UN Statistical Commission to organize the inaugural World Data Forum in September 2016, ahead of the next General Assembly.



World leaders including President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya have observed that data for measurement, evidence, decision-making, reporting, planning, accountability, management, monitoring, good governance, resource allocation and strategic intervention should be the corner-stone for the adoption and fulfillment of the global sustainable development data agenda.



United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon supported the idea of a global partnership, acknowledging the importance of nations pulling together to ensure effective monitoring and acceleration of local efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals.
“Today, I am proud that the UN system is joining forces with member states, civil society, and the private sector to launch the Global Partnership for Sustainable Data” Ban Ki-moon



The National Coordinator of Digital strategies in the President’s office of the government of Mexico expressed confidence that the Global Partnership will guide the world to an open data revolution that will create a level playing field by improving access to public data towards enabling sustainable development for all.


The new set of global development goals (SDGs) which are 17 will take effect in 2016 succeeding the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) whose time expires on December 2015. SDGs which have 149 targets to be met by year 2030 will inform development for the next 15 years.


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