Open Data Watch

As we sign back online after the restful holiday break, we are wishing our #data4SDGs community and partners a joyful and impactful New Year! We’re excited to continue collaborating in 2025 as we work together to build sustainable and inclusive data systems for a better future. Sign up for our monthly newsletter and stay up to date on data this year: https://lnkd.in/ekBVx4xf

As the year comes to a close, we are proud to reflect on the significant milestones achieved in 2024. Through our research, capacity-building initiatives, and continued support to countries, we have worked alongside partners to drive meaningful progress and deliver impactful results. To capture these achievements, we’ve published a Year in Review Blog highlighting key moments from across the year with a special note from our Managing Director Shaida Badiee. 📖 Explore it here: https://lnkd.in/exke9uNh Additionally, our Special Edition End-of-Year Newsletter offers a comprehensive look at the insights, outcomes, and priorities shaping the path ahead. 📨 Read the latest edition here: https://lnkd.in/e724KqcG None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our partners. Your expertise, collaboration, and shared vision have been instrumental in shaping this year’s work and paving the way forward. Thank you for your continued partnership. Here’s to an impactful 2025!

In less than 7 months, Spain will host the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), taking place from June 30 to July 3, 2025. This marks a major moment for global development as the world looks to reimagine the future of financing, nearly a decade after the landmark Addis Ababa Action Agenda that outlined global priorities for sustainable financing.   Back then, data was mentioned—but more as a tool for monitoring progress than as a driving force behind decision-making. Fast forward to today, and the conversation has shifted. At Open Data Watch and alongside our partners we believe it’s time to change—and strengthen—the narrative.   The FfD4 agenda will address urgent global needs, including the full implementation of the SDGs needed reform of the international financial architecture. In the months leading up to the conference, there will be key moments for stakeholders to reflect on and contribute to shaping the outcome document.   One of those moments starts today, at the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee in NYC. This session will bring together Member States and stakeholders to review the recent elements paper, sharing priorities and expectations to feed into the zero draft of the FfD4 Outcome Document.   We’re proud to be part of the conversation, advocating for data to be placed at the heart of the FfD4 agenda. Together with our partners, we’re hosting a side event titled "From Monterrey to Sevilla: How Investments in Data Drive Effective Development Financing". This event aims to elevate the importance of data as a core enabler of sustainable financing decisions and to ensure that it’s fully recognized in the FfD4 Outcome Document.   Featured speakers include: - Francesca Perucci of Open Data Watch - Vibeke Oestreich Nielsen of United Nations Statistics Division - Samuel Annim of Ghana Statistical Service and co-chair of HLG-PCCB - Yusuf Murangwa of Rwanda - Tara Soomro of United Nations ECOSOC - Miosotis Rivas Peña of Oficina Nacional de Estadística, ONE RD - Shirley Ong of Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada, First Secretary, Canada Mission to the United Nations     🔗 Learn more about FfD4: https://lnkd.in/eY43ZsRm 🔗 Read about our side event: https://bit.ly/ODWFfD4 We’re working to ensure the next decade of development financing is driven by data—because only with strong statistical systems can we make decisions to guide investments and policies that can transform lives. United Nations Statistics Division, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Statistics Norway, Chris Maloney of William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Koko Zuberi كوكو زبيري of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Krista Jones Baptista of Data2X, United Nations Foundation, Johannes Jütting of PARIS21, and Philipp Schönrock of Cepei Think Tank, Maryam Rabiee of SDGs Today.

The 2024 United Nations World Data Forum in Medellín just three weeks ago gathered a global community of data practitioners, policymakers, and advocates to advance the role of data in achieving the #SDGs.  In our latest blog, we share highlights and key takeaways from this year’s Forum, including: 🚀 The pivotal role of #IntersectionalData in leaving no one behind.  🤝 How #CitizenData is empowering communities and enhancing decision-making.  📊 The importance of #GenderData in closing data gaps and driving equity.  🌍 A growing momentum behind the #Commit2Data campaign. 🔗 Read our full recap: https://lnkd.in/eJQdPMFV 

Join us in celebrating a decade of data-driven impact! 🎉 Explore 'A World That Counts at 10', our new report reflecting on the progress made in mobilizing data for sustainable development since 2014. Download your copy to learn how data is shaping a better future for millions worldwide ⬇️ https://buff.ly/4fFoQzU #PowerOfData w/ Open Data Watch PARIS21 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs The World Bank

Huge thanks to all colleagues who made the Medellín UN World Data Forum so special. Some of my favorite moments from being together with our Gender Data Network members traveling long distance to get to Medellin to talking about Intersectional data to spending lots of time on Commit to Data Campaign and our beautiful booth and finally … 💃🏿🕺🏼getting to dance with my dear colleague and lifetime friend Stefan Schweinfest director United Nations Statistics Division 🙏 Thanks to Camilo Andrés Méndez Linda Hooper Ola Awad Ian Rutherford Johannes Jütting Haoyi Chen Haishan Fu Caren Grown Vibeke Oestreich Nielsen Krista Jones Baptista Lanice C. Williams, M.S., CHES® Emmanuel Letouzé, PhD Elsa Dhuli Paula McLeod Joanna Lindner-Pradela Prof. Dr. Georges-Simon Ulrich Al Kags Romesh Silva Priscilla Idele Sophie Kenneally Natalia Carfi Claudia Wells Adrienne Pizatella Samuel Annim Dominik Rozkrut Olga Świerkot-Strużewska Roeland Beerten Lorenz Noe Deirdre Appel Jahanara Saeed Meriem Ait Ouyahia and dear ❤️ Francesca Perucci ❤️

Today marks the final day of the UN World Data Forum with Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística - DANE Colombia, and we’re entering the last stretch. But as Stefan Schweinfest of United Nations Statistics Division asks us, how can we keep the energy and momentum from this event going after we leave Medellín? Join us for our final session with PARIS21 and many partners which will feature the Commit to Data campaign to help answer that important question. ⏲ 2:30-3:30 PM 📍 Room 4 Over 30 commitments will be showcased in a poster exhibit. This is your chance to explore other initiatives, showcase your own commitment, and network with partners to accelerate action that will continue beyond Medellín. 🔎 Explore all the commitments here: https://lnkd.in/g4SPZF-d 🎦 Hear from commitment makers themselves: https://lnkd.in/eBX8yxJQ 💪 Make your own commitment: https://lnkd.in/ddi4MnJE Photo features our youth advocate Luísa Franco Machado who is committing to ensure youth voices are not left out of the conversation.

Our team (Shaida Badiee, Deirdre Appel, Jahanara Saeed, Lorenz Noe, Meriem Ait Ouyahia and Raquel Fontes) have arrived in Medellin for the 5th United Nations World Data Forum. 🇨🇴 Since our arrival on Sunday afternoon, we've already experienced so much: 🎉 The launch of the iCount Coalition with Equality Insights and other partners 📢 The opening ceremony with welcoming remarks from the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, marking the importance of the Forum, the 10-year anniversary of the World That Counts report, and the Commit to Data campaign. 🤝 A welcoming event of our Gender Data Network members marking the first time we have been able to fund their travel to the UNWDF thanks to the support of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 📊 65 and counting commitments on display at our Commit to Data booth right outside of the Main Hall in the Conference Center. Stop by to pick up your "I Commit to Data" pin, talk with others about your commitment, and learn more about others. In the days ahead, we have much to look forward to and several sessions covering our different areas of work: 1️⃣ Taking Data into Our Own Hands: Co-creating the Roadmap to Implement the Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data with the Collaborative of Citizen-Generated Data, Danish Institute for Human Rights, and World Federation of the Deaf (Wednesday) 2️⃣ Enhancing CRVS Systems: Intersectional Approaches and Resource Mobilization for Inclusive and Sustainable Development with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. (Wednesday) 3️⃣ Peer-to-Peer Exchange: Open Data Frameworks for Better SDG Reporting with Open Data Charter and Development Gateway: An IREX Venture 4️⃣ Measure for Measure: Leveraging Gender Data Capacity Measures in Practice with PARIS21, UN Women, and The World Bank. (Thursday) 5️⃣ Getting to the Finish Line: Strengthening Country Capacity to Translate Gender Data into Use and Impact with Data2X, United Nations Foundation, UN Women, The World Bank, and Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). (Thursday) 6️⃣ Catalyzing Commitments for Sustainable Development Data. Friday, 15 November with PARIS21, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the 65 commitment makers. (Friday) Read our special edition newsletter covering all this and more: https://lnkd.in/gM-PrPKP

Join a very exciting session in form of debate between two teams on Building trust, protection, and ethics in data with an amazing panel including: Dominik Rozkrut Stefaan Verhulst, PhD Priscilla Idele Natalia Carfi Roeland Beerten #UNDataForum On Thursday Nov 14 at 9:00 am in the great Hall. See link on UN World Data Forum to watch.

📊 Exploring the Future of Data Financing 📊 💡 With the #SDGs at the halfway mark, robust data systems have never been more critical. The 2024 Partner Report on Support to Statistics (#PRESS2024) by PARIS21 offers an in-depth view of how funding for data is evolving, identifying trends and future directions to strengthen national statistical systems. 💻 This webinar will unpack the report’s findings and provide insights on strategic investments needed to ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of the SDGs. Join us for an engaging discussion on the financing required to build resilient data ecosystems for a sustainable future. 🗣️ Speakers Aishath Hassan, Chief Statistician, Maldives Bureau of Statistics Adoum Gagoloum, Chief of Economics Statistics Division, StatAfrica Paula McLeod, Head of Profession for Statistics, Global Statistics, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 📅 November 6, 2024 🕒 14:00 - 15:00 CET 🔗 Register now: bit.ly/4efvxXG Johannes Jütting Deirdre Appel Mercedes F. Jeanne Jadeau #data4development #developmentdata #globaldevelopment #developmentstatistics